Oklahoma player calls out Lincoln Riley for USC introductory press conference quote
Lincoln Riley had his introductory press conference at USC this week, and he talked about his commitment to building a program. Well, one of his quotes stood out to a former player — and he got called out for it on Instagram.
Riley said he wants to make USC “the mecca of college football” when he was formally introduced as the Trojans’ new head coach. Isaiah Thomas, an Oklahoma defensive lineman, had quite a response to the Instagram post with the quote.
“Told us that last week,” Thomas commented.
Riley’s departure sent shockwaves through the college football world, especially considering he told reporters the night before he took the USC job that he wasn’t “going to be the next head coach at LSU.” Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong — but it felt like USC came out of nowhere.
It’s just one of the crazier coaching moves as the carousel picks up steam this week. LSU, after reportedly being in on Riley, ended up hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, which opened up another high-profile job.
This likely isn’t the last we’ve heard about coaching changes.
Oklahoma president: Sooners were blindsided by Lincoln Riley to USC
In a Monday press conference, Oklahoma president Joe Harroz said he learned the news of coach Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC the same time everyone else did. Despite being in talks “for weeks” with Riley about a contract extension, the two sides never came to an agreement.
Instead, Riley bolted for sunnier weather in California just a day removed from his first Bedlam loss. He took with him several Sooners assistants, including defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
Riley leaves behind a team that finished the year 10-2 and will miss the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time since it was brought back in 2017. He amassed a 55-10 overall record in five seasons, including 37-7 in conference play. He was just 1-3 in bowl games.
Legendary Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who retired in 2017, will serve as the interim coach in the bowl game.
Rumors had been swirling around Riley and OU for the past few weeks, though many expected the coach to leave for the LSU opening. But just minutes after Bedlam, the coach put those reports to rest in his postgame press conference.
“Let me stop you right there,” Riley said. “I’m not going to be the next coach at LSU. Next question.”
Although what the coach said was technically true, many Sooners faithful feel misled. That includes Oklahoma president Joe Harroz and athletic director Joe Castiglione, who weren’t expecting a coaching search of their own. Still, Castiglione said Monday that he did have a list of candidates prepared as a measure of caution.