Robinson Proved Only That He Should Move On

Even before USC’s victory over Notre Dame in the final game last season, I believed John Robinson should return. He had won too many games, earned too many Rose Bowl berths and produced too many All-Americans to be fired after one not-quite-losing season. He deserved another year.

The year is up.

The verdict should be clear to everyone at USC. If he could be objective, that would include Robinson. He, after all, is the one who said this was a “Prove It” season.

All the Trojans proved is that Robinson’s program, like his once indomitable student-body-right offense, is running in place.

Yet, there’s a growing sentiment to allow Robinson to return for at least one more year. A 6-5 record, a valiant though losing effort against UCLA and perhaps an Aloha Bowl bid seem to be good enough at USC these days.

The rationale is that Robinson is on the verge of recruiting an outstanding freshman class. Compton Dominguez quarterback Jason Thomas has committed. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame tailback Justin Fargas also appears to favor USC.

We’ve heard this before. Robinson recruited all of the players currently on the USC roster, many highly coveted by other schools. Either they were overrated or they have been undercoached.

There is no escaping the conclusion that this season’s Trojans were poorly prepared. Through the 11th game, they were error-prone, undisciplined and incapable of making significant halftime adjustments.

“There have been problems all season,” guard Chris Brymer said. “The sad thing is they never got fixed.”

I would be the last to suggest that winning is everything or even the most important thing.

But college football players should have the expectation that they will receive guidance enabling them to improve from one day to the next, one week to the next, one year to the next. Other students on campus expect no less from their professors.

Several USC players have expressed disappointment that they let down the coaching staff. In fact, it is they who have been let down.

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Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum began fine for USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett. . . .

The Trojans’ first Heisman Trophy winner was introduced to the crowd as an inductee into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame. . . .

But it should have been an omen when his last name on the scoreboard was spelled “Garret.” . . .

Need evidence that some USC fans aren’t as proud as in the past? . . .

During the Trojans’ 31-24 loss to UCLA, they cheered public address updates of Washington State’s impending victory at Washington. . . .

With their team unable to keep UCLA out of the Rose Bowl game, they were reduced to the hope that Washington State could. . . .

Why is UCLA ranked higher than Washington State in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY/ESPN polls? . . .

The Cougars have a better record, including a victory over the Bruins. . . .

No matter that Florida’s Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy, college football’s best player last season was in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. . . .

That was Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace. . . .

Two of the three best players are coming to the 1998 Rose Bowl. . . .

They are Michigan’s Charles Woodson and Washington State’s Ryan Leaf. . . .

Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss is this season’s best player. . . .

Don’t expect that to be reflected in Heisman voting. . . .

Peyton Manning probably will win in a close vote, even though he faltered in his big game against Florida and Woodson dominated his against Ohio State. . . .

Largely overlooked in UCLA’s victory over USC was Chris Sailer, whose kickoffs and punts were returned for zero yards by the Trojans. . . .

The Kings are “in” again. One home game last week was attended by Jim Carrey, Martin Short, Alan Thicke, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mike Piazza. . . .

Rafer Johnson will be honored today during the Kids in Sports Golf Classic at Wilshire Country Club. . . .

That illegal inbounds pass to Lorenzen Wright on Friday night, enabling the Bulls to rally, was confounding even for the Clippers. . . .

They will be involved in two more giveaways today, these of Thanksgiving meals to less fortunate families at the Bread & Roses Cafe and the St. Joseph Center in Venice.

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While wondering if there’s any Green Bay Packer stock left, I was thinking: Jake Plummer looked like Cade McNown on Sunday, I guess Lawrence Phillips wasn’t the Rams’ only problem, Dave Wannstedt might win enough games to get a call from Dallas, or USC.