Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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irish in the pros very willing to help me out with things — anything, whether it was football or not. It really was a blessing for me to have him there." A quick study at center, Robinson had never snapped the football before working with a number of quarterbacks, primarily for their benefit, this past winter in preparation for the NFL Draft. When Cincinnati expressed its interest, offensive line coach Paul Alexander 's plan was to shift Robinson to the middle. "Paul [Alexander] said he saw me as a center and thought that is where I had a chance to make a little niche for myself," he explained. "I was open to that. I wasn't super pumped up about trying to learn something new while learning a new offense, but in hindsight I wouldn't change one thing about it. "Now I consider myself a center. I love the position and I've really kind of grown into it. Hopefully it's something I can do for a while. The shotgun stuff is a process just like anything else. You have to get the reps. Be- ing under center is pretty natural and that came pretty quick." Robinson said there are parallels when comparing Notre Dame's success this year to that experienced in Cincinnati. Both teams rely on the run and benefit from imposing defenses. "You hear spread offense and you think about the hurry-up and throwing the ball around, but the two years I was playing for Coach [Brian] Kelly, the run game still opens things up regardless of what's going on," Robinson said. "You look at the success Alabama has had, they've been running the ball and playing defense. In my mind that is the key to winning football games, and it starts up front running the ball. "They rave about [Irish offensive line coach Harry] Hiestand. They think very highly of him. I got to go watch some practices after we played Philadelphia in a Thursday game [Dec. 13], and all I can tell you is they get after it." It's a little bittersweet to watch, he admitted. "On one end I have a bunch of friends on the team and I ended up being a bigger Notre Dame fan than I ever thought was possible," Robinson said. "I sit and watch the games and you'd think I was still on the team the way I'm yelling at the TV. I wish the best for the guys and it's awesome seeing them winning. "At the same time, I think, man, it would be great to be there. Having some personal success this year kind of weakens that blow to the pride when everybody seems to be having this big year after you get out." NFL Notes Through Jan. 7 • The Minnesota Vikings won their final four games to close out the regular season with a 10‑6 record, but lost an NFC wild card matchup to North Division foe Green Bay 24-10. Tight end Kyle Rudolph had 56 catches for 535 yards and nine touchdowns; rookie safety Harrison Smith ended the year with 111 tackles, three interceptions (two returned for scores) and a forced fumble; and center John Sullivan helped pave the way for running back Adrian Peterson's 2,097 rushing yards in the regular season — nine short of breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL season record.