IRRELEVANT WEEK:

NEWPORT BEACH — You know something is wrong when the highlight of a Rams Reunion is Mr. Irrelevant XXXIII.

Only a handful of former players showed up at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa Wednesday night.

Someone outside joked that maybe the low turnout had something to do with the late Georgia Frontiere moving the reunion to St. Louis before she passed away in January.

The line drew some laughs, but there was more to come later in the night in which David Vobora was celebrated and roasted for being the last player selected in the NFL Draft.

Vobora had no qualms. But he thought about striking first an hour before the Lowsman Banquet started.

There was plenty of material for the No. 252nd pick from the University of Idaho to use. In the room, easy targets, a handful of old-time Rams, including Rich Saul, a Newport Beach resident, and Doug Smith, Orange Coast College’s offensive line coach.

One of those was John Robinson, the former USC coach who went on to coach the Los Angeles Rams from 1983 to 1991.

“My dad [Andy] played for Oregon and growing up I’d watch John Robinson coach on TV my whole life,” Vobora said. “I remember being a kid and the Ducks beat the Trojans in the Coliseum. I don’t even remember the year, but my dad and one of his good buddies were yelling at the TV, ‘Take that Robinson!’

“[My dad and I] laughed pretty hard when I told him John Robinson is going to be here tonight. He’s like, ‘Don’t tell him that story.’ ”

Vobora refrained. He sure missed his opportunity, the same way everyone at the banquet saw the linebacker do during one of the highlights shown of Vobora’s days at Idaho.

In the footage, a sophomore USC running back juked Vobora this past season before finding the end zone. CJ Gable scored on an eight-yard swing pass that Vobora said Wednesday forced him to leave his jock strap on the field.

The clip dropped Vobora’s ego. Robinson tried picking Vobora up a bit, advising him on the best ways to make the Rams.

His best chance was to take over starting linebacker Will Witherspoon’s room once training camp starts on July 23.

“If you do those things, you’ll end up waiting tables here next year,” said Robinson as practically everyone laughed.

In all honesty, Robinson then said, “Most of us don’t like” the Rams.

Lawrence McCutcheon isn’t one of the haters after the Rams bolted Anaheim for St. Louis prior to the 1995 season.

The former Pro Bowl running back in the 1970s used whatever connections he has with the organization to help Vobora make the Rams.

“I got a little influence,” McCutcheon said.

McCutcheon just wanted Vobora to take him to the Playboy Mansion.

Vobora only has two invitations. One for him and the extra one for his Irrelevant Week sidekick, Roy Schuening, an offensive lineman chosen in the fifth round by the Rams.

“Sorry Roy,” said Vobora, who now has ditched a promising Rams player for one who is done.

Can you blame Vobora? He wants to make sure he’s invited to the next Rams Reunion.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].