Lincoln Riley comments on Brent Venables hire at Oklahoma

In an appearance on the Jim Rome Show, USC head coach Lincoln Riley was asked how he felt seeing Brent Venables become the new head of Oklahoma football. After Riley’s sudden departure from the Sooners, Oklahoma’s coaching search led them to hire Brent Venables away from Clemson in a move that excited Sooners’ fans.

Lincoln Riley on Brent Venables

“I think it’s awesome,” Riley answered about how he felt seeing Brent Venables take Oklahoma’s coaching job. “I’ve known Brent for a long time, he’s a good friend. To see him get that opportunity, I know he’s been waiting for the right opportunity for a long time. He’s certainly earned it.

“I know he’ll do a great job. We got a chance to visit a little bit, which was great, before he accepted the job. I’m really happy for him and his family. I know him well and he’ll do a great job there. They couldn’t have found a better choice.”

Oklahoma didn’t waste much time in finding a replacement for Riley. In just a week after the shocking departure, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione hired Venables away from Clemson where he was defensive coordinator to one of the best defenses in the nation.

Venables is another product of the Bob Stoops coaching tree, much like Riley was before him. Both coaches served as coordinators under Stoops, although Venables’ path took him to Clemson before returning now to be Oklahoma’s head coach.

Oklahoma to immortalize Lincoln Riley’s departure

The departure of Riley left many in Oklahoma shocked and upset at the sudden nature of his announcement. As a result, Oklahoma Sen. Bill Coleman proposed a bill to sarcastically honor Riley. The bill requests that the last three inches of State Highway 325 be renamed the “Lincoln Riley Highway.”

The three-inch stretch would be the final piece of road that drivers would travel on as they leave Oklahoma to the west via the panhandle.

“I felt the State of Oklahoma needed an appropriate goodbye to this former head coach whose sudden departure left many in shock, including a team of young, dedicated college players. I found the tiniest section of our most desolate of highways to pay tribute to Coach Riley’s exit from Oklahoma football and the state,” Coleman said in a press release Tuesday.

“This is only fitting as this is the last three inches one sees before leaving our great state heading west.”

The bill will be a part of Oklahoma’s February legislative session, and could be voted into law at that time. Part of the bill designates that Sen. Bill Coleman himself would pay for any signs made to dedicate the stretch of land.