Jovon Robinson Dismissal Shows Importance of This Year for Malzahn

When Gus Malzahn announced Wednesday that senior running back Jovon Robinson was no longer a part of the Auburn football program, among the Tigers faithful you could find deep disappointment, prominent panic, underlying disgust, and, perhaps most distinguishable of all, feigned disbelief.

The incredulity was more sarcastic than anything else because Auburn fans have grown accustomed to its best players being M.I.A., either going down to injury or, more frustrating, self-inflicted wounds.

Losing Carl Lawson, arguably the Tigers top overall talent, for the majority of the last two seasons was tough. Going without Michael Dyer, D’haquille “Duke” Williams, and, now, Jovon Robinson for all the games they cost themselves may have, however, been even more detrimental.

Immediately, it is undeniable that being without Robinson’s ability out of the backfield is an enormous loss: While it was Peyton Barber who led the team in rushing last year, many believed Robinson was Auburn’s best tailback.

The coaches may have ultimately concurred. In the last six games, Robinson totaled 113 rushes to just 66 for Barber and averaged 5.5 yards per carry overall, which is extremely impressive when you factor in Auburn’s inept 2015 passing attack.

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Despite undoubtedly making the 2016 schedule even more trying on the surface — and maybe even explicitly because of it — by dismissing last season’s Birmingham Bowl MVP, Malzahn has shown one thing: He has grown as a head coach.

All Auburn fans know of the countless chances that Malzahn afforded Dyer, even taking on the tailback at Arkansas State after Gene Chizik booted him from The Plains, and the team turmoil those same undeserved opportunities being given to Williams created.

Malzahn has learned that giving a team cancer repeated opportunities often contributes to defeat more than victory — if not instantly then eventually, if not in a particular game than in the grand scheme.

This growth on Malzahn’s part was evident in his statement on Robinson’s dismissal, where the Dyer and, especially, Williams subtext was obvious:

“He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn Tiger football player. . . . We’re gonna have zero distractions on the team this year.”

This year.

And later:

“This is a team and this year there’ll be no distractions.”

This year.

For their part, the players seem to understand the decision.

Senior receiver and leader Marcus Davis said “we just have to respect what’s going on” and “I feel like the team is in a good place just because of the off-season we had and the brotherhood we created. We’re just going to go with what is best for the team.”

Austin Golson, the junior offensive tackle, said he was “supporting” the decision and in a strong endorsement added: “I know he did the right thing because I trust him as a coach and I trusted him last year.”

Jovon Robinson Dismissed from Auburn: Details, Comments and Reaction

Maybe we should have seen this coming. It’s not the first time Robinson has had to leave Auburn, after all.

Robinson was initially part of Auburn’s 2012 recruiting class as a consensus four-star recruit, rated as high as the No. 136 player in the country (by Rivals), and a U.S. Army All-American out of Wooddale High School in Memphis. It was after joining the team and practicing that the NCAA would declare him ineligible due to a grade-change on his high school transcript being discovered.

And even before his dismissal Wednesday, it was obvious that there were concerns with Robinson’s maturity right out of the gate:

“Jovon probably didn’t play or wasn’t performing at the standard that we look for — on and off the field — early. . . . He probably didn’t have the best start,” running backs coach Tim Horton said in August of last year.

He continued:

“There’s just a certain standard and professionalism that we want our groups to perform at, whether that’s being on time for a meeting, or paying attention when you’re not playing, or whatever it might be. And some kids it’s real easy for them, like [Kerryon Johnson], and some it probably hasn’t been demanded of them in the past, but it is now.”

Obviously, in a perfect world, Robinson would have been a great teammate with a great work ethic. But that wasn’t reality. And because it wasn’t reality, Malzahn — this time — made the best choice for Auburn’s tomorrow instead of its today.

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Despite two seasons at Georgia Military College allowing Robinson enough of a forum to display his talents, overcome the grade-changing scandal, and return to The Plains in late 2014 as a five-star recruit, this is the ending he wrote for himself.

For whatever reason, Auburn and Robinson simply weren’t meant to be.

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