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Robys, Turners to pull for N’OrleansBy JAMES PATTERSONAn Indiana hometown hero will be on the field in Miami Sunday, but he won’t be wearing blue.
Former Indianapolis high school and Indiana University standout Courtney Roby will be opposing his home city’s football team at Sun Life Stadium as a member of the New Orleans Saints. Although Roby was born and raised in Indianapolis, graduated from Indiana University and makes his off-season home in the Circle City, he will be doing all he can to help his teammates defeat the Indianapolis Colts at Super Bowl XLIV. And he’ll have plenty of opportunity to do just that. New Orleans lists Roby as a wide receiver but his most success has come as a member of the Saints’ special teams, both as a kickoff returner and ace tackler. He ranked second on the team with more than 20 special teams tackles during the regular season. Roby has done so well at kick return coverage that most opposing teams designate him as the “jammer,” meaning he is seen as their main target to block during kick-offs. “My role has really been just being a core special teams guy handling kickoff returns and things of that nature,” Roby told the Indianapolis Recorder after he landed in Miami. He gives a lot of the credit for his success to his fellow players and their preparation for each game. “It feels good. We are down here working, treating this as a business trip; getting things ready to go for Sunday,” Roby said. Not only is Roby living a dream as he prepares to play against his hometown team in the National Football League’s biggest game, this is a story that almost didn’t happen. He nearly didn’t make it in professional football. Roby was taken by Tennessee in the third round of the NFL draft in 2005. He had a fairly productive rookie season but was released by the Titans just before regular games commenced in 2007. A month later, he was picked up by Cincinnati only to be released 10 days later without playing in a single game for the Bengals. On Jan. 2, 2008, the lighting-quick Hoosier was ecstatic over being signed by his beloved Indianapolis Colts. But his optimism deflated when the Colts released him at the beginning of the 2008 season. He was devastated, said his father, John Roby Jr. “It took a lot out of him because it was his hometown team and he had done so well during the pre-season,” said the elder Roby, director of business development with Innovations Consulting Group LLC in Indianapolis. After the Colts waived him, he seriously considered hanging up his spikes and calling it quits, said his dad. “It’s been a long haul for him, but God puts you where you are supposed to be,” said Courtney Roby’s mother, Donita Turner-Douglas. The football player’s parents are divorced but both still stay in daily contact with their son and are actively involved in his life. Courtney Roby’s parents will join a group of a dozen or so family members headed to Miami on Friday. Though Indianapolis is home for most of the Saints player’s family, they will have no divided loyalty come Sunday. So which team will they be pulling for? No question about it, the guys in gold and black. “It’s a win-win situation either way it goes but I still have to back my son, said Turner-Douglas. Courtney attended Lawrence North and North Central high schools. Roby, 27, finished his career as the most productive receiver in Hoosier football history, breaking the all-time record for career receptions and yards with 170 catches and 2,524 yards. When her son is in Indianapolis, he sometimes receives counseling and advice from Bishop Tom Benjamin of Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where his mother attends. Roby comes from an athletic family. His dad played basketball at the University of Indianapolis. His brother, Brandon Walker-Roby, also graduated from IU, where he played wide receiver. His youngest brother, Trey Roby, is a sophomore football player at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, and 10-year-old sister, Karrington Roby, is an AAU track star. The late NFL punter Reggie Roby and former IU basketball star Landon Turner are cousins. Another uncle, Rob Turner, is also an IU football alumnus. Roby’s great-grandfather, Robert E. Turner, attended Louisville Municipal College for Negroes on a football scholarship and storied Crispus Attucks High. In addition, two of Roby’s cousins are also in the NFL, Darren Sproles with San Diego and Jarrett Dillard in Jacksonville. “As a dad having children, especially boys, you never envision one day that your son will be playing in the Super Bowl. My main goal was really just to get him into college,” said John. “When he got to college, I was just thankful of the fact that he did well.” Copyright © 2010 - The Indianapolis Recorder
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