LOOK: Former Auburn player, coach officially joins Alabama staff
New Alabama defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson made the move official on Friday, tweeting a new profile picture and breaking Alabama-Auburn rivalry barriers with a hashtag and emoji.
“#RollTide,” Robinson tweeted, also adding an elephant emoji.
The simple acknowledgement of his new employment broke hearts as he crosses sides in one of college football’s most heated rivalries. The former Auburn defensive back is now part of the Crimson Tide.
Travaris Robinson was a first team All-SEC nominee as a senior at Auburn in 2002, defeated Alabama in the Iron Bowl. He went undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft but ended up with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers that year.
He quickly jumped to college coaching in 2006 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater before bouncing around to Western Kentucky, Southern Mississippi and Texas Tech before 2010. That’s when he landed at Florida from 2011-14 as defensive backs coach and worked with future NFL talent like Marcus Maye, Keanu Neal and more.
After a one season back at Auburn in 2015, Robinson moved to South Carolina as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2016-20, coaching Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu before arriving at Miami in 2021.
Alabama coach leaves for Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners announced the hire of Alabama cornerbacks coach Jay Valai as co-defensive coordinator and pass defense assistant who will work with cornerbacks and nickel backs. The potential for the move was also reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz weeks ago.
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Prior to the formal announcement, Jay Valai sent a farewell message to the behind-the-scenes staff at Alabama, given them credit for their hard work and contribution to his success.
“It has truly been a blessing to be a part of Bama Nation!” Valai said in a statement. “Seeing a team respond to adversity, multiple injuries, personal and family issues with a no flinch/next man up mentality has truly been special to see.
“It’s amazing to see the work ethic of people who never get enough credit in building like Jeff Allen, Ellis Ponder, Mrs. Linda, Mrs. Glenda, Ballou and Dr. Rhea, JT, Mama Ashley, Brandy, Carrigan, Makenzie, the recruiting staff, Jonathan King, DD, Shap, Van , the ageless wonder Cedric Burns and their amazing staffs (plus many more)!
“Mrs. Terry and coach Saban aka the G.O.A.T. have been amazing to my family and me. As incredible as it was to talk scheme and strategy with him, people will never know how truly good of a man he is. This staff and Roll Tide Community has been amazing to be a part of!
“Truly blessed and as always much love!”