Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 7, 1995

Starting with the opening game against San Jose State on Saturday, USC will be the sole football tenant of the Coliseum for the first time since 1925. . . .

“We let the Raiders use it for a while, but it’s all ours now,” said Coach John Robinson, neglecting to mention that UCLA and the L.A. Rams, Chargers, Express and Dons also have called it home over the years. . . .

He is delighted. . . .

“It’s a unique stadium,” he said. “More great athletes have performed there than any other place in the world.” . . .

For sure, it is the only stadium that has been the site of two Olympic Games, two Super Bowls, a World Series, several world title boxing matches and 468 USC football games. . . .

The Trojans have won 335, lost 106 and tied 27 at the Coliseum. . . .

One of the victories was 42-15 in 1955 over the Oregon Ducks, who had a wide-eyed sophomore end named John Robinson. . . .

“I always dreamed about playing in the Coliseum,” said Robinson, although he grew up in the Bay Area. “Kezar Stadium in San Francisco too. But that was just a hole in the wall. I’ll never forget coming out of the tunnel for the first time. Oh, did that stadium look big. It took my breath away.” . . .

Unfortunately, Robinson also remembers the first time he emerged from the tunnel as head coach for a USC-UCLA game. . . .

“We were waiting anxiously to get the word ‘go’ from the TV people,” he said about the afternoon of Nov. 20, 1976. “Finally, it was time to come out. I was running as fast as I could when somebody clipped my heel. I went face down and the whole team stepped over me.” . . .

After a 24-14 victory over the Bruins that clinched a Rose Bowl berth, Robinson received a phone call from his old friend John Madden. . . .

“The first thing Madden said was, ‘I saw you on TV. You fell down. Boy, did you go down hard,’ ” Robinson said. . . .

The biggest crowd for a football game at the Coliseum was 104,953 in 1947 for Notre Dame’s 38-7 victory over USC. . . .

USC’s highest average home attendance was 76,063 in 1988, and there have been 20 crowds of 93,458 or more since 12,863 saw the opener against Pomona College in 1923. . . .

Unlike former USC assistant coach Al Davis, Trojan fans rarely complain about the venue. . . .

Every seat has a back, which is rare in college football. Exposition Park is a great place for pregame picnics. The campus is just up the block. . . .

The players seem to like it too. . . .

“The Coliseum helps our recruiting,” Robinson said. “A kid looks up at the stands from the field, takes everything in, and says, ‘Wow.’ ” . . .

*

Advice to Tom Lasorda: Move Mike Piazza back to third in the batting order and leave Chad Fonville at shortstop. . . .

Fonville’s spirited play helped to wake up second baseman Delino DeShields, whose chances of being re-signed by the Dodgers look 100% better than a few weeks ago. . . .

Jim Courier eventually might regain his form, but probably not his No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras are too good. . . .

New King Coach Larry Robinson doesn’t believe the warm weather here during hockey season is a detriment. . . .

“If anything, it’s a plus,” Robinson said. “Cold weather has a tendency to get you down. It’s a luxury not having to scoop the ice off your car and then wait 45 minutes for the engine to warm up.” . . .

Richard Steele will be the referee and Jerry Roth, Chuck Giampa, and Mike Glienna the judges for the Oscar De La Hoya-Genaro Hernandez bout Saturday night in Las Vegas. . . .

Temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s at fight time, 8:30 p.m., but it will be even warmer beneath the ring lights at Caesars Palace’s outdoor stadium. . . .

The Pittsburgh Steelers want to switch from artificial turf to grass at Three Rivers Stadium, but it should have been done long before the rug tore up Rod Woodson’s knee. . . .

Now that the San Diego Chargers finally have had four preseason performances-- including the one against the Raiders Sunday in Oakland--they should show marked improvement against Seattle. . . .

Highlight of the Sunday schedule is Drew Bledsoe vs. Dan Marino. . . .

Rich Kotite seems to have trouble coaching teams that wear green and white. . . .

After Cal Ripken Jr. tied the record, breaking it seemed easy.