Picture the scene: it’s New Year’s Day in 1977. After going 10-1 in the regular season, beating rivals Notre Dame and UCLA and upsetting Michigan on that fateful day in the Rose Bowl, the Trojans officially reached the summit of college football.

Leading the charge to that peak was Head Coach John Robinson, who, in his first season, led USC to become an offensive powerhouse. It was the likes of offensive stars such as running backs Charles White and Marcus Allen, as well as defensive studs like safety Ronnie Lott, who provided the talent, but it was Robinson himself who roused the team into incredible rushing displays, insane upsets and victorious seasons through his tenure.

After that incredible Rose Bowl upset, as Robinson was raised onto the shoulders of his players, he simultaneously celebrated and cemented his place in USC history.

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Robinson passed away at the age of 89 due to complications with pneumonia, USC Athletics confirmed Monday. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, their six children and 10 grandchildren.

In his two stints as head football coach at USC — from 1976 to 1982 and 1993 to 1997 — Robinson experienced great success, leading the Trojans to eight bowl games, five Pacific-10 titles and a national championship in 1978.

Robinson’s tenure produced 22 Trojan NFL first-round draft picks, two Heisman Trophy winners and a Lombardi Award winner. Prior to running the show, Robinson acted as offensive coordinator under USC legend John McKay from 1972 through 1974, helping lead the Trojans to an undefeated season in 1972.

“[Robinson] was a great man and a great coach,” Allen said. “He was one of the greatest teachers, motivators and psychologists of all time. Everything we were on the field was a reflection of him.”

His contributions to the city of Los Angeles go past just USC. Robinson also coached the Los Angeles Rams in between his stints at USC from 1983 through 1989, amassing the most wins for the franchise until current Head Coach Sean McVay beat this record less than a month ago.

Robinson also led the Rams to the playoffs in six out of his seven seasons leading the team, advancing all the way to the NFC Championship twice.

Following his dismissal from USC after his second stint for the Trojans, Robinson moved to become head coach at the UNLVs, joining the Rebels in 1999. While the school did not have the same talent on its roster as the Trojans, Robinson still led the Rebels to their third bowl game in school history.

The biggest moment in his tenure at UNLV was the team’s 23-5 upset victory over Wisconsin in 2003.

“Every coach has a quirk. Some have more than one. For Robinson, once the game and the post-game shows were over, he was done talking about football,” wrote Dave McCann, a sports reporter for Brigham Young University and ESPN+ who was close friends with Robinson.

In that same breath, Robinson’s contributions off the field for his players and friends define his coaching style and character.

“[Robinson] gave us the ability to feel like we were larger than life,” said Lott, an All-American safety who played under Robinson from 1978 to 1980, to USC Athletics. “His commitment to making sure that we had more than just football in our lives was so superior.”

This larger-than-life presence, combined with his intense passion for the game of football, meant that Robinson had a transformative effect on players.

“I watched him motivate average players to play good and good players to play great,” McCann wrote.

Now, as USC stumbles through another lackluster football season, the program remembers Robinson for his determination for victory and pure passion for the game — traits that led USC to some of its greatest performances in the modern era.

But, past the incredible wins and heartbreaking losses, storylines and talent, Robinson leaves a legacy behind that demonstrates something more.

Robinson was honored with a moment of silence during the Rams’ game on Monday night, and will be celebrated by USC after the college football season, in accordance with his wishes.