“I just remember seeing a little bit of grass and when I exploded through the line and broke a couple of tackles, that’s when I thought, ‘OK, I’m starting to feel like myself again. As a result, BYU’s ground game stalled, which also had a negative impact on the passing attack. A running back with a broken rib is like a bird with a broken wing - neither goes anywhere. X-rays revealed Robbins had a broken rib. There was a time when I couldn’t bend over and tie my shoes. I tried to practice through it, but I kept reaggravating it. I thought maybe it was a muscle spasm, but I couldn’t breathe,” Robbins said. The following week against Southern Utah was worse and by Robbins’ third carry of the game, he was done. When it came time to make a first impression in the season opener against Sam Houston, he knew something was wrong. Robbins averaged a meager 3.3 yards per carry on seven attempts. He figured it was just a typical football wound. Robbins shook it off and played through the pain.
At some point during a physical fall camp, he took a hit to his side. Robbins got a break all right, but not the one he or the BYU offense could have imagined.
