All in the family

Katie Ann Robinson called dibs on OSU.

Looking back, not many people would be upset about OSU quarterback Zac Robinson, 22, choosing to play football at OSU.

But when Katie Ann Robinson, 20, found out her brother would be a Cowboy, she had a sisterly response to Zac’s decision.

“I was so mad,” Katie Ann said. “I said ‘that is my school, and I wanted to go there, and you are copying me.’”

Since Katie Ann’s mother, Myra Robinson, took her daughter to an OSU Homecoming for her eleventh birthday and Katie Ann first laid eyes on the Cowgirl pom squad, Myra said she knew Katie Ann wanted to be a Cowgirl.

“She said ‘I am going to do that,” Myra said. “‘When I get to college I am going to be one of those dancers.’”

Katie Ann and Zac, the oldest Robinson children, grew up in a house divided. Myra Robinson graduated from OSU in 1982 and Russ Robinson graduated from OU in 1980. Myra graduated with a degree in accounting while Russ was the back-up punter for Oklahoma behind former Sooner great and Miami Dolphin Uwe Von Schamann.

Katie Ann said dance and cheer were always a big part of her life while she was growing up. Having a brother who always played sports gave her a chance to show off her dancing skills.

“I would always be at Zac’s football games,” Katie Ann said. “My mom made me and my little sister be on the cheer squad and perform the ‘Macarena’ at half time, we were intense.”

But the plan was always set for the two, Katie Ann would go to OSU and join the pom squad and Zac would go to OU and play football. But when Zac made a late decision and changed his commitment to the Cowboys, Katie Ann told her mother she thought her experience at OSU was probably destroyed.

“Katie Ann and I were in the car and she turned to me and said, ‘You know Zac has ruined OSU for me now,’” Myra said. “‘That was supposed to be my school and that was supposed to be where I got to go and be me and not Zac’s little sister.’”

But Katie Ann decided to continue with her dreams and try out for the pom squad. She drove up to OSU the weekend of her senior prom, skipping her last high school dance, only to receive a rejection.

“I think if she was really honest,” Myra said. “I think she knew she probably didn’t deserve to make it, she messed up on her dance a little bit and she kind of felt like the high school girl.”

Myra said the setback did not discourage Katie Ann and gave her the motivation to try out again. But after Katie Ann failed to make the squad the second time her freshman year at OSU, her dream seemed to be fading.

“She decided that God must have something else in store for her and this must not be what he wants her to do,” Myra said.

Shortly after receiving the disappointing news about Katie Ann, Zac gave his mom a call. Myra said you could hear the hurt in his voice.

“(Zac) told me, ‘I know it’s not easy for Katie Ann to live in my shadow,’” Myra said. “Just once he wanted the spotlight on her and he really wanted this for her so she could be known as Katie Ann Robinson and not as Zac’s little sister.”

This time it would be Zac who would be Katie Ann’s cheerleader.
“He saw how devastated I was after last year and he took me to get ice cream and he really encouraged me,” Katie Ann said. “ He told me this is your thing and you go out there and give it your best.”

Katie Ann decided to give it one more shot. After her sophomore tryouts were over, Katie Ann called Zac in tears.

“I was like ‘oh great she didn’t make it,’” Zac said. “Then she said, ‘Zac I made it.’ I immediately was fired up for her and was hootin’ and hollerin’.”

Now that Katie Ann has found her own place at OSU, she said the constant references to being Zac’s little sister doesn’t come with any negative connotations.

“It’s kind of a compliment now, because people look up to him,” Katie Ann said. “Now that I am on the pom squad, the girls don’t look at me as Zac Robinson’s little sister, they look at me as another member of the squad, someone they dance with.”

Myra said Zac is thrilled Katie has her own success at OSU and said the two would break down walls for each other.

“He is so proud of her and just very excited that she is getting to fulfill her dream just like he is getting to fulfill his dream,” Myra said.

Zac said being on the field at the same time as Katie Ann is his favorite thing about his senior year.

“When we run out on the field and I see my sister out there, it gives me goosebumps every time,” Zac said. “It’s something that we will always remember.”