Robinson accepts L
abandons post; .A. Rams offer
Hello Rams, good bye Trojans. Former Trojan football coach and senior vice president John Robinson will return to football after a three-month "coaching retirement" to head the L.A Rams.
By Scott Robson
Staff Writer
Less than three months after retiring as the university’s head football coach in order to accept a high administrative post, John Robinson signed on Monday as the new coach of the Los Angeles Rams.
Robinson, who ended his seven-year career as head of the Trojan football team in late November to become senior vice president of university relations, signed a five-year contract with the National Football League club, Ram’s owner Georgia Frontiere said.
No other terms of Robinson’s contract were disclosed.
At an afternoon press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Robinson said he made his decision over the weekend after meeting with Frontiere last Monday.
“I’m very excited about this,” Robinson said. “I didn’t sleep well last night because I was so enthused about this opportunity.
‘‘This team is very much a
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Volume XCIII, Number 25
University of Southern California Tuesday, February 15, 1983
Student aid to be sustained despite Reagan budget cuts
By Sheldon Ito
Staff Writer
The office of financial aid is planning to maintain the present level of university-sponsored funding for students next semester in the face of projected cuts in state and federal aid programs, said Fred Hes-singer, the office's new director.
“The same commitment for this year will be carried on into next (year),” Hessinger said of the $10 million'that the university has made available to students through direct aid and loan funds. “That need will be met for all entering students.”
He added that a similar commitment will be made to continuing students, unless unforeseen problems arise
Cromwell damaged by excessive Use
By Brenda Wong
Staff Writer
When the university decided to tear up the old intramural field last year in favor of the Olympic swimming complex, one could have predicted what would happen to Cromwell Field. Virtually all outside intramural sports had to be redirected to Cromwell, and the age-old field has now become ragged and barren.
For a field that is stomped on by about 500 athletes each day, it is no surprise to find that the field’s once lush turf has given way to a scrubby brown matting.
“No grass can survive constant use and, because of our limited space, we (Cromwell Field) have constant use,” said Burl Midden-dorf, supervisor of landscape and grounds services. “The center of the field gets all the use. In the course of events, it gets pretty well distressed.
“We have to keep scheduling one event after another because of our limited fields. Cromwell has no time to recuperate,” he said.
Andrew Morrow, chairman of the student affairs unit of the student senate, said that Cromwell Field, because it has become the primary field available for intramural use, has become a disaster area.
But Middendorf said the field is not as bad as it looks.
“We chose a new (grass) which is supposed to be tougher, sports turf grass,” he said. “The only drawback is that it has a dormant season which makes the grass look brown during the winter.”
(Continued on page 8)
concerning the availability of funds. Hessinger was unable to give specific details on next year's financial aid budget because it is currently being evaluated by the administration.
“We don’t know yet how much of those cuts are going to occur,” he said. “It’s too early. The total funding picture is unclear.”
Hessinger, who was appointed last week, is content to keep the financial aid packages at the current level for next year, but in the future, he hopes to increase the amount of funds available to students.
“I’d say that one of my jobs is to not only provide money to the right students, but also to increase the pool (of available funds),” said Hessinger, who is replacing Edward Wall as director of financial aid. “There’s not sufficient resources for students. The whole staff knows that.”
The financial aid office has been criticized in the past for being understaffed and unable to meet the needs of the several thousand university students who receive financial aid. Hessinger agreed, saying that “as a financial aid professional,” he could see that understaffing had become a “chronic problem” for the office.
Michael Halloran, associate dean of admissions and financial aid, did a review of the office over a year ago and concluded that the office was indeed understaffed. Halloran reported his findings to the administration and, as a result, (Continued on page 3)
part of Southern California’s tradition and by joining the organization now, I feel I have a chance to build something from the ground up. The best fun you can have in sports is being involved in something that is building up.”
Robinson will take over for Ray Malavasi.who was fired by the Rams at the end of the 1982 season after five years in charge of the team. The Rams finished last season at 2-7, the worst record for the team in 20 years.
Both Frontiere and recently hired General Manager Ray Nagel said Robinson was the only person interviewed by the club for the head coaching job.
This was not the first time Robinson had been offered a professional coaching job. The New England Patriots nearly lured Robinson away from the university last year with a $2.5 million contract offer, but he decided to remain after a lengthy period of deliberation.
Robinson also said he had been offered an NFL post since leaving the Trojans following the final game of last season, but he refused to disclose from which team the offer came.
The 47-year-old Robinson, whose move from the football field to the office of senior vice president of university relations came as a surprise to many observers, said he found he was unable to stay away from the game.
“I thought I could leave football,” he said. “I can’t, though. I guess it’s in my blood.”
Nagel, a former athletic director at the University of Hawaii and a friend of Robinson, said he understood the feelings Robinson had during his time away from the sport.
“I think he came to the realization that he wanted something more than what he had,” Nagel said. “After 3 1/2 months of reflection away from the field, it wasn’t hard for him to make his decision.
“I’ve known John Robinson
for a number of years, but I’d never spoken with him about the Rams job. He had dinner with my wife and myself in Hawaii and I think he really felt then in his heart it might be time to go back to coaching.”
Frontiere said she sensed earlier that Robinson might be interested in the coaching position but decided to wait until last week to speak with him about an offer.
“I knew he liked the organization, and I felt he liked me. I felt there was a strong possibility he would take the job if everything fell into place.
“When we had our first meeting, I think we both just knew things would work out.”
Robinson is leaving a post where he served as one of the right hand men for university President James Zumberge. One of three senior vice presidents at the university, Robinson supervised a staff of 110 and a budget of $4 million.
His departure comes less than one month after telling the Daily Trojan he had “a stronger feeling about USC than ... ever.”
“The (Rams’) offer didn't overwhelm me,” Robinson said Monday. “In terms of our discussion, I tend not to deliberate much in matters like this. I thought too much time had gone by since I had been on the football field. It was time to get back to football.”
As head coach of the Trojans, Robinson compiled a 67-14-2 record in seven years. He led the university to the national championship in 1978 and three Pac-10 Conference championships (1976, 1978, 1979).
His teams were unbeaten in Rose Bowl play and had a 4-1 record overall in bowl games during his tenure. Robinson’s winning percentage of .817 was third among all college (Continued on page 7)
University reacts with surprise, disappointment
By Carmen Chandler
Staff Writer
The university reacted with a mixture of surprise and disappointment at the news of John Robinson’s resignation as senior vice president of university relations Monday to take on the job as head coach for the Los Angeles Rams.
Administration, faculty and student leaders said Robinson’s resignation caught the university off guard.
"We were all very surprised,” said Cornelius Pings, senior vice president of academic affairs. “It came with no warning.”
President James Zumberge also said he was suprised when he learned of the resignation Sunday.
“He called Sunday at noon and asked if he could come over to the house. He told me he had received an offer of substance from the Rams and he intended to take it,” Zumberge said. “It’s probably one of the best coaching offers in the coaching ranks.”
Robinson accepted the position of senior vice president of university relations Dec. 1, a post that was responsible for much of the university’s fundraising.
He was one of three administration officials who had the title of senior vice president and commanded a yearly salary of over $100,000.
Dan Dunmoyer, president of the student senate, said he was “very surprised” at Robinson's early resignation.
“There was a notion of complete surprise in everyone one I talked to,” Dunmoyer said. “I think even the administration was caught off guard. I am very disappointed that he resigned.
“You can sense the disappointment in the student body,” he added.
(Continued on page 7)