Robinson in search of No. 200

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: UNLV at Oregon State

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Ore.

TV: TBS, Cox ch. 7

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: OSU by 16. Total is 48.

UNLV coach John Robinson isn't big on coaching statistics.

Mention that he was 11-0 against Oregon State during his USC coaching days and you're met with a ho-hum shrug of the shoulders. After all, back in those Bottom Ten days of the Beavers, everybody beat Oregon State. Even UNLV, which brings a 3-0 record against the Beavers into Saturday afternoon's nationally televised matchup in Corvallis.

Robinson remembers his 100th college victory which coincidentally came against UNLV in 1997, 35-21. And you might get a smile from him if you bring up his 8-3-1 record against Notre Dame, mostly formulated in the days when the Fighting Irish was college football's answer to the Monsters of the Midway.

But Robinson admits that his next coaching victory, which he hopes to get against the 16-point favorite Beavers, will be a special one.

PERFECTION

John Robinson was 11-0 against Oregon State during his two USC coaching stints. He'll try to make it an even dozen with UNLV against the Beavers on Saturday afternoon in Corvallis. Here are Robinson's 11 wins against Oregon State:

1976, L.A. Coliseum, 56-0 1977, @ Corvallis, 17-10 1978, @ L.A. Coliseum, 38-7 1979, @ Corvallis, 42-5 1981, @ Corvallis, 56-22 1982, @ L.A. Coliseum, 38-0 1993, @ L.A. Coliseum, 34-9 1994, @ Corvallis, 27-19 1995, @ Corvallis, 28-10 1996, @ L.A. Coliseum, 46-17 1997, @ Corvallis, 23-0

Why? Because it will be the 200th of his professional and college coaching career.

"That one means something," Robinson said. "Winning 100 games at USC was special. But getting 200 victories (in a career), that means you've been around a while and been able to win your share of games."

In other words, stand the test of time in a business where few do.

Robinson went 104-35-4 in 12 years at USC, including a national championship in 1978. He was 79-74 during his nine years with the Los Angeles Rams and twice went to the NFC title game. And he has compiled a 16-21 record in his fourth season at UNLV -- not bad, when you consider the Rebels had lost 16 consecutive games before his arrival.

Surprisingly, Robinson and Oregon State's Dennis Erickson have never coached against each other despite both men having had two coaching stints in the Pac-10 and another in the NFL.

"You're right, we have taken similiar kinds of paths," Robinson said. "I hadn't really thought of that."

Erickson won national championships at Miami in 1989 and 1991. He coached two years at Washington State (1987-88) while Robinson was busy coaching the Rams. He took over at Oregon State for Robinson's close friend Mike Riley in 1999, one year after Robinson's second USC tenure came to a controversial halt.

"I have a lot of respect for Coach Robinson and what he's been able to accomplish," Erickson said this week.

So does Robinson get more fired up to go up against a coach who has two national championship rings?

"Nah, it never really occurs to me," Robinson said. "I don't really know him, but everybody tells me he's a really good guy.

"Your awareness of an opponent comes mostly from what you see on film. You don't really think too much (about the opposing coach) until you come out for the pregame warmup and you chat. And then you go out and play against their team."

So just what will it mean to Robinson if he can get his 200th win on Saturday?

"It would mean a million dollar bonus," he joked. "Nah, it just would be nice to get to 200 wins."

Oregon State defensive coordinator Craig Bray on UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas: "He's (UNLV's) biggest threat. If you put him in the backfield he'd be a Steven Jackson-type runner (OSU's top rusher from Las Vegas' Eldorado High). He's very talented and we're concerned about him. Throwing is not Jason's strength, it's his running ability." ... Cornerback Terrell Roberts on Oregon State's defense: "We're like a group of pits (bulls) out there, scrappy pits. Everybody wants to get to the meat, know what I mean?" ... Oregon State has won 17 of its last 19 (.895) games at Reser Stadium.