In Spirit of ‘76, Here’s to You, Mr. Robinson

Is there anyone home at USC?

The school invited its 1976 and 1951 football teams to return Friday for a “Salute to Troy” picnic on the baseball diamond, but did not send an invitation to John Robinson, who coached the ’76 Trojans to an 11-1 record, a Rose Bowl win and a No. 2 national ranking.

I called Athletic Director Mike Garrett, but he didn’t call back.

I tried President Steven Sample but was told, “He’s not available at the moment.” At the moment? They told me the same thing 361,981 moments ago--why not tell the truth: “He’s not available during your lifetime.”

I called sports information and a spokesperson told me: “All I can say is--John Robinson hasn’t been invited. I can’t say anything more.”

Imagine being a spokesperson, but not being able to speak to a person.

I kept at it, because I know when my wife tells me she’s not speaking to me anymore, she still can’t shut up.

“Why wasn’t Robinson invited?” I asked.

“They felt it would be a distraction,” the spokesperson blabbered.

I had received an anonymous letter earlier from someone advising me Robinson had not been invited to this function. The letter writer knew USC would call Robinson’s presence a distraction. Maybe Sample likes to write letters and he’s out to get Garrett and wants to be my Deep Throat.

Anyway, the letter writer asked: “Is one to believe Robinson would arrive with a bevy of Vegas show girls and steal USC’s recruits?”

I’m pretty sure UCLA already tried that.

*

I ASKED the spokesperson who wasn’t supposed to speak, who “they” were, you know, the ones who decided not to invite Robinson.

“USC,” the spokesperson said.

“The whole campus,” I said.

“No,” the spokesperson said, “various athletic staff members.”

When I suggested I’d have to start calling everyone in the athletic department to see how they weighed in on Robinson, I was told to go ahead.

So I did. I called the six associate and assistant athletic directors who work under Garrett and got six answering machines. I didn’t leave a message, of course, because no one at USC returns a call--taking their lead from Deep Throat.

I tried women’s basketball Coach Chris Gobrecht because she has been known to pop off, but I got her answering machine. Probably too much celebrating after that last Sparks’ win.

The only one I found working at USC was Marilee Ochsner, the business manager, who told me all she really does is count money, saying she had nothing to do with snubbing Robinson.

*

I DID some more checking, and called Paul Hackett, the offensive coordinator for the Trojans’ 1976 team, to see if he had been invited.

I’ve never heard someone laugh that loud, or for that long, and when I suggested, “maybe it got lost in the mail,” he started all over again. I had a deadline to meet so I had to hang up. For all I know, he’s still laughing.

The assistant coach who worked with the defensive backs on that ’76 team is still working locally, so I had someone check with Bob Toledo, and would you believe it, he didn’t get an invitation either.

*

VINCE EVANS, starting quarterback for the Robinson-Hackett-Toledo team, said he received an invite, but now he won’t be going.

“John Robinson to me is the equivalent of Branch Rickey to Jackie Robinson,” Evans said. “He gave me a shot when a lot of people didn’t believe in me. He went to the alumni and said, ‘I’m going to battle with this guy and we’re going to win.’ I love him and I’ve expressed my feelings to Garrett.

“Coach Robinson was our leader and his name is indelibly linked to USC football. I wish he was going to be there, but if not, then I won’t be.”

*

FOR ALL I know, no one is going to be at this picnic.

“I would have come,” said Robinson, Nevada Las Vegas’ football coach and recently approved to also become the school’s athletic director. “It surprised me when I didn’t get an invitation, but I guess once you’re excommunicated--baby, you’re outta there forever.”

Robinson, 67-14-2 in his first tour of duty with the Trojans, came back to record a 37-21-2 mark before getting a message from Garrett on his answering machine informing him he had been fired after the 1997 season.

“To me, there’s humor in all of this and it’s kind of silly. I’m the guy that got fired and it’s not an issue with me anymore,” Robinson said. “I had not done a good job that [last] year and other things were going on and there was probably good reason for both sides to forget about it and move on. I’ve moved on, but I love USC and part of me will be a Trojan forever.”

Robinson said he would have liked the chance, however, to hug his old players and talk about the good times they had. So he asked me to pass along a message to them.

“Tell the guys I’ll have free food and free rooms for every one of them in Las Vegas and we’ll have a great reunion next spring.”

I’ll bet he even sends an invitation to Garrett.

*

IT HAS never made any sense why George Allen is not enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but now the Seniors Committee has chosen him a finalist with voting to take place the day before Super Bowl VI.

Allen’s son, Bruce, was understandably pleased, and said if his father is selected on the eve of the Super Bowl, “It would be the ultimate tribute for his commitment and contribution to the game both on and off the field.”

Bruce Allen, the Raiders’ general manager, is also counting on his team to be in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. There’s nothing wrong with batting .500.

TODAY’S LAST word comes in an e-mail from Michael:

“I watched two holes of golf and knew that David Toms had ‘Cleveland Golf’ on his cap. You call yourself a sportswriter?”

I do. But my wife calls me “Your Highness.”

*

T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com