Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson relieves UNLV fans

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

They were anxious for a little reassurance and John Robinson provided it.

Soothing his program's hardcore supporters at the UNLV football luncheon Monday at Big Dog's, Robinson left the capacity crowd in good spirits with an assortment of puns, quips and anecdotes.

As an after-dinner speaker, Robinson is tops. "He's a hoot, isn't he?" an older woman said to a friend as they departed the uplifting rendezvous.

But, more importantly, Robinson is also a treasure as a coach. There isn't a person associated with or partial to the Rebels who isn't enamored with Robinson and perfectly content to have him in his leadership role.

Nonetheless, after his team opened its season with a somewhat disappointing 37-22 loss Saturday at Iowa State, even the most understanding of boosters needed to hear that things will get better.

In command throughout, Robinson took the blame for the loss but was emphatic in insisting the Rebels will improve.

"We feel bad about losing a game we could have won," he said. "We beat ourselves.

"If we went back and played them next Saturday, my perception is that it would be an even game."

Better yet for the Rebels, up next is a North Texas team that is 0-2 and will almost certainly be 0-3 by late Saturday. After all, this is the school UNLV defeated last season to snap a 16-game losing streak (and a 23-game road losing streak).

North Texas is a breather of sorts on the Rebels' schedule.

"We just need to put together our best effort," Robinson said, all but promising that his team will make good on that goal.

The mistake-prone opener dominated conversation but Robinson was taking it in stride, which enabled his audience to do the same.

"We didn't play well enough to win but all of us came back and said 'Damn it, we let that game get away,' " he said. "There's some definite change there, because a year ago Iowa State just manhandled us and we came off the field and said 'Wow.' But not this year."

Yes, the Rebels will be better and more interesting this season, if for no other reason than having quarterback Jason Thomas eligible and in the lineup. For UNLV fans, he's the second coming of Randall Cunningham.

Indirectly, Thomas even provided Robinson with some of his better comedic material.

"That's all coaching," Robinson said as he showed a film clip of Thomas on a 45-yard touchdown run. "It's like I told him, 'Just don't let them tackle you, Jason.' "

And, "The only guy I ever saw who could do that was me," the coach said, tongue very much in his cheek, as Thomas eluded a posse of Iowa State defenders on another run.

And, when asked what he said while appearing to console Thomas on the bench after a first-half turnover, Robinson replied " 'Jason, I've got a new house and I've got grandchildren I've got to put through school, so play your (rump) off.' That always works."

What he really said to his emerging star was "Take a deep breath," adding that "When things aren't going well, it's no time to yell."

Those listening ate it up, assured again that this once-sorry program has never been in better hands.