Presidential politics came home to OSU last week when men's basketball coach Craig Robinson became "brother-in-law-elect" to Barack Obama. Robinson is seen here addressing the Democratic National Convention in August. (photo: Associated Press)

NOTE: Listen to Craig Robinson on Thursday’s “All Things Considered” from National Public Radio by clicking here. — Editor

Just like a new coach might hope at the beginning of a new season, Craig Robinson knew his brother-in-law’s Presidential campaign had a “real possibility” of succeeding.

“What we had to do was keep our eye on the prize, our nose to the grindstone,” said Robinson, Oregon State’s men’s basketball coach and brother of Michelle Obama, wife of President-elect Barack Obama.

Nine days ago, the hope became a reality as U.S. voters gave the Illinois Democrat 52 percent of the popular vote and a two-to-one margin in the Electoral College. His election as not only the 44th U.S. president but the first African-American president in the nation’s 232-year history dominated international news coverage.

Friday afternoon, Robinson was looking forward to a quiet weekend with his wife and children to let the reality of it all sink in. “These people I’ve known all my life are now the president and first lady,” he exclaimed.

Standing on stage at almost midnight on Nov. 4 and towering over his brother-in-law, Robinson felt “a powerful rush” as 120,000 people in Chicago’s Grant Park cheered, screamed, and cried after Obama’s acceptance speech. The coach had been an important part of the campaign, representing Obama at more than 50 events over the past year.

“Yet it was very humbling, too, quite an honor to be standing there with Barack and representing America,” said Robinson.

He was in the room when his brother-in-law took phone calls from President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee. He took the stage with the rest of the family after Obama’s victory speech, and was awed by both the crowd’s energy and the moment.

“It’s so powerful, so emotional to realize all that has transpired to get us to this point today,” Robinson said, not only for the Obama campaign, not only for African Americans, but for all America.

For all the historic precedent of the past week, however, Robinson is now in “business as usual mode. My focus is to try to turn a basketball program around.”

Robinson in April inherited an OSU program that is coming off an 0-18 season in the Pac 10, carrying a 21-game losing streak and looking for its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990.

A few hours after Chicago, he was back on the job, watching film, running a practice and looking for ways to make OSU better.

It would be naïve to say that the notoriety of being the coach whose brother-in-law is president of the most powerful government on Earth won’t affect the OSU program, Robinson said. “If we get invited into some (recruits’) homes because of it, that would be fine.”

He doesn’t feel apprehensive, he said. “It just that more people will be watching to see what we do.”

Spoken just like a new coach hoping for a “real possibility” of success at the beginning of a new season.

~ by Ed Curtin

“My grandparents started taking me to OSU football games when I was 6 months old, and to OSU basketball games when I was 9 months old,” Hollis said.  “I come from a sports family and I love it!”

Malisa Hollis produces the TV show “Beavers All Access” for Fox Sports Net.

Her passion for sports is evident, and as the coordinator of video production for OSU’s athletic department, it couldn’t be a better fit.   Since graduating from OSU in 2001, Hollis mixes together team highlight tapes, fundraising tapes and produces the TV show “Beavers All Access” for Fox Sports Net.

Co-worker Jeff Taylor says, “She’s an encyclopedia for OSU athletics.”

“She is very knowledgeable technically and her creative editing skills are phenomenal,” said intern Matt Riley.

“Malisa is really a special, special person for Athletics and probably taken for granted sometimes just because of her commitment to her job,” said Steve Fenk, assistant athletic director. “She goes beyond the call of duty every day. She is an extremely talented producer, works under incredible deadlines and often works through the night. Even when exhausted she still has a smile and is willing to help in any way.”

Hollis’ life-long love affair with Beaver sports began with her grandparents, Bert and Shirley Babb, who have deep roots at OSU. Bert’s father, Graydon Babb, played baseball for the Beavers, and Bert himself was going to pitch for OSU but a serious car accident derailed that plan.

Malisa Hollis with family friend, Ralph Miller.

The Babbs not only have season tickets to Beaver football games, but also men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and baseball.

Hollis’ grandparents were good friends with Ralph and Jean Miller.  “I’d be with my grandparents in the summer time, and I remember being around coaches all the time.  A lot of people see Ralph Miller as cranky, but he was gentle and grandfatherly to me.  He never treated me like a tag-a-long.”  (Hollis and Miller share the same birthday–March 9.)

Hollis’ heart, though, is reserved for Gary Payton.  Even though she was only 10 years old, Hollis remembers sitting next to Payton on the bus on the way to a practice before the 1989 NCAA Tournament.  “He was my absolute idol; I had a huge crush on him,” she recalls. “It was really cool.”

But it’s the football games Hollis recalls the best.

The biggest game to her is the 1998 Civil War game.  “We hadn’t had a winning football season in 28 years,” said Hollis.  “Oregon was heavily favored, and we had taken a beating by their fans for years.  After OSU won in the second overtime on a Ken Simonton touchdown, people were tearing up turf and tearing down goal posts.  It was intense, emotional and as much energy as you’ve ever seen.  It didn’t matter if we lost any after that– 44-41 said it all.”

In 1999, Hollis recalls the Beaver’s ending a 20-year losing streak to California.  “Grown men were rushing on the field crying.  So many times we couldn’t win and now it was over,” said Hollis.  The 2006 win over USC also stands out in Hollis’ mind.  “We beat the number one team in the country.”

Asked if she plans on making all the home football games the next 29 years, Hollis replied, “I hope so. I’d love to be able to do that.”

~ by Jeanne Silsby

Video

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2006 baseball champs

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2007 baseball champs

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Ken Simonton breaks the streak

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Beavers break USC’s win streak in 2000

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Beavers win the Sun Bowl in 2006

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’98 Civil War win

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Gary Payton in Beaver orange

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