Lincoln Riley discusses process of breaking bad habits while establishing culture

Lincoln Riley will always be remembered for his sudden exit out of Norman. The young offensive mastermind — who was hand-picked by OU legend Bob Stoops himself to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to competing for regular titles — to take on the job of revamping USC football.

The new Trojans head coach caught up with the media after a recent spring practice and was asked if there has been a focus on re-teaching to break the bad habits players from previous staffs, high school coaches or transfers have shown.

“I don’t know if we necessarily go into it with the mindset that we are trying to break bad habits,” Lincoln Riley said. “Like a guy could have good habits, but maybe, we just want him to have a different set of good habits, you know? I don’t know that it’s always that clear-cut, like oh that was bad and it’s good now. I think for us, we got to clearly articulate everything we want these guys to do.”

The USC Trojans head coach didn’t sugarcoat anything. While he’s one of the youngest head coaches in the sport, Riley put out an old school brand and style when talking about the culture, expectation and message he’s relayed to his team.

“And we have to articulate not only how to do it, but what the expectation level is,” Riley added.

“I think once you establish that, then guys have to make a conscious decision, they’re like ‘I’ve been with the staff a little bit so I know they are going to hold me to it and then it’s just a decision am I going to make it or am I not?”

How will Lincoln Riley’s first USC team handle expectations?

For Trojans’ die-hards, sports fans in the early 2000’s or anyone who witnessed the rise of Reggie Bush with Pete Carroll, Matt Leinart, they are all-in on Riley being the man who can return them to that former glory..

The college football landscape has changed with the transfer portal, NIL deals that can help sway talent and Riley has played the game well. His biggest pull was bringing former Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams out west to Hollywood, but his talent was obvious and the young dual-threat passer bought into Riley’s vision.

There have been plenty of other big-name additions and recruits who have committed under the new regime.

It seems like a ton of pressure, but Riley has taken a business-like approach with his team. It’s black and white, there’s a defined standard and his players either make it or they don’t. Greatness is the goal and he believes he has the formula to revitalize USC football.

“This whole thing is about choices,” Lincoln Riley calmly said.

“Guys that continuously make good choices are going to be better and be part of this thing here for a long time. Guys that don’t? There will be repercussions, so I think it just is what it is. Consistent approach and trying not to think about what guys did before we got here and try to reshape and rethink.

“It’s more about, ‘guys this is what we have to do now. We are going to do a great job of laying it out for you but we have to do it really really well. And the expectation is you’re going to do it to the best of your ability, and then you’re going to go to bed, wake up and do it again. Repeat, repeat, repeat.”