TALE OF THE TAPE Robertson hopes frequent trips to training room finally over By Rusty Burson

For Texas A&M linebackers, the role models – and reminders of past stars of the position – are as bountiful on the College Station campus as crape myrtle blossoms in the summertime.

Nguyen, Wallace and Willie T. Roper and rope-holders like Glenn, Armstrong and Mitchell. Buckley and Brown, Holland and Holdman, Coryatt and Kelm, etc. The list, as current A&M linebackers could quickly attest, goes on and on.

In fact, the opportunity to become part of that list is why many of the current A&M linebackers are here in the first place. Senior inside linebacker Harold Robertson fits that description.

He considered Michigan. Thought about Florida State, too. But the Dallas Lincoln High School product ultimately determined he wanted to be much closer to home and, perhaps more importantly, wanted to be a part of the Linebacker U. legacy.

That said, it may come as somewhat as a surprise whom Robertson lists as his Aggie "role model." It’s none of the aforementioned legends. Nor is it even a defender from Wrecking Crews past or present.

Of all the former players Robertson aspires to be like, it’s an often-overlooked, clutch wide receiver who comes to mind most often.

"Matt Bumgardner," Robertson says with a smile. "We play different positions, we play on different sides of the ball. But there’s an awful lot I admire about Matt."

Thus far, there also are an awful lot of similarities in the careers of Bumgardner and Robertson. Annoying ailments and freak injuries stalked both of them every step – or limp – of the way in their first four years in Aggieland. Training room personnel could have charged both rent.

But Bumgardner endured. He persevered. And he saved his best for last, catching a career-best 18 passes as a senior, including one of the most meaningful receptions in Texas A&M history. It was Bumgardner’s 14-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter of the 1999 Texas game that sealed the Aggies’ emotionally-charged win over the Longhorns just eight days after the collapse of Bonfire.

Bumgardner’s senior season transformed his A&M legacy from hobbled hard worker to hero. Robertson envisions the same for his senior season.

"Matt was hurt all the time, too," Robertson said. "But he had a great senior season. I just hope that same thing can happen for me, where I come back, have a blessed senior year and go out with a bang."

Linebacker Harold Robertson, pictured with Brian Gamble (right), will be a key defender for the Wrecking Crew this fall.

Unfortunately, there have been far more snaps and strains than big bangs for Robertson, who was rated as one of the top defensive prospects in the state at Dallas Lincoln. During his first spring training, Robertson injured his shoulder; and then on the first hit of the first fall drill as a redshirt freshman, he did it again

"I couldn’t believe it happened again and on the first play of two-a-days," Robertson said. "It’s called slap lesion (similar to a dislocation or rotator cuff tear). I was out several games, and then after I came back for the Southern Miss game, I pulled a hamstring on the first kickoff. That whole (1998) season was a wash."

The next year wasn’t much better, as Robertson first sprained his MCL and followed that up with two sprained ankles. And as for the amount of pulled muscles, well, even Robertson has lost count.

But he was encouraged by last season, as Robertson endured only one sprained ankle and missed only two games. Robertson says he hopes that is an indication that his personal injury bug has been squashed, or at least been put in hibernation.

For certain, the Aggies need him healthy and on the field this fall. Without a doubt, Robertson is the Aggies’ best pass-covering inside linebacker, says position coach Alan Weddell.

"He’s found a way to contribute every year in spite of the injuries," Weddell said. "He’s found a way to overcome the injuries. He’s extremely valuable to us. He’s not our base, run defense starter, but we’re not going to be able to win the Big 12 without Harold Robertson having a good year. From watching him workout, and watching him prepare and his attitude, I feel very confident that he’s ready to have a good year."

In some regards, it’s already been a great year for Robertson, who graduated with a degree in agriculture development on Aug. 10. Robertson, who will be working toward his teaching certification this fall, now looks back on his first four years at Texas A&M with more gratitude than grief.

"Everyone in my family is small, and no one is fat. Of couse, I know when I'm 40 I will probably gain pounds without even trying. But right now, it hasn't worked that way." -Harold Robertson

Sure, the injuries have been frustrating. Even heartbreaking.

But he now owns a degree from Texas A&M. That, he says, makes everything he has encountered so far well worth it.

"I’m happy about it," Robertson said of receiving his degree. "Everybody at the house is excited about it, too. It’s been a fight, but I’ve made it. I fumbled a couple of times last semester, but I’m very pleased about graduating.

"And in some ways, all the injuries I’ve had have been like a whole different learning environment outside the classroom. I’ve learned something about myself. And I’ve learned to rely more heavily on my faith in God. If it wasn’t for my faith, I wouldn’t have graduated from Texas A&M. No way. There was a time when I didn’t know if I was even going to go to college, and there have been times when I didn’t know if I could stay through all the injuries and stuff. But my faith has carried me through, and I praise God for that. He’s carried me through."

Robertson credits his strong faith, along with his perseverance, to his family. He was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother, but he has vivid memories of his grandfather, the pastor at Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, planting the seeds of the Bible’s teachings at an early age.

To ensure a significant attendance on Sunday mornings, Robertson’s grandfather would drive a yellow school bus around the Dallas suburb of Pleasant Grove, picking up family members, friends and church members.

"We were always in church, and I learned very early to take God in everything I do," Robertson said. "I remember my grandfather coming to pick up me, my two older brothers, my cousins and my friends. I was rooted in that, and I know that’s why I am who I am today. I owe that to my family."

While faith as a family tradition, so is a good sense of humor. Robertson, who is almost always wearing a broad smile, says he primarily owes that to his mother, Phyllis. Robertson calls her the family’s comedian, which is quite evident when she begins to explain her involvement in her son’s decision to attend Texas A&M.

"Marcus (Harold’s middle name) was considering some other schools, including some schools that were way too far away," Phyllis Robertson said. "Well, I just sat him down one day and said, ‘Marcus, let’s look at this.’

"We started with Florida State, and I just asked him if he liked hurricanes, alligators, crocodiles and big ol’ mosquitoes. He kind of frowned, and I knew I had him on that. Of course, I left out the part about the beaches. Then, we talked about Michigan, and I just said that if he wanted to walk to school in the snow everyday, never see his family and ice skate to the dining hall, well, that was fine with me. But he scratched that off, too.

"Then we talked about Texas A&M and how nice and warm it was, how close it was to home and how we could all come see him play. Once he made his mind up to go to A&M, I was delighted. Even after he made up his mind, (former Texas coach John) Mackovic would call, but for some reason, Marcus was always asleep whenever he called and I answered the phone – if you know what I mean."

One other trait that Robertson received from his family is his slender build. At 6-3, 220, he is the largest member of his immediate family. But he is still rather thin for an inside linebacker.

He has spent the last four years do virtually everything possible to put on weight. He tried the supplements, the protein powders, the steady diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and even tried eating baked potatoes prior to morning workouts.

"But the weight has never been a friend to me," he said. "I can’t put it on. Everyone in my family is small, and no one is fat. Of course, I know when I’m 40 I will probably gain pounds without even trying. But right now, it hasn’t worked that way.

"But I have gotten stronger. I want to play at 225 this year. I don’t know if I will, but I’m ready to play no matter what I weigh."

Because of his slender build and his history of injuries, Robertson will be used almost exclusively in passing situations. Of course, with teams like Oklahoma, Texas Tech and others filling the air with footballs in the Big 12, that means Robertson will play a major role for the Aggies this season.

"He realizes what he can do well and where he gets hurt," Weddell said. "He’s not an overpowering, run-stopping guy. But he’s not pouting because he’s not the main guy in the base run defense. That’s one of the things I love about Harold, his attitude and team approach.

"He’s a kid you can take home any day, claim him as your own any day. If mom and dad don’t want him, I’ll take him any day. He came in and he was a small, undersized linebacker, and we had hoped that he would get big. He obviously didn’t, but he can still be a big-time player for us this year."

That’s exactly what Robertson plans on doing this season. In limited action, he has 41 career tackles. He’d like to have at least that many this year alone. With excellent speed, hands and coverage ability, Robertson also envisions a few interceptions coming his way this year.

In fact, it’s an interception that is part of his dream scenario. Bumgardner fulfilled his dream scenario by catching the winning touchdown against Texas. Robertson has even grander plans.

"I want to be back home at Texas Stadium playing in the Big 12 championship game," he said with another wide, playful grin. "My senior year in high school at (Dallas Lincoln) we lost a playoff game to Highland Park at Texas Stadium with six seconds left on the clock. That was my last high school game.

"I want to go back and win there during my senior year in college, no matter how it happens. But as long as we’re talking about dream scenarios, I wouldn’t mind catching an interception and taking it back for the winning touchdown. That would be a nice way to finish things up."

Indeed, and a nice way to leave the injury frustrations behind.