Temple junior honors late brother on the field
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Temple football team is getting ready to suit up against Penn State in their opener on September 5th, but for one Owl, putting on that jersey this season will mean more than ever.
"Growing up I always wanted to be like my brother so I always did things that he did. I was like a carbon copy of him," Averee Robinson said.
When you hear Temple's Averee Robinson talk about his older brother Adrian, you can just feel the love between the two of them.
The junior defensive lineman came to North Broad Street because of his big brother, having watched Adrian star for the Owls at linebacker from 2008-2012.
But this past May, tragedy struck when Adrian at the age of 25 took his own life.
"We're still working on getting over the loss. We'll probably never get over it completely," Averee said.
"I know it's been really, really hard. He's had to be a rock for his sisters, his mom, his dad, and at the same time, deal with his own grief. But I couldn't be prouder with the way he's done that. He's done it with maturity; he's done it with the character and courage that his brother would be proud of," Temple Head Coach Matt Rhule said.
And this season, Averee will honor his brother the best way he knows how by wearing his number 43.
Defensive lineman don't usually wear numbers in the 40s, but this exception is truly exceptional.
Averee says he feels his brother's presence every time he steps on the football field.
"I felt his presence even when he was alive. My brother loved Temple more than anything," Averee said.
And Averee loved Adrian more than anything.
He'll always carry him in his heart, but this season, will also wear him on his chest, proudly in the city of brotherly love.
"I will never forget my brother. My kids will know about my brother. Any of my family members, any friends I have will know who my brother was because I'm going keep his memory alive," Averee said.
Adrian played two seasons in the NFL and Averee hopes to one day do the same.
