USC’s Robinson Fires a Preemptive Shot

John Robinson says it’s his fault.

He says it so convincingly, you can’t help but believe him.

He says he’s going to fix it. Or else.

In other words, his USC bosses, President Steven Sample and Athletic Director Mike Garrett, can’t fire him. That’s because Robinson says he’ll fire himself if he’s not doing a better job coaching the Trojans at the end of the season than he is in the middle of it.

“I’m not going to be part of a situation where I let the team slide into the gutter,” he said during Tuesday’s weekly media luncheon, where he did everything short of hanging himself in effigy.

I couldn’t have written it better myself. The beauty of covering a media-savvy guy like Robinson is that I didn’t have to.

It didn’t take a Pavlovian psychologist to figure it out. If you don’t want the dogs to bark, throw them a bone.

Before any of us in the media could say he was to blame for the Trojans’ baffling performance in a 35-7 loss Saturday to Arizona State, he said it.

Before any of us could say flat-out he should be fired if the Trojans don’t improve, he said it.

“I’m a really good football coach who’s just not doing well right now,” he said.

Why not?

No one seems able to pinpoint the reason. That includes Robinson.

I do know that the USC team that stepped up against Florida State in the season opener was not the same team that backed down in the second half against Arizona State.

This team got worse between the first and fifth games. More disturbing, it seems as if too many players since Robinson returned to USC in 1993 have failed to show significant improvement from one season to the next.

When that happens, it’s usually an indication that the coaching staff is doing a poor job teaching.

Robinson disputes that suggestion. He says USC has talented players and quality coaches who are working as hard and long as those of any other staff. I’m pretty sure that Garrett, who knows football better than most athletic directors, agrees with him.

That leaves Robinson’s theory, which is that his players have lost their resolve. He said he noticed it as early as halftime Saturday in Tempe, even though the Trojans were trailing by only 13-7.

“The thing that’s most disturbing is that when it was time to step up and win the game, we stepped back,” he said. “We were without energy and without confidence and I think it was mind-boggling to everyone.”

If that’s the case, he’s correct when he says it’s his responsibility to make the Trojans believe in themselves again.

In an age when the assistant coaches are the ones who sweat during practices, it’s the head coach’s role to inspire and motivate players to perform to the fullest of their abilities.

During his first tour at USC from 1976-82, when the Trojans won one national championship, two Heisman Trophies, three Rose Bowls and had a record of 11-3 against Notre Dame and UCLA, Robinson was considered among the best in the land at that.

Even he wonders today whether he still possesses that gift.

We could all find out as soon as Saturday, when the Trojans play at Notre Dame in a clash between teams trying to live up to their traditions.

“We’re looking at the future in terms of days,” Robinson said. “Or hours.”

After meeting with the media, Robinson spent the next hour with his players. He didn’t invite Sample or Garrett. He certainly didn’t invite any newspaper reporters, radio talk-show hosts or alums.

So I don’t know what he said. But even though it’s Notre Dame week, it probably wasn’t a win one for the Gipper speech.

He didn’t deliver one before last season’s game against the Irish, either, when it was speculated the Trojans had to win to save Robinson’s job.

But I have an idea that Robinson’s message to his players wasn’t that much different from what he told the media.

“There’s not a person in this room who’s going to have the job they have right now forever. We’re all going to move on and do other things. That’s not a crisis.

“Not living up to your potential is a crisis. . . . There are a few times in your life when you say, damn it, stand up. Now is one of those times. You might be defeated, but you must stand up.”

I also have an idea that Robinson reminded them he’s in charge and that they should tune out anything that might lead them to believe otherwise.

If the Trojans are going to dig themselves out of this hole, it will be because of what Robinson, his assistants and the players do on the field and not because of anything that’s speculated off it.

He put an end to the speculation Tuesday.

He’ll fix it. Or else.