Monte Robbins
Encyclopedia
Dammond R. "Monte" Robbins (born September 19, 1964, in Great Bend, Kansas
) is a former American football
punter. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1984 to 1987. He holds Michigan's all-time records for the longest punt (82 yards) and for average yards per punt in a career (42.6) and in a year (45.0).
, Robbins played for the University of Michigan
from 1984 to 1987 under Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler
. In his four years at Michigan, he punted 187 times for 8,053 yards, averaged 42.6 yards per punt, and had only one punt blocked. In December 1986, he set a Michigan school record with an 82-yard punt against Hawaii. Robbins later recalled his record-setting kick: "I guess my highlight was in the Hawaii game in 1986 when we were backed up on our goal-line. I kicked one 82 yards that turned the game around. After we got better field position, we scored a TD on our next possession that won the game." Because of Robbins' hang time, Michigan led the country in 1986 with a 43.0-yard average in net punting, punts minus returns. As a senior in 1987, he averaged 45.0 yards on 36 punts. In April 1988, Robbins summed up his playing career at Michigan: "It was a great experience and I saw a lot of things. Michigan is a great place to be. You get great exposure here. No other team in the country has 105,000 fans for its home games. I was able to play under a coach like Bo Schembechler. I've dealt with a lot of pressure situations."
Robbins played during the same years that the Big Ten Conference
also featured future NFL punters Tom Tupa
and Greg Montgomery
and, accordingly, was never named to an All-Big Ten team despite setting Michigan's all-time punting records. Robbins was later selected by Athlon Sports as the punter on the All-Time Michigan Team.
in the fourth round (107th overall pick) of the 1988 NFL Draft
. He was the highest drafted punter in Buccaneers history. After averaging 36.6 yards on seven punts in the 1988 exhibition season, Robbins was cut by the Buccaneers on August 22, 1988. He was picked up by the Chicago Bears
on August 23, 1988, but he did not play in any regular season games for the Bears. Robbins signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins
in early 1989 and was traded to the New England Patriots
in April 1989. In August 1989, he was waived by the Patriots to make room on the roster for Russ Francis
. In April 1992, he was waived by the Montreal Machine
of the World League of American Football
.
.
Great Bend, Kansas
Great Bend, named for its location at the historic big bend of the Arkansas River, is the most populous city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,995.-History:...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter. He played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1984 to 1987. He holds Michigan's all-time records for the longest punt (82 yards) and for average yards per punt in a career (42.6) and in a year (45.0).
University of Michigan
A native of Great Bend, KansasGreat Bend, Kansas
Great Bend, named for its location at the historic big bend of the Arkansas River, is the most populous city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,995.-History:...
, Robbins played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1984 to 1987 under Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. In his four years at Michigan, he punted 187 times for 8,053 yards, averaged 42.6 yards per punt, and had only one punt blocked. In December 1986, he set a Michigan school record with an 82-yard punt against Hawaii. Robbins later recalled his record-setting kick: "I guess my highlight was in the Hawaii game in 1986 when we were backed up on our goal-line. I kicked one 82 yards that turned the game around. After we got better field position, we scored a TD on our next possession that won the game." Because of Robbins' hang time, Michigan led the country in 1986 with a 43.0-yard average in net punting, punts minus returns. As a senior in 1987, he averaged 45.0 yards on 36 punts. In April 1988, Robbins summed up his playing career at Michigan: "It was a great experience and I saw a lot of things. Michigan is a great place to be. You get great exposure here. No other team in the country has 105,000 fans for its home games. I was able to play under a coach like Bo Schembechler. I've dealt with a lot of pressure situations."
Robbins played during the same years that the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
also featured future NFL punters Tom Tupa
Tom Tupa
Thomas Joseph Tupa, Jr. is a former American football punter and quarterback in the National Football League.-Personal life and high school career:...
and Greg Montgomery
Greg Montgomery
Greg Montgomery is a former National Football League punter from for three teams. In his 9 NFL seasons, he led the NFL in yards per punt average three times , was selected to one Pro Bowl and finished his career with 22,831 punting yards and 120 punts inside the opponents 20 yard line...
and, accordingly, was never named to an All-Big Ten team despite setting Michigan's all-time punting records. Robbins was later selected by Athlon Sports as the punter on the All-Time Michigan Team.
Michigan punting records
Robbins holds and/or held the following Michigan punting records:- He holds Michigan's current career record for yards per punt with an average of 42.6 yards per punt.
- He holds Michigan's current single season record for yards per punt with an average of 45.0 yards per punt in 1987.
- He holds Michigan's current record for longest punt at 82 yards.
- He held Michigan's career record for net punting yards with 8,053 yards. His career yardage record was broken in 2009 by Zoltan MeskoZoltán MeskóZoltán Meskó de Széplak was a leading Hungarian Nazi during the 1930s. He led his own Nazi movement during the early 1930s but faded from the political scene when Hungary became a member of the Axis powers....
, who closed out his Michigan career with 10,703 yards. - He held Michigan's single season record for net punting yards with 2,705 in 1984. His record was broken in 2001 by Hayden EpsteinHayden EpsteinHayden Epstein is a former professional American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League, NFL Europa, and the Canadian Football League....
. Mesko holds the current single season record.
Professional football
He was selected by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the fourth round (107th overall pick) of the 1988 NFL Draft
1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. He was the highest drafted punter in Buccaneers history. After averaging 36.6 yards on seven punts in the 1988 exhibition season, Robbins was cut by the Buccaneers on August 22, 1988. He was picked up by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 23, 1988, but he did not play in any regular season games for the Bears. Robbins signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in early 1989 and was traded to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in April 1989. In August 1989, he was waived by the Patriots to make room on the roster for Russ Francis
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...
. In April 1992, he was waived by the Montreal Machine
Montreal Machine
The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the World League of American Football, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three European teams and six U.S.-based teams...
of the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
.
Later years
After retiring from football, Robbins went into the mortgage banking business. From 1994 to 2002, he was a regional vice president for Amresco Commercial Lending, Inc. From 2002 to 2010, he was the president and chief executive officer of CapWest Mortgage Corporation in Overland Park, KansasOverland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
.