Robinson following in his father's football footsteps — and beyond
He is smaller in stature, but has the same big-time mentality. When Renee Bush watches her son run with the football, she sees shades of his father. Nate Robinson doesn't have Jacque Robinson's physique, but he shares his dad's passion for the game.
"He just runs that ball with heart, the way his daddy did," she said.
Jacque Robinson's pinball running style stole the hearts of many Huskies football fans during his glory days at Washington, earning MVP honors as a 6-foot, 185-pound freshman in the 1982 Rose Bowl and again as a senior in the 1985 Orange Bowl.
Between the bowl bookends of Jacque's career, Renee gave birth to Nate in May of 1984. If ever a baby was destined to play sports, it was the kid they called "Nate the Great," and mom still wears a sweatshirt with the nickname emblazoned across the chest to Rainier Beach football games.
"He used to sleep with a ball, any kind of ball," she said. "He's just always been real special."
Rainier Beach fans are finding out just how special. After spending last school year in California with his father, the 5-10, 170-pounder returned home this summer and re-enrolled at Rainier Beach, where he had flashed his talents in football, basketball and track as a freshman and sophomore. His 97-yard kickoff return helped spark the Vikings to a 25-20 upset over fourth-ranked O'Dea last week as they snapped the Irish's 71-game, regular-season winning streak.
It was Robinson's 22nd touchdown of the season, and he'll be looking for more as Beach (8-1) blows into the Class 3A state playoffs Saturday 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium against Black Hills of Tumwater (8-2).
Coach Mark Haley knows he's got a game-breaker in Robinson, who started out at wide receiver and even played quarterback for a half until settling to a running back spot after injuries struck the backfield.
"He makes things happen when he's on the field," Haley said.
Much the way his father did. But Nate's talents are more diversified than Jacque's, according to Haley, who had his career as a defensive back at the UW cut short by a knee injury just before Jacque arrived as a freshman.
"Jacque was a real good running back," Haley said when asked to compare father and son. "Nate's more of an athlete."
Nate might be even better at basketball than football. Although he wants to play both in college, and beyond, Robinson admits his love of basketball runs a little deeper.
"My heart is in basketball, I know for a fact," he said. "But that love for football, I can't get rid of it."
Nate said he realized just how much he loved basketball last year in California, when he was unable to play because of poor grades. It also made him realize the importance of academics and said he is carrying a 3.3 grade-point average this fall. He recently took the SAT and believes he attained a qualifying score. He said at least five Division I schools, including Washington, have indicated he could play both sports. North Carolina, USC, Tennessee and Mississippi State are among the others, he said.
"My dad wants me to play basketball (in college)," Nate said, "but he told me, 'If you want to do both, follow your heart,' and that's what I'm going to do. I want to be the first to play in the NFL and NBA, but Randy Moss (of the Minnesota Vikings) might beat me to it."
His size won't hold him back, according to Mike Bethea, who guided Rainier Beach to a second-place finish at the Class 3A state basketball tournament last season.
"Nate's probably one of the best all-around athletes I've ever seen in this state," he said. "I don't measure Nate by his height, I measure him by the size of his heart, and whoa!"
Much of that desire has been fueled by a dad who regularly challenges him to excel.
"Everything's like a bet or a challenge or a competition," said Nate, who also is a state-caliber hurdler. "Like he bet me I wouldn't get All-American. Or he says (I use too much) finesse instead of running over someone."
Jacque, who could not be reached for comment, is a counselor at a juvenile detention center in Seattle, according to Nate. The two have lived together off and on since Nate was born — more on than off, Nate said. Jacque and Renee have a second son together, Anthony "Chicken" Stewart, a sophomore defensive back at Rainier Beach who earned his nickname at a young age because he loves chicken. Anthony currently lives with his mom, while Nate lives with his dad.
Nate said he grew up watching football videos of his dad, who had brief NFL stints with Miami, Buffalo and Philadelphia.
"I used to try to mimic his moves," he said. "The game I liked most was when he played Stanford against John Elway. My dad did pretty good."
Nate's mom isn't the only one who has noticed similarities between father and son on the football field.
"My grandmother says me and my dad have the same eyes when we're running the ball," he said. "I've seen pictures, and we kind of do. Our eyes are wide open when we're running and we see everything."
And Rainier Beach fans likely will see more great things from Nate Robinson.
Sandy Ringer can be reached at 206-464-8294 or sringer@seattletimes.com.