Columnist Dean Juipe: Fans accept Robinson’s vague spiel

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 | 9:48 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.

Like the U.S. military and the question of sexual preference, it was "Don't ask, don't tell."

As in, what you don't know won't hurt you.

John Robinson had just wrapped up another of his trademark discussions on his UNLV football team -- jocular, as always -- when he asked for questions from the audience at Monday's luncheon.

There were plenty of things the capacity crowd in the Si Redd Room at the Thomas & Mack Center could have posed to the 68-year-old coach, who is starting his fifth season with the Rebels. Yet no one stirred when Robinson put himself on the line as fair game for anything anyone might want to know about a team that opens its season Friday with Toledo at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Not a single person raised his hand. No questions were asked and none were answered, as those in attendance sat civilly, quietly considering their options.

Yet there were questions that could have been raised, including the most basic.

Such as, "Will you win this first game?"

Or, "Will you contend in the Mountain West?"

Or, "Will you win enough games to be bowl eligible?"

Or, "What if you can't beat Toledo? What if your team is as mediocre as some supposed experts believe it will be?"

Or, "Might this be your final season?"

Robinson would have given each of these inquiries his best shot had he been placed on those hot seats. He is, after all, remarkably poised and habitually honest.

Yet no one wanted to test him. The fans -- and these people at these luncheons are hardcore fans -- accepted the vague assessments the coach had offered on his players and team and left well enough alone.

The result: The arrow on the Optimism Meter is stuck right about in the middle. Fans know the team is in good hands but are cautious at best as the season is about to begin.

They also realize that after back-to-back losing seasons and without a major star in the lineup, the Rebels may not be very good at all. For all their supposed quickness and versatility, they run the risk of extending that streak of consecutive losing seasons to three.

While he certainly has addressed pertinent issues such as projected wins and losses in more private settings, Robinson chose not to offer any predictions at the season's first luncheon. Instead, he talked about the friendships that develop among team members and coaches, interspersing a few particulars on the Rebels' better players and reminiscing about some of the great ones he has coached.

Those in attendance sat in rapt attention as Robinson whisked through the itinerary in his usual humorous -- and sometimes hilarious -- way. Public speaking is a knack and he has it mastered.

As for how his team might fare this season, Robinson neither volunteered a forecast beyond the obvious -- "I think this team is ready to go" -- nor was he asked to give one. At a time when coaches ordinarily exaggerate and express the belief they can win "X" number of games if all goes well, UNLV's coach was almost ambivalent.

Maybe he doesn't know what to expect, or maybe he didn't want to lead anyone astray.

Or maybe it's a secret, albeit one that is about to be exposed.