Watching his grandson Marco shag balls at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex football field, Mark Robison looks beyond the game to envision a future. It was during a recent walk around the Mānoa campus that he asked Marco where he might want to go to college. The sixth grader quickly replied, "probably UH."

That simple answer reframed something for Robison. Inspired by Marco – and by granddaughter Bianca, a dedicated ʻIolani volleyball player – he began supporting UH women's volleyball and athletics more broadly. "This is my way of showing up for Bianca and acknowledging the sport that she is so dedicated to," he said.

Even as he looks toward the future, Robison's heart remains tethered to a gritty, golden era of UH football that began with an unexpected phone call decades ago.
 

From West Point to Waiʻanae
Growing up in a low-income household in Washington state, Robison had his life mapped out for him by his father: attend West Point, serve four years and land a job on Wall Street.

UH defensive coordinator Larry Price had a different plan.

To this day, Robison has "no idea how he found him," but Price's recruitment pitch worked. Robison turned down West Point to play for the then-called UH 'Bows, a decision that upset his father so much he refused to speak to him for a year.

"He was one of those working-class guys who always wanted better for his kids," Robison said. "He was firm and stubborn in what he thought was best for me."

Robison arrived in the islands as an outsider in 1973, but he didn't stay one for long –especially since his mother was born on a plantation in Lahaina, giving him instant local cred. The weekend before classes even began, some local teammates invited him to a three-day wedding party in Waiʻanae. Robison recalls the reception vividly, specifically the "aunties" who didn't hold back.

"You're a football player?" Robison recalled. "You must be the punter because you look like one skinny kid."

Hard Lessons, Lasting Loyalty
Robison credits much of his later success to his time under coaches Larry Price and Rick Blangiardi. Practices were intense and Blangiardi was known to deliver high-decibel commands on the line of scrimmage. While the practices were grueling, Robison remains grateful for that level of pressure. "They taught me about loyalty, commitment, hard work, perseverance and discipline," he said.

The Injury and the Return
Robison's collegiate athletic career ended abruptly in his sophomore year when a construction accident nearly severed his foot. Although the coaching staff offered to honor his scholarship, Robison declined. He didn't want to be a "water boy or ball boy" if he couldn't contribute on the field.

He eventually transferred to the University of Washington, becoming the first in his family to attend college. Yet, despite his time as a Husky, Robison considers himself a "lifetime 'Bow."

Today, Robison is a "true believer" that UH football can compete at the top level again. However, he acknowledges the landscape has shifted from the olden days. He points to the challenges of the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era, noting that it takes strategy to keep key players – like a quarterback or wide receiver – from transferring to schools raising millions in NIL funds. To support UH's NIL program, Robison recently contributed $270K.

"It's an honor to be a 'Bow," Robison said, "and my continued support is give from the heart."

For Robison, the lesson hasn't changed since those grueling practices under coaches Price and Blangiardi: loyalty matters. Whether he is supporting women's volleyball for Bianca or helping football navigate the NIL era, he is simply doing what those coaches taught him – showing up. By standing behind these student-athletes, he is ensuring that when Marco and Bianca look at UH, they see a program as strong and disciplined as the one that gave him his start.