Robbins, former UT basketball player, dies at 65

Austin "Red" Robbins

Austin "Red" Robbins

Former University of Tennessee basketball player Austin “Red” Robbins died Wednesday in Metairie, La., after a three-and-a-half year battle with cancer. He was 65.

Mr. Robbins was named Helms Athletic Foundation All-America and All-SEC by the league's coaches in 1966 playing for coach Ray Mears. The 6-foot-9 center from Groveland, Fla., averaged 17.1 points and 12.6 rebounds as a senior in 1966 and grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds against Mississippi.

Mr. Robbins, who played two seasons for the Vols, transferred from Chipola (Fla.) Junior College where he was also named Junior College All-America.

Mr. Robbins, who was selected in the sixth round of the 1966 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, elected to play in the newly created American Basketball Association and played for the New Orleans Buccaneers (1967-70), Utah Stars (1970-72), San Diego Conquistadors (1972-73; 1973-74), Kentucky Colonels (1973; 1974-75), and Virginia Squires (1975-76).

Nicknamed for his red hair as well as his fiery personality, Robbins quickly gained a reputation as one of the toughest players in the ABA, grabbing more than 6,000 rebounds in his career. He was also a solid offensive contributor with above-average shooting range, and in Game 7 of the 1971 ABA Finals made 11 of 12 field goals to lead Utah to the championship.

Born Sept. 30, 1944, in Leesburg, Fla., Robbins and his wife of 39 years, Janie, made their home in Metairie, La. Since his retirement from basketball, Robbins had been a sports equipment representative for shoes and other athletic apparel.

Visitation is Saturday, followed by a funeral mass at Metairie’s St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 105 Bonnabel Blvd.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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