Robert Freeman

Athlete: Football – Basketball - Baseball

Robert Freeman attended Linden High from 1974 until 1978. While at Linden, Robert
was an outstanding three sport athlete, earning 7 varsity letters in football, basketball and
baseball. On the basketball court, Robert was a three year letterman as a forward & center.
Robert always seemed to save his best play for tournaments as he was selected to the all-
tournament team in every tournament the Lions played in during his 3 years as a varsity player.
In baseball, Robert was an outstanding defensive centerfielder and was one of the leading hitters
in the Lions lineup. Robert earned 2 varsity letters and was selected to the All T.V.L. 1 st team his
senior year

It was on the football field, though, where Robert made his biggest impact. Robert was a varsity
letterman in both his junior and senior years and in both those campaigns was selected to the All
T.V.L. 1 st team. During his senior season in 1977, Robert helped lead the Lions to their first
league championship in 22 years and all the way to the Section Championship game.
Robert was indispensable to the Lions that season as he played tight end on offense, safety on
defense, place kicker on extra points and field goals, the kicker on kick offs and snapped the ball
on punts. Robert made countless big plays during that memorable season, never more so than in
the last regular season game of that year against Riverbank. The Lions needed a victory to win
the T.V.L. title. With the game tied 7-7 and Riverbank driving for the go-ahead score, Robert
intercepted a pass on the goal line and ran it back 100 yards for a Lion touchdown. Coach Mark
Miller credits that play with turning what was shaping up as a close game into a 41-14 Lion rout.

Robert went on to score 2 more touchdowns in that game on pass plays of 72 and 43 yards. The
following week in the section semi-final against Orestimba, Robert again came up with a big
interception late in the game to help seal a hard fought defensive battle, 21-6.

Needless to say, Robert earned many well deserved honors following that season. Besides
making All T.V.L. for the second year in a row, he was also voted to the All Stanislaus District 1 st
team, All Nor-Cal 1 st team and was selected to play in the Lions Central All-Star football game in
1978, where he scored on a 43 yard touchdown pass. After 31 years, Robert still holds two
Linden High football records - most touchdown receptions in a season (12) and longest
interception return for a touchdown (100 yards). He is second in most receiving yards in a season
with 890 and his 41 receptions and 109 points scored during the 1977 season places him 3 rd in
both those categories in the all-time Lion football record book. “Robert had the rare ability to
almost single-handedly take over a game on both sides of the ball. Many times his big play
receptions or interceptions would turn out to be the turning point in the ball game” said longtime
Lion football coach Mark Miller. In a lasting tribute to Robert’s outstanding football career at
Linden High School, his number 81 has been retired, never to be worn by another Lion football
player again.

Following his graduation from Linden High in 1978, Robert attended San Francisco State and
played football for one season before transferring to San Joaquin Delta College in 1979. Robert
played football for the Mustangs in that 1979 season but an injury during that season ended his
college football career. Robert went on to transfer to U.C. Davis, where he earned his Bachelor
of Science degree in Plant Science in 1982. Robert is a self-employed farmer and he and his wife
Jeanne make their home in Linden with their three children, Giovanni, Angelo and Lilliana.

Robert has taken his love of sports and has given it back to the community by being a youth
baseball and softball coach for the past 10 years. Robert and his family enjoy traveling and have
been fortunate to experience many wonderful trips the past few years.

The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Robert Freeman into its
Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic career at Linden High School.