McGee Cautious on Tollner’s Future; He Fails to Deliver Ringing Endorsement

There has been speculation among alumni that USC Coach Ted Tollner’s job might be in jeopardy if the Trojans, 4-4 with three games remaining, finish with a losing season.

But USC Athletic Director Mike McGee didn’t indicate Monday that Tollner is in trouble. McGee, in carefully guarded statements, didn’t give the football coach a resounding vote of confidence, either.

Asked if Tollner’s job is in jeopardy, McGee said: “The university is obviously tremendously interested in having a successful and winning football program within the context of the university. No one is more interested in seeing that happen than Ted Tollner. We have expectations that the program will turn around.”

McGee said USC is always evaluating the school’s sports programs and not just football.

Tollner signed a five-year contract when he became USC’s coach in 1983. Another year was added to the contract last December before USC’s Rose Bowl game with Ohio State. So the contract now goes through the 1988 season.

USC has fired only two football coaches since the school began fielding a team in 1888. Elmer (Gloomy Gus) Henderson was released after serving six seasons (1919-1924) while compiling the best winning percentage, .868 (46-7) of any USC coach. Jeff Cravath was fired at the end of the 1950 season with a nine-year record of 54-28-8. Tollner has a 17-13-1 record.

The university president has traditionally hired and, on two occasions, terminated football coaches. McGee was asked if he has any input in such decision making.

“I have the responsibility for developing recommendations that go directly to the president,” he said.