Robinson: Judge Me on Big USC Picture

Is John Robinson’s job as USC football coach riding on the outcome of Saturday’s game against Notre Dame?

He said Tuesday he hoped that was not the case, that his postseason performance review should be based on results of the previous four seasons, not only this one. USC is 5-6 this season.

Robinson, talking at his weekly media luncheon, said there had been some coaching mistakes, but he added that he couldn’t predict his fate.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I’m not going to speculate,” he said.

He defended his four-season record at USC, pointing out that the Trojans have been Pacific 10 Conference co-champions twice and won Cotton and Rose Bowl championships.

“In the three years I’ve been here, we’ve taken this program from a very poor talent base to a team easily recognizable as having a good future,” he said. “Of the top 45 or 46 players on this team, about 40 will come back.

“This season has gone upside down. Nightmarish things have happened. . . . we have not finished games well.”

Trojan players rallied around their coach.

Said senior linebacker Sammy Knight: “Yes, I’m surprised he’s in this position. He was 9-2-1 last year and now he’s on the hot seat? That’s ridiculous. We accept the fact high expectations were placed on us this year, but look at all the losses and you can see it was our inexperience.

“I would not have come to USC if it wasn’t for John Robinson. I wasn’t even planning a USC [recruiting] visit until he got the job.”

Freshman receiver R. Jay Soward, who gained a school-record 260 yards against UCLA on Saturday: “Look at the talent coming back here next year--it has national championship written all over it. I don’t think that could happen with new coaches.

“I’d consider leaving if J. Rob [Robinson] left. A redshirt year somewhere else wouldn’t be a bad thing for me. J. Rob is the only reason I’m here, so if he left, it’d be the reason I’d leave.”

Said junior tackle Darrell Russell, who is considering leaving early for the NFL: “If J.R. were to leave, that would be a minus for my staying. If he stayed, that would be a plus for me staying.”

Observed senior quarterback Matt Koffler: “I used to want to coach. But to see J.R. going through this after the season we had last year, it turns me off. SC is not going to go to the Rose Bowl every year.”

Athletic Director Mike Garrett has said he would have no comment on the team’s coaching picture until after the season.

Robinson also addressed:

--Coaching mistakes: “We attempted to do more offensively than we could early in the season. We felt with a senior quarterback [Brad Otton] that we could maximize his talent. That didn’t happen, through no fault of his own.”

--His staff’s status: “This is the same staff that took us to co-championships two out of three years, and second the other year. It’s the same staff that recruited the players we have here. If we are to go forward with this group, then we will. If it’s time for USC to make a change, then that decision will be made.

“If I’m here another five years, I will do the same kind of job I’ve done over the past 11 [including his 1976-1982 term as USC’s coach]. I’m not sure how we will arrive at this decision. . . . I believe I will have some input.”

--The outcome of the Notre Dame game on his future: “I’ve tried to say that, in my view, it shouldn’t [have a bearing]. It’s a decision that needs to be made based on where this program can go in the future, whether I’m the person to continue to lead it, whether it’s time for a change based on information other than this particular game.

“But I think those things must be put into balance, based on the pluses that have happened here the last four years.”

Robinson made a veiled reference to fair-weather USC fans, those who cheered their team for winning the 1996 Rose Bowl game yet who now believe the coach should be dismissed because of recent reversals:

“The love affair people have for you on Jan. 1 may not make it to the end of November.”

* USC STARTER

Coach John Robinson said backup quarterback Matt Koffler likely will start against Notre Dame in place of the injured Brad Otton. C4