Robinson headed for Rose Bowl’s Hall

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 | 10:24 a.m.

With his team struggling and in the midst of a frustrating three-game losing streak, UNLV coach John Robinson certainly was ready for a jolt of positive news.

He got it on Wednesday when he learned that he had been selected as one of three members of the Class of 2003 to be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will take place Dec. 31 at the annual Rose Bowl Kickoff/Hall of Fame Luncheon.

"You know what it does is bring back the memories," Robinson said when asked about the honor before practice on Wednesday afternoon. "It makes the memories more vivid. It feels good and all that, but the fun part about all of this is the memories that you make."

And Robinson has a lot of Rose Bowl memories. He was 4-0 as a head coach in the Rose Bowl at USC including a 41-32 win against Northwestern in the 1996 game, the last time the Trojans appeared in the Rose Bowl.

"Wouldn't it be great if they got back there again this year?" Robinson said.

Robinson also was an assistant coach under legendary John McKay on three other USC Rose Bowl squads. And he also holds the rare distinction of having both played and coached in the Rose Bowl. He was a wide receiver on an Oregon team that played in the 1958 Rose Bowl.

"It was for my one play," Robinson joked of his Hall of Fame selection. "I got in for the very last play of the game. The Ohio State quarterback took the ball, stepped back and killed the clock. That was my one play."