COACHES AS PITCHMEN: EDDIE ROBINSON ROLLS IN AN OLDS

by Orson on Jun 28, 2006 3:36 PM EDT

We'd like to open this with a statement for the Silica Gel-eating crowd: we know Eddie Robinson was a great, great coach, and that it's rumored he's got Alzheimer's and is not doing well. Honors, plaudits, and kudos to him and all that he's done.

That said, like many a great coach, he made some terrible, terrible ads in the name of augmenting his income. Courtesy of reader JR, we present just one of his 15 or so shills for Oldsmobile.

Notes:

--The commercial reminds you that, once upon a time in America, a guy could appear on the television and take up to ten seconds to get to the main topic of conversation. Robinson talks about education, football, his wife Doris, the weather, his hat size, how Rodney his buddy caught a fish the other day...the ad takes forever to get to the point, which is that Eddie Robinson really, really likes his Oldsmobile.

--Eddie's kind of a half-assed feminist in this commercial. He lets His Wife Doris drive, which is pretty cool of him, especially with a steely blue land whale of a machine like that at your fingertips. Then again, he does say this line.

It really smooths out these roads, because it's big and solid, but easy for my wife to handle.

Actually, on further review, we're not sure Eddie's just talking about the car anymore at that point.

--It looks like it's 8 zillion degrees in the commercial, but Eddie passes the old-school man test by wearing a full suit without obvious distress in the heat. Respek.

--Eddie appears to be climbing out of the car and into Amelia Earhart's plane at the end of the commercial.

Rating: A-. Good on the fundamentals and sticking to his gameplan, Robinson manages to get his wife to drive him around, convince you to buy a living room on wheels, and impart warm fuzzies about education and opportunity all in the course of a single commercial. Fine work by a classic coach.

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Comments

seriously, where were they driving that boat? The road didn’t appear to have another lane going in the other direction.

by parker91 on Jun 28, 2006 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

You missed an easy lay-up by not including a Public Enemy reference. My 98 Olds is dynomite.

by Brian on Jun 28, 2006 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

After watching Coach O, Coach Robinson seems to have the skills of Robert Duvall. I am a little suprised that Coach O is not a better actor, when I first saw him I thought he was a big butch thespian.

by TideInTx on Jun 28, 2006 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

I just like the white gloves his wife is wearing.

Thanks for the commercial; it was nice seeing Coach Robinson in his prime.

by Beergut on Jun 28, 2006 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

Kudos to coach for the seatbelt too…though it looks a touch limp.

by Soap Box on Jun 28, 2006 6:35 PM EDT reply actions

If you find and post an Alvin Wyatt commercial for Lincolns, I’ll crap a gold brick, sterilize it, and mail it to the address of your choosing.

by Not a racist, just trying to be funny on Jun 29, 2006 2:51 AM EDT reply actions

Might I suggest the following?

Tommy Tuberville
c/o Auburn University Athletics Dept.
P.O. Box 351
Auburn, AL 36831-0351

by JC on Jun 29, 2006 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

Beergut, Mrs. Robinson isn’t wearing white gloves. When I first saw it I thought so too, but that is the sun shining on her hands.

by TideInTx on Jun 29, 2006 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

Eddie was great as a pitchman, but the best sales job was from Mr. Bryant for AT&T, when he talked about gettng his kids to call their mom. Nearly my entire family would tear up when he said “I sure wish I could call my mom.”

by Southern Papa on Jun 29, 2006 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

Brian, I thought the same thing re: “My 98.” (If only someone would rap about the Classic… the Caprice Classic. Spent many a good day in HS in the back of a Classic.)

by Panhandler on Jun 29, 2006 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

I want you armed for life. I want you to develop as a player. I want you to develop as a student, and I want you to develop as a human being. My life isn’t about playing games. That’s why my car is a ’73 Olds Ninety Eight.

by eirishis on Jun 29, 2006 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

I used to think that you were a Tennessee Traitor, and an A-hole. I still think that, but a genius too after this post.

Thanks for the great commercial. Eddie is so awesome. He definitely passes the old school man test with the suit. And how about how he tosses his bag in the back seat through the little back seat window of that massive two door car. The bag was light too; I guess there weren’t too many scouting reports in there.

Keep it up the good work. Can you find something with Johnny Majors. I’m sure he’s done something for Jack Daniels in his lifetime.

by Tennessee Tom on Jun 29, 2006 6:57 PM EDT reply actions