John Robinson’s work with UNLV football part of his legacy

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, July 16, 2010 | 2 p.m.

Sam Morris

In a 2003 UNLV loss to Colorado State, then-head coach John Robinson argues a call. He will be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame Saturday for a career that included a national title at USC.

When John Robinson is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, college-football fans will rave about his tremendous exploits while coaching at Southern California.

After all, his 1978 team won the national title, and his 1976 and 1979 squads finished those seasons ranked No. 2. The Trojans captured three Pac-10 Conference titles under Robinson, who also led them to a 28-game winning streak.

However, few will mention what he accomplished at UNLV. And that is a shame.

For some, leading the Rebels to their lone winning season in the last 13 years is considered a bigger accomplishment than his storied tenure at Southern California.

He definitely accomplished more with less in Las Vegas.

While Robinson's 28-42 record in six years (1999-2004) at UNLV doesn't scream greatness, it shouldn't be lone criteria in defining his legacy here.

Robinson took a UNLV program that had six wins in the four seasons before his arrival and led it to a Las Vegas Bowl victory against Arkansas in 2000, his second season. The Rebels finished 8-5 that year and haven't had a winning season since.

More importantly, he went 5-1 against instate rival UNR, winning his last five games against the Wolf Pack. UNLV hasn't beaten UNR since, including some tough-to-stomach defeats; the Rebels have surrendered a combined 112 points the last two years in a pair of embarrassing defeats.

The 74-year-old Robinson is one of 24 who will be inducted. To be eligible, coaches must have won 60 percent of their games and a minimum of 100 contests; Robinson went 132-77-4. Additionally, they have to have coached at least 10 years and be retired for three years.

Robinson has understood the meaning of big-time college football, and his personal touch on the program helped the Rebels get closer being relevant.

His most notable accomplishment was securing a multi-million dollar donation from the Becker family to renovate Rebel Park, the team's then-outdated practice facility. It now has field turf and is a respectable venue for a Division I team to call home.

Still, Robinson had his faults.

He rarely recruited from area high schools, missing out of several prospects who went on to successful careers at other universities. His most obvious recruiting mistake was not offering a scholarship to record-breaking running back Steven Jackson of Eldorado High.

Jackson wound up starring at Oregon State and is entering his seventh season in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams.

Robinson slowed down toward the end of his tenure at UNLV. He often was criticized for coaching practices from his golf cart; players praised Mike Sanford's energy level when he replaced Robinson in 2005.

Ultimately, these drawbacks don't overshadow his impact at UNLV. Fittingly, he will be the first person associated with UNLV football in the college hall.