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Nervous Robinson Returns to Sideline for the Trojans

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

John Robinson was nervous. More nervous than he would be for any game this year.

He was only preparing for a practice. A spring practice at that.

But it was his first practice as USC head football coach in 10 years.

As Robinson took the once-familiar walk from Heritage Hall to Howard Jones Field for the start of spring ball Friday, it seemed an eerie sight to some, a welcome sight to many.

“It was definitely deja vu, “ said sports information director Tim Tessalone, one of the few who span the years between the two Robinson eras. “It was strange, but welcome to see him back here in his football gear.”

As he reached the field, Robinson seemed genuinely thrilled to be back at the controls of the team that brought him his greatest glory.

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“You’re always nervous before the first practice,” he said, “because you wonder, ‘Are we ready? Will we do enough in practice?’ But, at the same time, it’s exciting.”

After leaving USC, Robinson spent nine years coaching the Rams, leading them into the playoffs six times.

But the last two seasons, the Rams fell apart.

And so did Robinson. His weight went up. So did his blood pressure.

“I was not on death’s door,” he said. “But I’m not sure how many years you should be in one place doing the same job. I was there nine years. It might have been too long.”

When he left, Robinson spent a year traveling and working as a football analyst.

It was then, in the broadcast booth, that he missed the life he’d left behind.

“You’re excited and involved, yet not involved,” he said of sportscasting. “There wasn’t anybody down on the field you were touching. It wasn’t a group you were involved with. It was a funny kind of feeling.”

So was Friday.

Robinson started almost unobtrusively, setting up obstacles for the running backs while his assistants, following normal routine, got the practice under way.

But Robinson was soon in the center of the action, standing in the middle of the huddle giving instructions, adjusting blocking patterns, shouting encouragement to the running backs until he started to go hoarse.

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His players were about 10 the last time Robinson roamed a Trojan sideline. But they have heard the stories.

“You know what he knows,” said quarterback Rob Johnson, “so you give him a lot of respect. It’s like a new beginning around here. You can feel the tradition.

“Last year, when he was around here for his TV job, he was like a celebrity. Now, he’s our coach. It’s nice.”

Robinson plans on reinstalling prestige lost from the program in recent years right from the start. But will fans take such talk from USC as seriously as they once did? Is the mystique still there?

“Sure it is,” said Robinson without pause. “You’re damn right it is.”

Robinson, 57, is more comfortable looking ahead than behind.

“Do I wonder what happened to those 10 years?” he said. “Yeah, but you quickly get into a routine. I’m not a big guy for thinking of the past.

“This wasn’t originally in my plans for the future. But nobody really has plans for the future. We all live day to day.”

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