Tollner Is ‘Shocked, Disappointed’ by His Dismissal

Ted Tollner said Monday that USC’s decision to fire him was, in his opinion, wrong and that he was extremely disappointed.

But Tollner, who was hired in 1983, said that he leaves with no bitterness and plans to stay in coaching.

Tollner didn’t attend the main press conference Monday on the USC campus, but held his own later at Heritage Hall.

He was composed and patiently answered every question concerning his situation.

Tollner said that at university President James H. Zumberge’s request, he will coach the football team through the Florida Citrus Bowl game with Auburn Jan. 1.

He also said that he will get legal counsel as to what his options are now that he has been released. He has two years remaining on his contract, and Zumberge said the university will honor its financial obligations to Tollner and his coaching staff.

“It’s hard to face reality today,” Tollner said. “In addition to being disappointed, I personally think the decision is wrong, based on the criteria that I think a football program should be judged by.

“But that’s not my decision. I know the standards are high here. I know that, depending what way you want to compare it, in some cases we have come up short. If that’s justification for where we are now, that’s what I’ll have to deal with and I obviously will.”

Tollner has an overall, four-year record of 26-19-1. The Trojans were 7-4 this season. Zumberge said that Tollner was not evaluated on just his record but also the expectations for the future--and that he didn’t think they could be fulfilled under Tollner.

Tollner had a 1-7 record against UCLA and Notre Dame, which was a factor in his firing, but only a factor, according to Zumberge and Athletic Director Mike McGee.

Tollner’s teams also won more conference games, 21, in his tenure than any other Pacific 10 school, except UCLA, which won 22 in the last four years. Tollner also has a 6-1 record against top 10 teams.

“In most categories, if you compare the record to the USC glory years in the ‘60s and ‘70s, we come up short,” he said. “But if you look at it in terms of the competition in the conference today and compare it to other schools that have come off a severe NCAA sanction and probationary period, it is a competitive program.”

Tollner was referring to sanctions in the early ‘80s that prevented USC from playing in a bowl game or appearing on television--penalties that were incurred while his predecessor, John Robinson, was USC’s coach.

As for legal advice, Tollner said: “I just need to have some counsel on what my options are. I don’t know what I’m going to do.

“I know I have a valid two-year contract and I’ll make a decision, but I’d like some people to tell me what my options are.”

It has been reported that relations between Tollner and McGee have been strained since the 1985 season and that they are on speaking terms only in a functional sense.

Asked if he thought McGee has been determined to fire him since last season, Tollner said:

“I don’t know. I’ve had very little dealings with him. If I’m going to answer that in a positive fashion, I’d have to tell you why and I can’t tell you why.”

Asked to describe his relationship with McGee, Tollner said: “I obviously have an opinion of Mike McGee and it wouldn’t be of an interest right now to discuss it. Whether it influenced this decision, I don’t know. I tried to keep that (relationship) completely separate from coaching the football team the best way I can.

“I would like to think the decision was made that we didn’t meet a criteria and for no other reason.”

McGee said that he and Tollner had a professional relationship.

Zumberge said that Tollner hadn’t informed him of any falling out with McGee until the coach met with the president Monday morning.

“No, I hadn’t had any previous discussion (with Zumberge) in regard to that,” Tollner said. “I’m not into building negative things. That isn’t my style.”

Although Tollner is a lame-duck coach, he said that he and his staff will do everything they can to make the Citrus Bowl game a positive experience for his players.

“I want to do that more than anything,” he said. “I want the last operation to be a positive one, how we prepare for the game and go about coaching it under difficult circumstances.

“The part that hurts me is (leaving) the nucleus of young people we have here that excited me a great deal. I wanted to see it ride its course. As far as any adversity, you overcome it and go on.”

Tollner will not leave the cupboard bare. USC will have most of its starters back next season, including quarterback, tailback and wide receivers.

Tollner was asked hypothetically what he would project as USC’s record next season if he were still the coach?

“To answer that makes it sound self-serving,” he said. “If I was sitting with our football staff, and not here, I’d say if we don’t go 8-3, they ought to unload us. But that comes across wrong under the circumstances. I would have said that, and you know me well enough to know that I’m not putting you on.”

Tollner said that his experience at USC hasn’t soured him and that given the same circumstances of his hiring in 1983, he’d take the job again.

“USC is what you want in coaching,” he said. “Every job has certain parts that you don’t want. When I took over, it wasn’t the healthiest of situations, but I’d jump at it again under those conditions.”

Tollner was 4-6-1 his first season. It is generally believed that he didn’t inherit a solid nucleus, certainly not one of the caliber that he is leaving for the next coach.

Asked if he believes he has been given a fair shake by the administration the last two years, considering it was rumored that he was on the verge of losing his job, Tollner said:

“I don’t look over my back. You want everyone pointed in the same direction, but I also know that if you start looking over your back and worrying about what you’re doing, instead of believing what you’re doing, you’re not going to perform. I don’t operate that way.”

Tollner’s name has been mentioned in connection with the vacant Purdue job, but he didn’t comment on future coaching opportunities.

“Believe it or not, this has been a lot more enjoyable experience than you might think,” he said. “I try to ask myself why, and the answer is the type of student-athlete that wants to come here. The guy you work with day in and day out is not afraid of the risks or challenge involved to meet the standards that USC has. That young man is extremely fun to be around because he is not afraid.”

Tollner said he didn’t have an opportunity to meet with his team to tell them the news. He will meet with the players Wednesday, the first day of practice for the bowl game.

Someone asked him if he could have operated under the same environment at USC next season, regarding his being carefully scrutinized by the administration.

“You bet I could have,” he said. “And I would have thrived on it.”