Robinson among Hall inductees

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John Robinson will enter the College Football Hall of Fame for his work as Southern California’s coach.

But as he doled out thank-yous Thursday following his selection to the Hall’s 2009 class of 18 players and coaches, Robinson made sure he remembered the people he worked with in his final coaching stop.

Robinson, who led UNLV to its last winning season and bowl game in 2000, even thanked Rebels equipment director Paul Pucciarelli and former strength coach Mark Philippi.

“It almost sounds phony, but you start thinking about all the people that helped you, it doesn’t matter who,” the 73-year-old Robinson said. “I had some great guys who were assistant coaches for me, and all the players.

”You don’t think as much about games or wins or any of that sort of thing.”

Robinson coached UNLV from 1999 to 2004, going 28-42. In 2000, the Rebels went 8-5 and defeated Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl, and Robinson was named Mountain West Conference co-Coach of the Year.

His overall college coaching record was 132-77-4, and Robinson went 8-1 in bowls — a winning percentage of .889, the highest in college history among coaches with at least eight appearances.

He coached USC from 1976 to 1982 and from 1993 to 1997, with a nine-season stint coaching the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams sandwiched in between.

Robinson led the Trojans to the 1978 national championship and was national Coach of the Year the following season.

USC will induct him into its Hall of Fame next weekend.

Others selected for induction were former Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson, Notre Dame receiver Tim Brown, Miami quarterback Gino Torretta, Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman, Penn State running back Curt Warner, New Mexico State halfback Pervis Atkins, Arizona defensive back Chuck Cecil, Auburn fullback Ed Dyas, West Virginia quarterback Major Harris, Brigham Young tight end Gordon Hudson, Alabama linebacker Woodrow Lowe, Stanford receiver Ken Margerum, Texas defensive lineman Steve McMichael, Iowa linebacker Larry Station, Georgia Tech defensive end Pat Swilling and Nebraska defensive end Grant Wistrom. The veterans’ committee selected Williams Lewis, who played center for Harvard from 1892 to 1893.

JOHN ROBINSON’S COACHING RECORD

COLLEGE

Year School All Conf. Bowl

1976 USC 11-1 7-0 Rose (W)

1977 USC 8-4 5-2 Bluebonnet (W)

1978 USC 12-1 6-1 Rose (W)

1979 USC 11-0-1 6-0 Rose (W)

1980 USC 8-2-1 4-2-1

1981 USC 9-3 5-2 Fiesta (L)

1982 USC 8-3 5-2

1993 USC 8-5 6-2 Freedom (W)

1994 USC 8-3-1 6-2 Cotton (W)