Robinson Says He’s Gone If Usc Can’t Salvage Its Season

Coach John Robinson, calling Southern California a football team in crisis, said Tuesday he will quit after the season if the Trojans don’t improve.

“I’m a really good football coach who’s not doing very well right now,” Robinson said Tuesday. “If I don’t do better, then I will step aside.

“If we don’t turn the program around, I’m not talking about wins but I’m talking about facing this crisis and having our players respond, then our football team should go in a new direction at the end of the season.

“I’m the first to say that. … I’m not going to be part of a situation where I let this team slide into the gutter.”

Athletic director Mike Garrett said after the Trojans’ 35-7 loss at Arizona State last Saturday that he was sticking with Robinson through this season. The coach’s contract extends through the 2001 season.

Robinson said he, Garrett and school president Steven Sample had talked, including on the flight back from Arizona last weekend, and were in concert as far as trying to get the football team back on track.

The Trojans’ loss to the Sun Devils was their most lopsided defeat by an unranked team in Robinson’s 12 years, and dropped them to 2-3.