The questions come steadily and Mike Garrett doesn't flinch. His steely expression changes only when a reporter mentions George Raveling. And even then, Garrett quickly finds his composure.

Since he fired basketball coach Charlie Parker two weeks ago, the criticism leveled at Garrett, USC's athletic director, has been relentless. One columnist labeled the decision the worst since Tom Lasorda elected to pitch to Jack Clark. Others have called Garrett a disgrace, depicting him as a tyrant who curses out anybody, anywhere--and that includes players.

Some Trojan alumni, still seething over a football season that included defeats by Notre Dame and UCLA, again--never mind that Rose Bowl victory--believe Garrett's latest move taints the entire athletic program, even though basketball has always been the football program's poor relative.

"Everywhere I go, I get questioned about it," said Anthony Davis, star Trojan running back of the middle '70s. " 'Why is this happening?' people say. . . . I just know that the school is not where it should be. I may sound critical, but I need to be. My standards are high."

Still, the university supports Garrett unequivocally. Steven Sample, USC president, said of Parker's firing that Garrett had made "absolutely the right decision at the right time, based on all of the facts."

Sample added, "And in particular, I think Garrett made absolutely the right decision for the welfare of our student athletes."

But Sample won't specify what facts led to Parker's firing, saying it is a personnel matter. And Garrett talks in generalities, alluding to a lack of growth in Parker's program, both on and off the court, the inference being that Parker did not stress academics to the athletes.

"There is so little time for us to work with these kids," said Garrett, the first of USC's four Heisman Trophy winners. "We only have four years, and that is not a lot of time to shape people. We are asked to do a tremendous amount and every second is a key time and there needs to be a constructive atmosphere.

"It is important for us to give the student a totality while he is there, to help them grow in their personal life and as an individual for their professional life. . . . I've got four years to make this happen."

Parker says he doesn't understand what Garrett is talking about.

"We know this academic stuff is a big excuse," Parker said. "Let's put it this way: I feel comfortable with the support I gave the kids academically, I had high standards and high demands.