No Sidestepping Top Teams

The suggestion was made to Coach John Robinson at his first media luncheon Tuesday that USC might not be so willing to play the likes of Penn State in future seasons, when a poll will be used to determine which two teams will play for the national championship at season’s end.

“I hope we’re never reluctant to do that,” he said. “The year [1978] we went to Alabama and beat them in the third game, they were ranked No. 1 and we wound up winning the national championship. So playing top teams early can help you, too.”