It’s Not Over Until It’s Over for Robinson

John Robinson called this a “prove it” year for USC before the season began. Those are his words.

Whether a 6-5 record with another loss to UCLA--however close--proves anything at all is still being deliberated.

Robinson’s future as coach is in limbo with a bowl game still likely. It might not be addressed until after a possible Aloha Bowl appearance--or sooner, if USC goes to no bowl at all.

Not that playing in a bowl game guarantees anything: USC’s previous two coaches, Larry Smith and Ted Tollner, coached the Trojans in bowl games the year they were shown the door at Heritage Hall, and both had better records than Robinson does this season.

With his future uncertain for the second year in a row, Robinson spent Sunday afternoon watching the NFL on television--a far cry from last year, when he and university president Steven Sample and Athletic Director Mike Garrett huddled at Sample’s Pasadena home and agreed on Robinson’s return the day after a season-ending upset over Notre Dame.

But with USC’s season not over until the bowl issue is decided, Garrett’s stance that Robinson won’t be evaluated until after the season ends hasn’t changed.

“Nothing developed today and I don’t expect to talk to John today,” Garrett said Sunday. “The season’s not over.”

Robinson was in the same mode: “Day off. Nothing’s happened,” he said. “I’m just watching the games. I’ll talk during the week.”

It’s a tired story, Robinson’s future, but that’s because it has yet to be resolved. He hasn’t solidified himself, and he hasn’t left.

This season started with the Trojans ranked in the Top 25, trying to atone for a 6-6 season that included two overtime losses.

The regular season ended Saturday with a seventh consecutive loss to UCLA.

Yes, USC beat Notre Dame, but a less noticed statistic is this: For the first time in 14 seasons, USC failed to beat a ranked team during the regular season. The last time a USC team didn’t beat a ranked team was Tollner’ 4-6-1 team in 1983.

This season seems to have a positive finish--but only because Robinson said in October he would resign if USC didn’t turn things around. He took enough heat off himself to allow him to argue now that the team made a comeback by winning four of its last six, however unconvincingly.

That’s why he can talk about the youth of an offense that has sophomore stars in receiver R. Jay Soward and Chad Morton.

That’s why when people threw up their arms at quarterback John Fox’s mistakes against UCLA, Robinson can say Fox is only a sophomore and injured redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst might be the quarterback of the future anyway.

That’s why some people can talk about another ballyhooed recruiting class as if that finally will be the answer.

And Robinson is giving no indication he will resign.

There is still a sense among some that he is strong enough to pull through again. Garrett hadn’t scheduled any talks with him, a bowl victory would make the Trojans 7-5 and Robinson remains one of the most admired coaches in Trojan history.

If Robinson recommits, sells himself again, and sells out some of his much-criticized assistants, could he be back?

Even some of those closest to the situation have little idea.

“I’m sure everything is being evaluated. When Coach makes decisions, he’ll let us all know,” said Hue Jackson, who is finishing his first season as USC’s offensive coordinator. “You try not to read into it.”

The scenario will be a bit clearer after USC’s bowl future is determined, which should be Friday.

If Arizona State beats Arizona, the Sun Devils figure to play in the Fiesta Bowl, probably tagging USC for the Aloha--a bid Pacific 10 teams are contractually obligated to fulfill.

Any lesser bowl, USC could turn down.

The Aloha could still be Robinson’s worst fate.

How long would doubt linger if USC lost to a Missouri team coached by Smith, the former Trojan coach? What reminder of the glory years could USC bring back then?

*

* CLEAR-CUT

Robinson proved he should move on, Randy Harvey writes. C2

* DALLAS-BOUND?

Bruins seem headed to Cotton Bowl to play Kansas State. C9

* CHAOS REIGNS

Bowl alliance has been a lot of things, but never boring. C9