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Robinson Plays Pleasant Host To USC
The Orange County Register Feature Story
Dec. 14, 2001
By Todd Harmonson
LAS VEGAS - The image of USC's football coach flanked by showgirls in skimpy costumes was surreal enough. And it was a little strange to see Pete Carroll take on his Las Vegas Bowl counterpart, Utah's Ron McBride, in a video game contest featuring their teams. But the most bizarre sight Thursday came when former USC coach John Robinson played tour guide for Carroll and his group. The two chatted about the players Robinson recruited and whom Carroll will bring here to practice at Robinson's UNLV facilities. After a brief news conference to promote the Dec. 25 Las Vegas Bowl, Carroll posed with the showgirls, played the game created by the bowl's sponsor - Sega Sports - with McBride, ate lunch and took off to UNLV to check out where his team will practice upon its Dec. 20 arrival. When Carroll was in the weight room, Robinson walked in, warmly greeted the group, which included a member of the USC administration that fired him, and led Carroll around the rest of the complex. "He's really been great about this," said Carroll, who called Robinson to ask if USC could practice at UNLV and got the coach and athletic director's approval. Robinson repeatedly offered his assistance during the visit, and Trojans officials later said they hoped he would be around for some of their practices. After the group ran into former USC and current UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas in the locker room, Robinson revealed that his help would come with a price.
"You have to give us half your winnings," Robinson joked.
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