COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : Robinson Welcomes Unwelcome Bye

On second thought, Coach John Robinson said he’ll take this weekend’s bye after all.

After USC’s 61-0 rout of California on Saturday at the Coliseum, he sounded as if he wanted to see Washington State, the Trojans’ Nov. 5 opponent, coming down the Coliseum tunnel that night, as the Bears were leaving.

Robinson’s team has won three in a row and was on top of its game Saturday.

However, he said this week: “Fatigue is a problem late in the season for everyone, no matter how well you’re playing.

“The fresher you are, the better. In that sense, a bye helps us. But I am a little concerned about that potential to get out of rhythm. . . . We need to make sure we hang on to it in practice.”

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Washington State has 50 California players, USC has two from Washington. . . . Head coaches Mike Price of Washington State, Keith Gilbertson of Cal, Jim Lambright of Washington and Miami’s Dennis Erickson all grew up in Snohomish County, Wash.

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Washington’s Napoleon Kaufman is about to become the fourth Pacific 10 back to rush for 4,000 yards. He has 3,821, and Washington plays Oregon State on Saturday.

Charles White, who coaches USC’s running backs, is the most prolific Pac-10 running back. The 1979 Heisman Trophy winner has 6,245 yards. The conference runner-up is another Heisman winner, USC’s Marcus Allen, at 4,810. Stanford’s Darrin Nelson is third at 4,169.

White is also far ahead in all-purpose running with 7,226. Kaufman is sixth at 5,408.