That's an eloquent way of putting it and I hadn't looked at it from that angle. I guess it's hard to comprehend being a sooners fan since I was a kid and not really comprehending the years before Bob Stoops. Coach was there for 18 years and remained part of the program after retirement. Coach Riley was the second coach at OU I really followed so it was strange how someone could walk away from one of the most sought after jobs in the country and into a mess.
I guess I can understand it but walking away so abruptly rubbed me the wrong way. Same with some of the coaches. Demarco Murray reportedly ripped into him in front of everyone. Idk I think we're just a different breed here. Oklahoma football integrates greatly into our community. It's a family atmosphere and many of the coaches in place have been so for many years. Many former players have come back to jump start their own careers.. Some could consider it nepotism but it works and has so for a really long time. Bob Stoops said that no Coach is above the program because the program is time tested and strong as a rock. The last guy tried to put himself above the program (not my words, local sports analysts) and gutted it on his way out. It's a temporary setback for the program but it was a gutless move by the coach. He didn't think he was up to the challenge so he jumped ship to a weak conference. I'm not sure I've ever seen that.
I think he seized the opportunity at what he considers a better upside for him. USC has a better record in the national arena and if he can resurrect that to a powerhouse, he is golden for years.
Riley stepped into a great situation that Stoops built and took advantage of the transfer portal and he knew what type of conference the Big 12 was, the spread was born there because of the lack of good OL.
Relocating to the west will allow for him to recruit defense better and he can still pick the cream of the QB crop, if Williams doesn't decide to join him.
Riley's no dummy, he knows very well the challenge of recruiting 4 and 5 star D players against AL, AU, GA, LSU and now even AR and A&M are getting better D recruits.
Riley is a Lubbock boy and has been around TX and OK for his entire life, time to experience something new in LA and experience the SoCal lifestyle for a change, I don't blame him. He kinda looks like a surfer.
In the integrity game, TCU and LSU fired their coaches mid season and TCU had the gall to ask Patterson to stay on and he told them to stick it. They were nothing before he got there. FL fires Dan Mullen like the next guy is going to recruit any better up against Clemson and UGA.
UT hires Charlie Strong and Red McCombs openly opposes him and works behind the scenes to get rid of him. They hire his boy from Houston and that doesn't go so well. Any man that takes that UT job better have some antivenom with him because UT is a nest of rattlers. And they will bite Sark in the neck soon. I don't care what they say to the media, their mouths are moving, they're lying.
I think every new HC looks at the package and assumes he will get fired. What's the walk away money? They can always get another coaching job. Hell, Bobby Petrino has a motorcycle wreck with the volleyball honey he's sleeping with and gets fired and end up with another job. The same Petrino that told Arthur Blank on Sunday he was staying on, coaches Monday night and is calling the Hogs in Fayetteville on Wednesday.
All of football is business. These players aren't kids and they all have the option of moving on if they don't like the new guy. Coaching is not even a shadow of what it used to be because it's all about the money for the schools. Saban is untouchable because he wins but if that stops? Same for Swinney.
