Just Another Survival Test for Robinson?

With USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett saying Sunday an announcement on the Trojans’ coaching situation will come by midweek--”most likely Wednesday”--and Lou Holtz seemingly taking himself out of the running, it raises a question:

Could John Robinson really slip the noose again?

It would hardly be the first time. At USC last season--and once before when he was recommended for dismissal as the Rams’ coach--Robinson has demonstrated some remarkable survival skills.

Every escape would pale in comparison to this one if he returns for another season after sources indicated USC talked with former Notre Dame coach Holtz about Robinson’s job, though Holtz denied the job has been offered.

At least two USC sources said they have been told Holtz turned the job down, and both believe that bodes well for Robinson.

The South Bend (Ind.) Tribune is also reporting in today’s editions that Holtz declined the job.

Barring a change of heart by Holtz--who said he has “no intention of doing anything but getting my wife healthy” as she battles throat cancer--USC will either have to wrap up another coaching candidate quickly or choose to stick with Robinson, whose contract runs through 2001.

Garrett is apparently operating under a self-imposed deadline--perhaps tied to the junior college signing date Wednesday. He has refused to comment on Holtz or any other coaching prospects, maintaining it is “not appropriate” to discuss the process of Robinson’s evaluation--though it apparently includes evaluating potential replacements as well.

As for Robinson, he remains mum on the issue, even the day after the Holtz reports surfaced.

Despite the growing uncertainty of the last week, he kept up a calm front as he reported to work every day awaiting word from Garrett--though, granted, he has often been gone by midafternoon.

Robinson survived at USC last season despite a 6-6 record and a strained relationship with Garrett that seemed much-improved this season before the recent turn of events.

Last season’s resolution came about quickly--a sharp contrast to this year, when Robinson’s fate has yet to be announced more than three weeks after the final game, a 31-24 loss to UCLA that left the Trojans with a 6-5 record. (Because they had a chance to go to a bowl game, their season wasn’t officially over until slightly more than a week ago.)

This season, some of the early focus on Robinson’s future was on the assistant coaches, but Robinson has now agreed to make unspecified changes if he remains as coach.

The assistants were an issue last year as well, with Robinson saying that year at a news conference announcing his return that none of them “would be sacrificed, just as I wasn’t sacrificed.”

Robinson and Garrett said then that they would try to communicate better this season, and Garrett made obvious attempts to be more of a regular at Robinson’s media luncheons as well as at practice.

The circumstances have a bit of a familiar ring.

Robinson also had conflicts with his Ram superiors, resigning in 1991 at the end of a 3-13 season after nine seasons highlighted by two appearances in the NFC championship game.

Robinson and Rams executive vice president John Shaw disagreed about draft selections, personnel moves and budget limitations, and after a 5-11 season in 1990, Shaw recommended that Robinson be fired.

Owner Georgia Frontiere decided against it, and Robinson stayed but fired the defensive staff, including longtime defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur--now with the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

When the Rams were 3-12 with one game remaining in the season the next year, however, Robinson resigned, saying, “It’s just time for me to move on.”

Whether or not that day has come at USC is a question that should be answered this week.

*

RANDY HARVEY

Lou Holtz isn’t the answer for USC any more than USC is the answer for Lou Holtz. C2