Readers Leave a Message: Class Must Be Out at USC

Mike Garrett knew how to run Student Body Right, but it’s painfully obvious that he has no idea how to run an athletic department.

KEVIN BOWEN

Venice

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If class and popularity are any criteria, let’s promote John Robinson to athletic director and let Mike Garrett try to coach the talented recruits John and his staff are bringing in. That is, if they haven’t been turned off by the lack of support from the athletic director.

RICHARD DREW

Morro Bay

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The way they handled the John Robinson firing, USC can only stand for University Second Class.

P.J. GENDELL

Beverly Hills

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Steven B. Sample and Mike Garrett managed to bring more disgrace on the University of Southern California in one day than any football team ever did.

GERALD M. REEVES

El Cajon

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Five years ago, John Robinson stabbed Larry Smith in the back by maneuvering around behind the scenes to get rehired at USC while Smith was preparing his team for the Freedom Bowl. Now, Mike Garrett clumsily returned that dark favor.

This whole botched episode was sadly pathetic and makes one wonder if this is what being “a Trojan for life” and part of the “Trojan family” is really all about.

JIM SCHWEITZER

Brea

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Mike Garrett’s extremely bad handling of John Robinson’s firing should have most recruits and their parents thinking twice about committing to a school where a football program is dying a slow death. A poor recruiting class can be blamed on this sad episode. Garrett is doing for football at USC exactly what he did to the basketball program.

This reminds me of an old comic line that can be applied here, “Mike Garrett wants USC to win in the worst way.” Just don’t let him feed that horse.

RALPH MORONES

La Canada

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Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Garrett and Sample fire Coach John Robinson because of his 6-5 record and replace him with a semi-anonymous, lifetime assistant coach who has already been fired from the University of Pittsburgh, one of the worst college football programs in America.

That makes about as much sense as one of Bill Plaschke’s columns.

ROBERT JOHNSTON

Temple City

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I only hope working for Georgia Frontiere all those years in some small way prepared John Robinson for the time he’d spend with the likes of President Sample and Athletic Director Garrett. These guys make Al Davis look like the epitome of class, the Great Communicator and Will Rogers all rolled up into one.

JACK VON BULOW

Temple City

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I find the outpouring of sympathy from the L.A. sports media for John Robinson ironic. After all, during the season, those same pundits put as much pressure on Mike Garrett as he put on Robinson to win games. With each defeat or mediocre performance, there were more and more articles “suggesting” that Robinson’s time had come. Now you want to make him a martyr. Please. If there had been less clamoring for his removal during the season, he might still be the head coach at USC.

RODNEY K. BOSWELL

Los Angeles

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Dear Paul Hackett,

Just thought I’d give you an idea of what kind of man you’ll be working for when you begin your career at USC under Mike Garrett.

First of all, even if you have 10 consecutive successful seasons with USC, including a national championship, four Rose Bowls, and two Heisman Trophy winners, Mike Garrett will still fire you if you have two unsuccessful seasons.

Second, if you are going to be fired, you will be the last one to know it.

Third, Garrett will offer your job to several individuals, including your archnemesis, before you are notified of your termination.

Finally, Garrett will also humiliate you by allowing the media to know his every move, again, before you are told anything.

The bottom line is this: No matter how much you do for the school or how much you love it from the bottom of your heart, Garrett will still fire you and disgrace you if you have two bad seasons. I just thought you’d like to know some of Garrett’s guidelines. They’re pretty fair, aren’t they? Welcome aboard.

JOHN KUMPART

Los Angeles

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Listen up, current and future USC football players:

If you feel the need for a consoling uncle, go see your uncle. If, on the other hand, you want a first-rate education, excellent coaching and the chance to be a winner in--and beyond--an athletic career, give new Coach Paul Hackett a chance. John McKay turned out both winning teams and winning men--and I suspect none of them ever thought of the coach as their uncle.

WIL BRYDON

Winnetka

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John Robinson is in denial. He thinks the team progressed enough for him to be retained. As far as I can determine, he is the only one that feels this. If he is the Trojan he proclaims to be, he should work like one to get the best possible players for the future.

DON COOLEY

Boulder City, Nev.

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I realize that Bill Plaschke is trying to make a rep for himself, but his insidious chipping away at USC athletics is not needed. We already have Mike Garrett for that.

LARRY HARRIS

Manhattan Beach

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I believe the L.A. Times deserves some of the responsibility for the chaotic state of the USC football program. Your paper was out for John Robinson’s scalp after the fourth game of the season, including the season-long negative stories by Robyn Norwood and the witch-hunt heresy of players [having work done for them by tutors.]

The Times had J.R. fired last Sunday with rumors of Lou Holtz, et al. A coach that never had a losing USC season deserves better.

WINSTON BARKER

1972 USC football team

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Well, I see Bill Plaschke and The Times sports staff got what they wanted, John Robinson fired in absentia by an athletic director lacking in common decency.

Who’s next on The Times’ chopping block, Bill Russell? Terry Collins? Cardinal Mahony?

JULIE T. BYERS

Temple City

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Why in the world would anyone stoop to pulling out the worst possible file photo they could find of John Robinson waving goodbye [Dec. 17]? Very tacky.

WILLIAMS P. WELLS

Malibu

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As though USC football wasn’t in a deep enough Pitt, Mike Garrett has to go out and hire Bill Walsh lite--all the charisma, one-third of the ability. That giant sucking sound you hear is UCLA and others pulling away Troy’s blue-chip recruits.

LAWRENCE H. TOFFLER

Los Angeles

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Don’t fret, John. Georgia recycles all the old coaches. You’ll love St. Louis.

JANN GATH

Long Beach