Usc Does Dirty Deed By Phone Message Notifies Robinson That Hackett Now Has His Job

John Robinson pressed the play button on his answering machine and heard a message from his boss that he was fired.

Robinson, who had refused to step aside as Southern California’s football coach, was replaced Wednesday by Paul Hackett, one of his former assistants and currently the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.

Robinson and USC athletic director Mike Garrett were at odds for about four years over the football program. When Robinson returned home Tuesday night from Christmas shopping and dinner, he got the message from Garrett.

It was a bitter ending for Robinson, whose two stints as Trojans coach included four Rose Bowl wins, a 7-1 overall bowl record and a share of the 1978 national title.

“I’ve conducted myself with dignity and I have given my best at USC,” Robinson said. “We had 10 seasons where we won eight games or more and then the last two years we won six games and we were fired… .

“Unfortunately, that dignity was not shown us over the past three weeks. Our coaching staff has kind of been hung out to dry.”

Garrett said he tried to telephone Robinson twice Tuesday night - when he left the message - and finally spoke to the coach’s wife on Wednesday morning. Robinson refused to take calls from Garrett for two days.

Garrett and USC president Steven Sample held a late morning news conference to announce the change. Robinson held his own meeting with reporters 90 minutes later at a downtown hotel.

“John had great success here, we all know his statistics. I consider him a friend, I consider him someone I admire,” Garrett said.

“I decided to go in a new direction - that is why we hired Paul Hackett. I feel that Paul is the right man at the right time for USC.”

A half-dozen players showed up with Robinson, including sophomore guard Travis Claridge, who was heavily bandaged after undergoing shoulder and ankle surgery a day earlier.

“I personally think it’s bull,” Claridge said of Robinson’s firing. “I should be home in bed right now, but this is more important, to be here for coach Robinson.”

Hackett signed a five-year deal reportedly worth $3.2 million. His yearly salary of $640,000 surpasses Robinson’s by about $40,000.