USC Fullback Not What Williams Had in Mind

Eight days after John Robinson was introduced as the new football coach at Nevada Las Vegas, Ricky Williams appears destined Saturday to win the Heisman Trophy.

How might college football history have changed if Williams had signed four years ago with USC instead of Texas?

The Trojans were his first choice out of San Diego’s Patrick Henry High until he visited Austin and, as he told The Times’ Chris Dufresne earlier this year, “fell in love with it.”

End of story? It is as far as Williams is concerned now. But, as a freshman at Texas in 1995, he said there were two reasons he decided against USC.

One was that USC spent less time than Texas during his official campus visits focusing on academics. Williams is an education major who would like to teach elementary school. As the potential No. 1 draft choice, perhaps he will build one instead.

The other reason was that he perceived some doubt in the Trojan coaches’ minds that he would be able to start at tailback ahead of Shawn Walters, Delon Washington and LaVale Woods. Williams might have gotten that impression when a move to fullback or linebacker was suggested.

If he had gone to USC, there is no question he would have prevailed over the tailbacks there at the time. He also would have restored the Trojans’ Tailback U reputation and might have added a fifth Heisman Trophy to their collection.

Could he have saved Robinson’s job as the USC coach?

Perhaps. Williams couldn’t do that for John Mackovic, who was fired by the Longhorns after last season, but Mackovic was a pass-oriented coach who didn’t build his offense around Williams. Robinson, one of the best coaches of the running game ever, would never have made that mistake.

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The silver lining in UCLA’s loss to Miami: Blue-chip high school defensive recruits couldn’t have helped but notice there is a chance for them to play for the Bruins as soon as they arrive on campus. . . .

One such player might be Marcus Reese of San Jose Oak Grove, considered the state’s best prep linebacker. . . .

He initially feared that the Bruin depth chart was too deep with young linebackers but might now move UCLA up on a list that also includes Washington, California and Tennessee. . . .

As much as I would miss watching him play, I’d advise USC junior linebacker Chris Claiborne to declare for the NFL draft. . . .

Scouts say if he does, he definitely will be drafted in the top 10, perhaps as high as third. . . .

Williams will be a temptation, but the Browns should take Tim Couch with the first pick. . . .

We’ll find out how good USC’s 6-0 basketball team is when the Trojans play Saturday at Kansas. . . .

As for how they compare to UCLA, there could be a clue when the Bruins play host to UNLV on the same day. USC beat the Rebels in Las Vegas, 71-68. . . .

Those who have followed both say USC is capable of winning but give the edge to UCLA. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal is not, as advertised, going to play in the Chris Mills Charity Game on Sunday at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

O’Neal’s agent, Leonard Armato, said there probably was a misunderstanding that led Chris Mills to believe the Laker center would play, but he has a commitment outside the country. . . .

No one is making too much of Ron Wilson’s return to Anaheim the second time around. Maybe that’s because his Washington Capitals and the Ducks combined have won 17 games, one more than Phoenix. . . .

When no other team would give Jim Abbott a chance last season, the White Sox did. . . .

Now, because he had a 5-0 record in September, he believes he’s worth $2 million a year and rejected Chicago’s offer of $500,000 with incentives for 1999. Can you blame White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf for feeling betrayed? . . .

If Buck’s Trout wins the Hollywood Futurity on Saturday, it will be the second upset in three years in that race for owner Heinz Steinmann. He won in ’96 with Swiss Yodeler. . . .

Steinmann, who lives in Wrightwood, had a young daughter 20 years ago who couldn’t drink regular milk, forcing him to travel 10 miles to a farm where he could buy goat’s milk. It also was a horse farm, and on one trip, he brought home the milk and a broodmare. That’s how he got his start in racing.

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While discovering that the Presidents Cup is not what Bill Clinton was passing around to pay his lawyers, I was thinking: Two weeks after losing Bryant Young is not the best time for the 49ers to face Barry Sanders, I liked the Jets against Miami until I saw superstitious Bill Parcells on the cover of Sports Illustrated, you can guess which pitch Dennis Eckersley would like back if you’re a Dodger fan.

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Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com.