Heave ho: Robinson catch helps Illini double dip
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Heave ho: Robinson catch helps Illini double dip
Sep. 4—CHAMPAIGN — It went just like they drew it up. As far as you know.
Two seconds left in the first half Thursday night against UAB, Illinois quarterback Katin Houser dropped back from his own 46. And fired the ball to the end zone.
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The Hail Maryest of Hail Marys.
Good thing for Illinois Ty Robinson was in the game for his first play on offense.
Robinson, a sixth year super senior, took the ball away from a Blazers defender for an improbable touchdown. The Illinois lead grew from one to eight, 21-13 at the break. THE pivotal play in an eventual 42-23 victory at Gies Memorial Stadium.
"That was crazy," said Robinson, a Ball State transfer. "I don't think I'll ever forget that. I've been a part of a few Hail Mary (attempts) before, but that was the first successful one, I think I'll save those gloves forever."
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Robinson's job on the play was to be the "jumper," the tall guy (he is 6-foot-4) who tips the ball in the hopes of making happen exactly what happened.
"I'm supposed to go get the ball," he said. "I was ready for it. I did."
Three or four people touched the ball, but Robinson had it at the end. That's all that mattered."
"It was really great to see it come to fruition after we practiced it," Robinson said. "Things like that don't happen often so it was really cool."
It was Robinson's first touchdown since 2024, when he played at Ball State.
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Houser for one, was thrilled No. 10 was in the game.
"Ty Robinson made a great play," Houser said. "That was definitely one of the coolest plays of my career so far. That was my first Hail Mary ever. You can put that in the books."
Best-case scenario
Illinois coach Bret Bielema talks all the time about double dipping around the break. That means scoring on the final drive of the first half and the first of the second.
The players have heard him preach about it.
"That gives us really good momentum coming out of halftime," Robinson said.
When a Hail Mary is needed, Robinson is one of the players on the field.
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"We have all receivers out there," Robinson said.
This time, he hit the lottery.
"I'm speechless," he said.
Illinois works on the end-of-half plays often. By design.
"For Illinois, we have to win in those moments," Bielema said.
Bielema said it was the first successful Hail Mary play he has been a part of ... the good kind.
"I've had a couple hit against me," he said. "That's very traumatic. I had a point in my career in 2011 where we had two Hail Marys hit us back to back at the end of the game against Ohio State and Michigan State that probably kept us out of a national championship game."
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Ready for more
Robinson didn't see the ball again Thursday night. Or get in on another offensive play.
Perhaps his heroics earned him more reps in the coming weeks.
"Hopefully," Robinson said.
He is happy to be at Illinois.
"It's been fantastic," he said. "I just feel blessed. This is my last year. I wish I could be here for longer. I wish I could have gotten here earlier. I've been putting in a lot of hard work in since I got here in January. I honestly feel like I got here three weeks ago. It's flown by."
He plans to enjoy his final season.
"I have nothing to lose," he said. "I'm trying to do my best. It just felt amazing to be out there and have an impact in my first game."
