Hall of Fame
Steve Robertson was one of Newberry's last two-way players, starting at linebacker and center before graduating in 1960. He served two years in the Army before becoming a high school head coach, winning a state title at Columbia's Eau Claire High School.
He came to Newberry and was the Defensive Coordinator for Newberry's famed 1971 team that intercepted 41 passes, believed to still hold the record for the best single-season total at any level of college football. The Indians gave up 61 yards or fewer through the air six times during the season, had three games with six interceptions, allowed 74.2 passing yards per game, allowed opponents to complete just 40.9 percent of their passes, and gave up three passing touchdowns all season.
The Indians went 8-2-1 during that season, finishing second in the Carolinas Conference standings and capping off the season with a dominant 34-0 win over Presbyterian at Setzler Field. The shutout was Newberry's sixth of the season, including a six-week span in September and October that included five shutouts and 10 total points allowed.
Newberry's eight wins tied the 1924 team for most victories in a single season in school history, a mark that was not surpassed until 2006.
After departing Newberry, Robertson was instrumental in achieving six Southern Conference championships at Furman University and a national championship runner-up in 1985. He then helped N.C. State to eight bowl trips as defensive line coach and football executive administrator. His positive influence was felt both on and off the field as he impacted the lives of all those fortunate enough know him.
Robertson was preceded in the Hall of Fame by six members of the 1971 team: four student-athletes (Ken Pettus in 1987, Saylor Fox in 1991, David Sanders in 1997, and Keith McAlister in 2016) along with Head Coach Fred Herren (2011) and Secondary Coach Harold Wheeler (2017).
