They’re Having Devil of a Time Picking Coach

Columnist David Casstevens of the Arizona Republic had a little fun recently with the speculation that has had Ram Coach John Robinson going to Arizona State as the successor to the fired Larry Marmie.

Casstevens pointed out that Robinson has yet to take over in Tempe, although on Dec. 5 a Phoenix television station called Robinson’s hiring by ASU “imminent.”

“Robinson may well end up at ASU,” Casstevens wrote. “The Sun Devils could do worse. (Robinson) won a share of the national championship at USC in 1978. He’s a likable fellow. With his double chin and easy smile, Robinson looks like your favorite uncle.”

Noting that an ASU booster had been quoted as saying Robinson would give the school “instant visibility” in Southern California, Casstevens wrote: “This is true. Of course, so would Charles Keating.”

Casstevens also posed this question about Robinson: “Should ASU hire a coach whose team couldn’t beat the Cardinals?”

Add Sun Devils: Another Republic columnist, Bob Hurt, tossed the name of former Raider Coach Mike Shanahan into the hopper as “a sleeper.”

Of Shanahan, now the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, Hurt wrote: “Last seen as head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, where he was 8-12 before being fired in 1989 when he refused to be owner Al Davis’ puppet. For that, he rates a merit badge, not a cold shoulder.”

Trivia time: Who holds the distinction of being the most lopsided winner in the Heisman Trophy voting?

Footnote to history: The 50th anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor prompted an interesting college football reunion when Duke played host to North Carolina State Nov. 16.

Assembling for the game were 39 members of the Duke and Oregon State teams that played in the 1942 Rose Bowl, the only Rose Bowl game ever played outside Pasadena.

Because of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, large crowds were banned on the West Coast. Hence, the Duke-Oregon State Rose Bowl in ’42 became a home game for the Blue Devils.

Add footnote: Another reason the ’42 Rose Bowl is significant: Oregon State’s 20-16 victory stands as the only time the Beavers have been a Rose Bowl winner.

An evening of culture: Manager Tony La Russa and five others from the A’s organization will don ballet slippers tonight for the Oakland Ballet’s opening-night performance of “The Nutcracker.” La Russa and Dave Stewart, who have performed twice before as Cavaliers, will be joined by Carney Lansford and newcomers Bob Welch, Walt Weiss and bullpen coach Art Kusnyer as they fight the Rat King and his army of Pink Mice in Act I.

Trivia answer: Dick Kazmaier of Princeton, who in 1951 racked up 1,777 votes to 424 for Hank Lauricella of Tennessee.

Quotebook: Columnist Randy Galloway of the Dallas Morning News on Raider owner Al Davis’ decision to trade quarterback Steve Beuerlein to the Dallas Cowboys: “That trade will not be mentioned in Davis’ memoirs. Beuerlein for only a fourth-round draft pick? Al, you idiot.”