Lincoln Riley: Leaving a legacy
NORMAN, Okla. (BVM) – Now that the dust has had time to settle and reality has set in, many Sooner fans have decided to look forward and move on from Lincoln Riley. Though Riley won’t be leading Oklahoma out on the field come next fall, his mark made in Norman during his shorter-than-expected tenure is significant.
What many fans expected to be a term spanning over numerous decades has been cut short as Lincoln Riley heads west to Los Angeles in hopes of restoring a reeling USC program.
Originally brought in as a young explosion guru on the offense, Riley quickly became promoted to head coach two seasons after longtime coach Bob Stoops stepped down.
Though Lincoln’s time in Norman is over, the repercussions in Oklahoma are felt heavily as coaches and players have begun making their way out accordingly. It’s pick and choose whether or not Lincoln’s left the Sooners in a better state than he inherited.
Riley’s first two seasons in charge resulted in two Heisman Trophy Winners, Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018). Oklahoma’s high-powered offenses led by elite quarterbacks also led the Sooners to three straight College Football Playoff appearances to open Riley’s tenure.
Though Oklahoma ended up falling short in the semifinals three years in a row, no one could question the job Riley had done thus far. Disregarding the playoff losses, those three teams otherwise combined for a 36-3 record with identical 12-1 marks all around. Another shared achievement by the group includes Big 12 Championships.
Lincoln Riley’s five year stint featured four Big 12 Championship game wins in as many tries (2017-2020). In those four visits to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Riley’s Sooners outscored opponents 137-88.
The success of this term is measured differently in many regards amidst the debate. For some, appearing multiple Big 12 Championships is plenty of success for a coach in his first four years at the helm. For others hungry for national championships, the seeming habit of playoff losses creates frustration.
The general population seemed at least content with Riley as coach of the Sooners, though it is clear people were not pleased with how he decided to leave.
“I have a lot of love for that place. Me and my family poured our heart and soul into that place for seven years. Loved every second of it. Had a tremendous run of championships, success on and off the field. We’ve got nothing but love,” said Riley in an interview on The Rich Eisen Show.
“These things, when you leave a university, they either fire you or you leave on your own accord and neither one of them are easy and we understand it,” he added. The Norman faithful are not the only ones who may feel shorted, however, as Oklahoma’s high-ups have made remarks directed toward Riley.
During a press conference regarding the situation, former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops reassured the fans saying “there’s not one guy, one person, in the history of this program that’s bigger than the program — Coach Switzer, myself or Lincoln Riley.”
Although it may not be crystal clear whether or not the program stands higher today than 2017, Stoops, who will be stepping in to coach at the Valero Alamo Bowl, made it known what the situation was.
“The message to all of you is, when I arrived here on Dec. 1, 1998, there was something to be concerned about. A lot to be concerned about. Four straight years without a winning record. No bowl games. Two years later, we were 13-0 and won the national championship. This place is in a hell of a lot better shape than it was on Dec. 1, 1998.”
As Riley’s years as coach fade into the past, lest Sooner fans not forget the milestones the program reached under his watch. Though Lincoln Riley will not be remembered as a hero in Norman, his 55-10 record, four Big 12 Championships and two Heisman Trophy winners are etched in Sooner history forever.
