The Oregon Ducks had their big win 39-18 over Maryland Terrapins on November 9. However, HC Dan Lanning and his boys are in no mood to celebrate it. After all, it’s not the sweet timing to throw a victory bash now that they have lost a legend whose contribution has been immense towards the program.

That’s none other than the veteran football coach, John Robinson, who passed away at the age of 89. This has been indeed a massive loss for the Ducks, who were lucky to be under the legend even though for a short while. Meanwhile, November 11 turned out to be an ominous day for college football. 

Dan Lanning remembers John Robinson’s lasting legacy

Well, Robinson has always been the name that goes with the USC Trojans. After all, he led them to a national title as the HC. But he got his start in the Pacific Northwest. The legend played tight end during Oregon’s 1958 Rose Bowl championship before stepping into the coaching shoes of the Ducks. Robinson passed away on Monday, November 11, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after suffering from pneumonia. So, the now Ducks HC Lanning took a moment out of his press conference to pay his respects to the lost legend, “Want to start off by you know acknowledging uh you know a legend passing in the game…I’m thinking about him and his family, our entire organization.”

Lanning further stated, “Always sad to see somebody leave that made so much to our sport and John Robinson, want to recognize him obviously legendary coach but got his start right here with the Ducks.” Yes, that’s true, Robinson’s influence on the program has been immense. He served as Oregon’s assistant coach from 1960 till 1972. However, Robinson’s skills as the coach were acknowledged in the later years when he swapped wagons to USC.  

John Robinson’s golden era with USC

It’s with the Trojans that Robinson shot up to success playing an instrumental role in making USC football what it is known as a powerhouse. He coached them from 1976 to 1982 and then again made a return to mentor them from 1993 to 1997. During his stint, he led them to five Pac-8/Pac-10 Championships- 1976, 1978, 1979, 1993, and 1995. Hold on tight as more accolades drop in. 

Under Robinson’s tutelage, the Trojans capped four Rose Bowl wins- 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1995 that were topped up with one National Championship victory in 1978. Besides contributing to the program’s growth, he ensured to pay attention to the individual athletes as well. While playing in Robinson’s relentless rushing offenses, two players bagged the Heisman Trophy- running back Charles White in 1979 and Marcus Allen in 1981. But do you know another tragedy fell on football fans on Monday?

On the same day, that is on Monday, November 11, former Notre Dame HC Gerry Faust also passed away. Both John Robinson and Faust died at 89. So this comes as a dual loss that the college football world is not going to get over anytime soon.