Book excerpt: ‘Encounters with Eddie Robinson and Recollections of His First Trip to Grambling’

This chapter appears in “Going 15 Rounds With Jerry Izenberg: A Collection Of Interviews With The Legendary Columnist.” The paperback edition was published on Dec. 31, 2020.

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Chapter 13: Encounters with Eddie Robinson and Recollections of His First Trip to Grambling

Taking the road less traveled transported Jerry Izenberg to new heights, to the top of his profession.

There were great stories. Everywhere. Including Grambling, Louisiana (pop: 3,144 in 1960).

But first, he had to arrive there to find that out.

Izenberg’s first trip to Grambling, and the story behind the story, remains crystal clear in his mind more than 50 years later.

It was 1963, and Roger Kahn, who wrote a critically acclaimed book, “The Boys of Summer,” about the Brooklyn Dodgers, worked as sports editor at The Saturday Evening Post. Kahn wanted Izenberg to visit Florida A&M to report on its college football team.

Izenberg…