Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson shoulders the blame

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Greeted by a standing ovation upon his introduction at Monday's UNLV football luncheon, head coach John Robinson used the opportunity to personally accept responsibility for his team's shoddy play.

And he implored each of the Rebels to do the same.

"No one is more culpable than another," Robinson said during a stirring and seemingly heartfelt series of admissions pertaining to his 1-3 squad. For both the speaker and his audience at Big Dog's, the soul cleansing was almost therapeutic.

UNLV's record is neither deceiving nor unexpected, yet what has stunned players, staff and observers is a vulnerability that might be confused with listlessness. The Rebels have looked soft and unprepared, and have been blown out early in each of their last two games.

Now comes a game with pleasantly surprising Nevada-Reno that may make or break the Rebels' season. A loss Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium and UNLV may be looking at as little as a two- or three-victory season, with only New Mexico and Wyoming apt to be added to a win column that thus far claims only lightweight Kansas.

Robinson, the school's athletic director as well, has been feeling a little heat. Critics are calling him out of date and over the hill, and as he himself pointed out, being referred to as "legendary" at the age of 67 "only means you're old."

To counterattack those claims or beliefs he's taking it upon himself to set the proper example, which includes reviewing his own actions with a healthy dose of scrutiny.

"We have embarrassed ourselves the last two weekends," he said. "The real key is that we're just not playing worth a damn.

"We're not very tough and we don't play with enthusiasm.

"I'm a guy who just watched his team get the hell kicked out of them the last two weeks (and) for me to lead them, I must face issues of my own. I have to ask myself, 'How good of a job am I doing today?' It becomes very painful."

Robinson's reasoning is that if each of his players does the same, not only will finger pointing be held to a minimum, the team might actually improve. He's trying to lessen the possibility of a player taking a false inventory of the situation and remarking "I confess: It's their fault" when contemplating UNLV's sorry play.

As a tactical ploy, it's a good one and mirrors the U.S. Army's latest recruiting slogan and motto, "An Army of One." When every man does his best, the unit as a whole will prosper.

But football isn't solely a game of willpower and even the hardest-working team can have a losing record if its talent is suspect. It's just that Robinson hasn't seen his team working hard, a rare admission for a coach only a loss or two from being caught in what could build into a serious cross-fire of public opinion.

Yet Robinson has always gained points with his glibness, which is a trait that can only attract support at times like these.

"You won't hurt my feelings if you're angry," he said to the luncheon crowd as he asked if anyone had any questions.

Not only was no one accusatory, there was an air of sympathy in the room, as if Robinson himself deserved better.

With the coach apologetic, minions and dissidents alike were pacified.