Were We missing signs all year at Oklahoma? | Jason Kersey | Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma, USC

[@Jay-pt7mx]

Personally don’t even care to talk about the guy anymore… So excited about BV

[@jessebenitez4840]

🐍

[@nhardman]

Venebles is a solid hire but OU has taken a couple steps backwards.

[@Checo82886]

@@nhardman only with 2023 recruiting cause of Snake’s move.. Gonna be just fine regardless. I think OU will have a better record next yr than Lincoln will at SC. We’ll just have to wait and see tho but I’m betting on that.

[@THarjo-ks6pf]

I'm with you on that one.

[@pricehamilton201]

We just have to be the bigger fans and wish him the best. We will be fine.

[@SubZero86x]

The guy took 8 months to pick Kyler Murray over Austin Kendall. He didn't just talk with USC and decide to leave 3 hours later. He's been coaching like he was leaving all year long. It's the only way to explain how that talent played like it did all year long. He sabotaged the 2021 team and is trying to do that to the next 2 recruiting classes. Oklahoma will be better off for it. Getting Venables as HC was an A+ hire. The defense is gonna be back and OU won't be nearly as soft. Lebby is the best OC in the country. His offenses on average ranked higher than Riley's. Might take a year, but OU is so much better off.

[@slundgr]

You’re exactly right. OU woefully underperformed this year, and that’s on Riley

[@mfd588]

I agree. And I agree that it might take a year. Just growing pains.

[@jeromegarcia5396]

Well said... Coming from a USC fan... Venables is the better deal, I was hoping for coach O to come back having a natty, SEC pedigree plus he knows the program as Carrol era coach, defense minded... But USC boosters and alumni are only about the QB, who cares about running the ball or defense, so seeing this hire is redundant and not surprised... It's Sark kiffin Harrell and Helton all over again... SMH 🤦

[@h2w25]

Being objective this is AMAZING for Oklahoma. We got rid of a snot nosed slack jawed wannabe and got ourselves the best defensive coordinator in the history of college football. Upgraded at head coach ✅ Upgrade at OC ✅ Upgrade at strength coach ✅ Keeping same best in the country o-line coach ✅ I’m happy for Lincoln, maybe he can get them bowl eligible next year taking USC from a dumpster fire to the compost pile. *B* enny Owen *B* ud Wilkinson *B* arry Switzer *B* ob Stoops *B* rent Venables Only one program has four coaches with at least 100 wins, we’ll have five 100 game winners before the next school gets to 4.

[@timw8646]

so please tell me which head coach, when they are going to leave for another head coaching job, doesn't leave "3 hours later"? lol by the way, don't be a hypocrite subzero. why can't leave riley leave ou but venables can leave clemson?

[@dementiabiden1621]

Riley was already stepping out the door in late September and some of the horrible play calling throughout the year was more evidence of it.

[@gincain7988]

I agree with you. I was saying, what is wrong with Riley all season. He seemed different too. I hate to say it but I don’t think he wanted to win against Baylor or Oklahoma State.

[@joker6558]

@@gincain7988 if he won those games he would have had to play the big twelve championship

[@pricehamilton201]

I had been saying the team doesn't look like a team. They looked like they were just out there with no plan or clue all year.

[@savagesooner4891]

Mayfield and Murray made Riley, not the other way around…

[@mxl_reps_951]

And Jalen Hurts too?? Lol gtfoh

[@deontaywilliams3169]

@@mxl_reps_951 Lol U dumb af, if you actually believe stinkin Lincoln gonna “turn around” sc…

[@dmitrismith9947]

So true, TBOW was lucky to have those transfers. Look at Rattler, that tells ya everything about his QB development!!

[@user-qe7eb8my4b]

@@mxl_reps_951 Jalen Hurts was another transfer QB, TBOW can’t develop a QB. Just look at Spencer Rattler, that guy has regressed. You’ll be hating TBOW in a few years, lol

[@Cartier_specialist]

@Savage Sooner, I think you hit the nail on the head. He had to take the USC offer before the check bounced. Once it was discovered that he wasn't truly the quarterback whisper that check would've bounced.

[@caveloc]

Riley was California Dreaming before the season started.

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

Honestly it all makes sense now. I agree.

[@igot5onit214]

Exactly...he had a awesome set of plays ready for Caleb Williams and Sooners Offense but he didn't want to show his hand before he scampered out of Norman

[@dwl3016]

USC may give him 3 yrs to top out if he keeps improving but no lulls.

[@Joe-gu6oe]

I call myself "Fan Since 1964" and I have seen many lucky to be alive seasons. THIS is what it's like to be a SOONER! The most exiting football in America!

[@ericcarr7557]

I’m excited to see some of young guys get playing time in the bowl game. Clayton Smith, Ethan Downs, Stutsman….let’s eat!

[@mfd588]

Riley made it clear from the start that he didn't want any parts of the SEC move. I think that the day that OU/TX decided they would move to the SEC is the day that he decided to move; which was before the season started. Idk how true this is, but I'm hearing that he has been coaching nonchalant all year; which would make sense.

[@kattstanley4337]

Riley very quietly put his house on the market in August. He knew he was leaving and didn't give a crap about what was going on on the field.

[@penquin402]

I heard it was because he was moving into a new house that he had built in Norman. I could be wrong.

[@kattstanley4337]

It's possible, but if it was just a new house in Norman move, I don't think he would have tried so hard to keep it under wraps. I mean, it's a rumor between the real estate agents in Norman that there were NDAs floating around that sell. It had been on the market so long that USC is apparently buying it for $500,000 over the asking price, and buying out another one they owned for another $500,000 over, which granted doesn't mean much when your asking price is 26 million anyway. Again, it's mostly rumor, but a lot of these little rumors are becoming facts now that he's gone.

[@melroze]

He would have kept Rattler in if he didn't care, however his play calling was terrible.

[@ranger-1214]

It is correct that he had two houses. He had just completed building his new one, and moved into it before the season started. So the house for sale was his “old” one after moving to the new one.

[@scottsmith3776]

Hiring Lebby should also put them in running for #1 qb recruit for 2023 manning i would think

[@6770chiefs]

The whole season felt like no one was engaged until Caleb took over. The team just seemed like something was off and now we know. He made this decision in September when USC canned their coach. He lied all season and killed the recruiting class, he along with USC needs to be investigated. Sounds like Pete Carrol all over again.

[@slundgr]

Even after Caleb took over OU was undisciplined and committed stupid penalties, and at times they were disorganized in all aspects. Didn’t show up ready to play

[@robbyclark6915]

The team was never ready for a game!?? It was puzzling and almost shocking how bad they looked at times. I kept saying “that is bad coaching!” Apparently he was already thinking about life on the beach or something? There should absolutely be an investigation into how this went down, because absolutely NOTHING about it looks above board. Of course that’s not going to happen. A strong usc with Lincoln Riley as HC is all $$$ for college football.

[@robbyclark6915]

Yeah usc has had quite the run lately. I have no idea what that run would be but apparently their fans think it’s been great🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@shameless1047]

@@robbyclark6915 how many national titles and heismans do you have? Apparently your boy Lincoln thinks usc is a better program. He was never going to get the talent at choclahoma than what he can get at USC

[@robbyclark6915]

@@shameless1047 “How many nattys and heismans do you have?” 🤣. Are you too stupid to look it up fool? Lincoln Riley is running from the sec moron. He’s your problem now.

[@dalton7145]

Man I'm sold on Caleb and I believe he will break all the records and become the next Sooner to win the Heisman and Natty

[@jaygustin7763]

Let's hope he's the next OU QB to lead his team to a NC.

[@dalton7145]

@@jaygustin7763 amen!

[@mattduran3843]

Lmfaooo

[@TylerG60]

I don't see it

[@BoomerKeith1]

We (the Sooner nation collective) didn't know why, but we knew something was off. This year's team was supposed to be a real contender for the title this season and NEVER looked like that kind of team. I believe USC contacted Riley's agent at the time Helton was fired and Riley thought about it from that point until the week of the bye (prior to the Baylor game). I believe that's we he finalized the deal with USC. Looking back, it certainly seems like Riley's attention was split (how could it not be?). Baylor is obviously a very good team this year, but coming off of a bye OU looked terrible. Regardless, Riley leaving was actually what OU needed heading into the SEC. We have the right guy in place now.

[@thekurtmagirt]

couldn't agree more. It was just a weird season.

[@brianhaynes9972]

Exactly!

[@chuckroutionGB2022]

Riley wanted no part of the Sec west

[@TerrySleuth]

@@chuckroutionGB2022 SEC West was trash this year

[@chuckroutionGB2022]

@@TerrySleuth 2022 recruiting classes 1 UGA 2 Bama 3 T/AM thinking about that

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

Radio guys were losing there minds covering the Sooners this season. We were undefeated until Baylor but it felt like a losing record. It was definitely a strange strange season. Hopefully BV will transform this team back into it’s historic prestige and championship football pedigree. We need that powerhouse defense or we’ll get eaten alive like Missouri and Tennessee do year after year. However throwing Texas in the mix should take a bit of weight off our shoulders. I think Texas could have a losing record for 3 years straight in the SEC. Oklahoma could easily lose at least 2 games a year for awhile. Hopefully I’m wrong. BV is a very inspirational figure so we’ll see that sooner magic unfold soon.

[@battles423]

2 loses in the SEC will still get you into the playoffs once they expand to 12 teams in the playoffs

[@timkinley1779]

Realistically, the SEC is a one or two team horse yearly. LSU, Tenn, Florida, Mizz, Kentucky, SC, Vanderbilt and Auburn don't exactly have their sh!t together. The product on the field doesn't match the hype. It's pretty much Alabama's consistency and some other flashes.

[@battles423]

@@timkinley1779 then Why is it when the SEC plays other conference like the big 12, big 10 , ACC, pac 12, our lower skilled teams seem to win. That shows how week the other conferences are compared to the SEC.

[@joey325]

@@battles423 PAC 12 was 2-1 vs the SEC. Would have been 3-0, but the refs were determined to give aTm the win over Colorado.

[@ShowMeBoomer]

I am an OU fan, and I really love your channel. You guys do a great job!

[@jenniferyoung5619]

Everyone at home games was saying the same thing. What is going on with this team? It seemed like we had all the necessary pieces. It's obvious now that we didn't have a HC. Just a guy putting in his time.

[@cwillis92]

Lmao oh it's obvious now? Stop overreacting

[@BoomerKeith1]

Riley's team got worse every year he was at OU.

[@BoomerKeith1]

@@cwillis92 How is she overreacting? This year's team was supposed to contend for a title. They couldn't even win the conference. If you paid any attention to OU football you would also have been wondering what the hell was going on with the team ALL YEAR LONG. At the very least, Riley's mind/focus was not 100% on his team this year. Riley's teams at OU got worse every year he was in Norman. That's not an opinion, it's fact.

[@igot5onit214]

@@cwillis92 all of ESPN and others where saying Our Freshman QB was going to win the Heisman i Don't think that's a reach

[@ammoniawilder4451]

Something did seem off

[@comanchebattles]

Said to a bunch of ppl throughout the year that this wasn't Oklahoma and now I know why. . Smh. O well. On to greater things.

[@gregoryldismukes]

Riley will only be at USC 3-4 years you can book it.

[@DanOKC]

I agree I think Riley was gone as soon as SC fire their coach and contacted his agent.

[@dementiabiden1621]

Yeah which was mid to late September he was absolutely the first person USC called. And after the SEC announcement Riley was looking for the door.

[@cwillis92]

Where's your evidence for that hypothesis? These things have to happen fast, so even though it can seem the coach & uni were talking before the season ended most times that's not the case. & Even if they did communicate he's probably not lying about when they actually made an official offer being that morning

[@BoomerKeith1]

@@cwillis92 There's NO CHANCE he made the decision to leave OU in two hours (which is what he said and thinks people will believe). He was hand picked by the best coach in OU football history to take over. He knew what football meant to the state. Are you seriously gullible enough to believe he made a life altering decision in two hours on a Sunday morning? USC didn't wait to make an offer until the morning after the Bedlam game. Again, you can't be that gullible. There were tons of rumors of LSU going after Riley, if USC really wanted him why on earth would they wait to offer him? Either you're just trying to argue, or you really believe what Riley said. I have to think you're smarter than that.

[@melroze]

Agreed. The LSU job was a smoke screen so no one would see the USC move coming. It's like pay attention to door number one, while I sneak out of door number two.

[@wademarquardt5296]

It’s time to move on. Was I angry with Lincoln Riley? … You bet I was. Does the recruiting losses set us back for couple year? … Probably. But if you step back, and think about it, this it is a win/win. We had reached a plateau with Riley. And despite better recruiting, on-field performance had slipped slightly, but consistently, in each of the past four years. The defense improved, but the offense slipped by more. With Venables we can move forward to SEC with a team that is physical, tough, and disciplined with attention to detail. A team that will be in real contention in an expanded playoff, which will happen. USC will take big steps forward too, and Riley will get to put his brand on a program. Riley didn’t want to stand on the shoulders of giants. He wanted to be “the” giant of a program that doesn’t really have one connected to the program. After all, Pete Carrol bailed on them after a bunch of recruiting violations. Remember, that the NCAA vacated USC’s national championship due to numerous violations. USC needs a hero. OU already has its heroes. Two of them live in Norman and are in the College Football Hall of Fame.

[@denizen9998]

Baylor has got one of the best sportscasts.

[@Bogeymania]

A lot of the coaches that went to USC are in a contractual agreement to coach the bowl game.

[@northface484]

This started way before this year if you were paying attention....You could tell the moment he hired Ruffin there was going to be trouble...Couple that with his offense completely stalling out at times and his propensity to go Gizmo at times....Losing large leads..Etc...Then having multiple players getting suspended right before the playoffs started...Solid players transferring..Bringing in Hurts..Then you have the trio of geniuses that committed the armed robbery...You could feel there was no accountability on this team....All this was magnafied this year with Rattler's regression and attitude...And just the softness of a lot of the players overall...There was never a true qb competition with him as coach...It turned a giant fail...Him leaving was the best thing that cold have happened...

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

The pressure in the PAC 12 isn’t even in the same stratosphere as the SEC. His wife was probably tugging on his shirt the entire season to move. He’s not very Hollywood but think of it this way, he can walk down the street and nobody will care that the coach of USC is walking around them or at the same restaurant. It’s LA. Walking around in Norman or OKC he was probably bothered constantly.

[@penquin402]

Yeah they don't care about college football in LA. It all about the pro teams. You could tell just by how he was greeted in LA when he got off the plane.

[@BoomerKeith1]

I do believe the pressure was too much for him at OU and he knew it was only going to get worse with the move to the SEC. You're right, he can now coach in the PAC where it's much more laid back and there's little pressure on him at USC. In the end it was probably the best thing for both sides. Riley doesn't have to deal with the pressure and OU got a coach that can bring back the physicality and defense.

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

@@BoomerKeith1 Agreed

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

@@penquin402 I definitely believe that.

[@mxl_reps_951]

Hahahahahaha cry me a river

[@robbyclark6915]

Ok, Riley did not have “great “ success as HC at OU. He took over for Bob and went to the playoff where he was competitive against Georgia (with a team entirely assembled by coach Stoops) got destroyed by Alabama and turned into a greasy spot in the road by LSU. That’s not “great success” not at OU. Then when he has to take his own teams and get it done he can’t even reach the playoff. Lincoln Riley would have been replaced within 5-6 years when he consistently failed to reach the playoff and was getting pounded in the sec. This just brought about the inevitable and at the right time honestly. Now we can head into the sec with some real football men at the helm. Thank you Lincoln Riley for taking your hands off my Sooners!

[@michaelmerck7576]

He was riding on the transfer quarterbacks but he has shown he can't develop them.i was never impressed with riley.never saw any reason to think he was anything special

[@BoomerKeith1]

I was in denial about the "he can't develop QB's" thing. It wasn't until Rattler was replaced this season that the idea of Riley not being able to develop QB's really started to make sense to me. Rattler regressed badly. Caleb came off the bench in the Texas game and played lights out. Every week, after that game, Caleb also seemed to regress. A lot of that was play calling and it may not have much to do with Riley's ability to develop him, but it's certainly a fair question considering what happened with Rattler.

[@jeffshelton8501]

@@BoomerKeith1 Keep in mind too that UT likely just did not gameplan for Caleb. Other than that I wholeheartedly agree that Riley had these QBs on a plan of regression and that Mayfield and Murray did more to make Riley look good than the other way around.

[@BoomerKeith1]

@@jeffshelton8501 Great point Jeff. That's something I hadn't even thought about with Texas and Caleb.

[@igot5onit214]

Don't think for once he didn't have a awesome set of plays ready and lined up For Caleb Williams and Sooners Offense he just didn't want to show his hand before he scampered off to SC

[@diegoolivarez2133]

Just like anybody else, when you have massive personal issues going on, it's going to affect your professional life.

[@gincain7988]

Do you believe the affair rumors were true?

[@markjones4186]

Need to go back and look at the flight plans that were filed with the FAA the day that Lincoln missed the press conference. I mean they could have been doing everything by zoom meetings, but I wouldn't be shocked if there were a few flights between LA and Norman. I think this kicked off right after USC fired their coach.

[@BoomerKeith1]

He made 7 trips to California from late September through November. Those were supposedly "recruiting trips". Which, I'm sure part of them were (recruiting for his next job).

[@janicekirk3027]

We all felt that something was off with our football team!

[@rolandburt2856]

Sooners don't whine or make excuses, but it is hard to ignore the facts. You don't lie about something unless you are hiding something. So how bad was it? I don't believe he sabotaged the season, but if you believe a coach makes a difference than what would a disinterested coach with one foot out the door be like? I think we saw exactly that. Anyway, I'm glad it's done, and honestly no sour grapes here. Feeling eager for the future of CFB at OU. It's going to be big!

[@carvanjackson6264]

Micah Bowen is good enough to win now if Caleb Williams. Oklahoma needs to be going after Arch Manning for 2023. Start building for the future and keep the young talent we got stating the new development of these guys.

[@MegaEasyliving]

Venables will take OU to a new unseen level. If CW sees that vision he will stay. Plus Venables knows how to develop great players into becoming even better. Lebby is the best hire since, yes, Mike Leach in 1999. He is an offensive juggernaut. Perhaps a better offensive mind than the departed QB coach Riley. OU will never have been ready for the SEC with Riley. They will be with Venables.

[@jackscott5593]

Agree. The finesse garbage won't work week in and week out in the SEC. BV will make the program tough again.

[@davidcole2337]

Unseen Levels? They been to the Playoffs multiple times. 4 most I believe.. When Oklahoma joins the SEC they will be lucky to win it once in the first 4 years of joining.

[@Saturdayz_In_The_Fall]

The more I analyze the wins under Riley, the more I come to the realization that the only big win for him was at Ohio State. His play calling has sucked over the last two years.

[@OUrNit03]

Thank you!!!! And that win over Ohio St was technically Stoops team. That team had the OU DNA that Stoops instilled. Riley has done nothing!!! As you said, all of his success came against far lesser opponents that we couldn't even dominate but only squeak out wins most of the times. Dude got outcoached every game and the blue print was out on how to stop his offense. I been saying dude was overrated!

[@Saturdayz_In_The_Fall]

@@OUrNit03 exactly! Now that he left I don’t have to be biased towards him anymore. We made Baylor, Kansas State and Iowa State look like conference champions every time we played them since 2019!

[@Cynic58]

I've been disappointed in him since he got off the gas vs Georgia, when OU had Ga on the ropes, (31-17), and they had no clue how to handle us, Lincoln started playing not-to-lose. Yeah, some brilliant offensive mind there. Then, in that miserable second half, he runs a sweep to the short side of the field and that detonated. Baker was desperate for sideline help, throwing his arms up, begging for a signal so he could call a dam play. I began to think it was a maturity issue until this year. This year, we just never were in it, finally got exposed. I'm with you guys, excited about BV and what he'll build. Boomer!

[@OUrNit03]

@@Cynic58 Exactly!! I'll add something better... we were technically up 31-14 going into the half until he decided to do that damn pooch kick that made it 31-17. We had been blasting kicks out of the end zone all year and even up to that point in the game, yet he randomly decides to pull that mess! As you said, the 2nd half wasn't any better. All of his success literally came against lesser opponents and many times we'd struggle against those teams. Him moving on was a blessing in disguise in my eye.

[@Saturdayz_In_The_Fall]

@@OUrNit03 that play still haunts me to this day. That GAME haunts me to this day. I just knew we were going to win the championship that year. I’m still not over it 😭

[@jacobbrewington405]

We had national championship talent across our roster, but we played like K-State. He'll yeah something was off. If Lincoln Riley couldn't coach this team better than he did, then we don't need his soft ass. Happy about the changes.

[@antontchuck]

Would it be safe to say Riley screwed over Rattler early on with some of the play calling? Just find it odd that Rattler does a 180 from prior season & then Williams comes in, it's a whole new tune.

[@deontaywilliams3169]

Stinkin Lincoln brought that charmin to SC…lol

[@OUrNit03]

There will be plenty of Charmin to go around with his soft ass lol

[@derrickpurdy7011]

This year? The signs have been off in Norman for at least the last decade.

[@ericcarr7557]

They should have retained Jamar Cain in my opinion. He’s a great recruiter of D-Line

[@soonerborn7603]

Meh, I’m ok with a complete reset on the defensive staff. We had great recruiting while Riley was here, but not much player development. Our D-line was our strength, but even they underperformed this year based on their expectations.

[@shameless1047]

Great recruiting? Not on defense

[@ericcarr7557]

@@shameless1047 Jamar Cain was a solid recruiter, and probably one of the better coaches on the defensive staff. He definitely was not the problem. But whatever, it is what it is.

[@shameless1047]

@@ericcarr7557 everyone says he’s a good recruiter. Just out of all the blue bloods I don’t think you guys did great recruiting on the defensive side. Unlike the the offense

[@shameless1047]

@@ericcarr7557 maybe with bv you’ll bring in more talent on thst side

[@MrAaaaaaaaa9]

It’s not a guess. LA Times reported that he was in talks since September. So that’d be the whole season

[@jaylawson1432]

I think Riley missed a day of practice Baylor week

[@maestroclassico5801]

Legit question....What WOULD Oklahoma's record have been in the SEC this year....and as is....were only a handful of plays from 7-5. This would've possibly gotten Lincoln FIRED...

[@TylerG60]

You could tell Riley didn't care. He was already recruiting guys to USC. He can kick rocks. Brent Venables is the man and I'm ready to go. I'm much more excited for the coming season.

[@davidcole2337]

Answer to title question. Lincoln Riley was against moving to SEC. When it was announced he starting looking for alternative Job to coach. He type of Offense is great but Defense has struggled against elite SEC Teams. He know 9 - 3 or 10 - 2 was going to be the Norm and 11 - 1 or 12 - 0 was going to be exception if ever.

[@westcoastnative2523]

And to think, being an avid USC fan, I was rooting to Baylor when they played Oklahoma this year. 🤣

[@socko691]

Listen people.....Oklahoma Athletics learned a very valuable lesson with Lincoln Riley over the last 5 or so years.........Lincoln is and always will be an opportunist, He holds no loyalty except to himself. that being said, yes, we had a few years where we should of won the national championship, but if Riley and the Sooners had won, his ploy for something better would of been over.. IT'S A SICK GAME RILEY IS PLAYING AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT WILL COST HIM HIS REPUTATION.

[@socko691]

AND HIS CAREER.......

[@gordongoodman8342]

Whew kares. Venables is back.

[@shameless1047]

Y’all really think you were better then bama, Clemson, and Georgia??? All 3 teams were more talented then any of Riley’s teams. He over achieved by getting y’all too the playoffs 3 times

[@Sooner_Smith]

The explanation is simple. The horrific offensive line OU had was completely overlooked. It was as bad, If not worse, than Texas’.

[@BoomerKeith1]

It's not the players, it's the ridiculous run blocking scheme that Riley runs. Pass pro was pretty solid all year (and got better as the season went on), but the run blocking is terrible.

[@Sooner_Smith]

@@BoomerKeith1 that was bad too. I does agree on pass blocking. I thought it was horrendous all year without much improvement. Past is past though and hopefully Lebby’s scheme will fit our team more! Boomer!

[@randytipton2587]

Are you guys kidding? Both QBs sat in the pocket and held the ball WAY too long all season. The OL certainly did its job with pass blocking. The QBs needed to deliver the ball quicker!

[@BoomerKeith1]

@@randytipton2587 I think you're only addressing one person. I said that the pass protection was pretty solid all year. I completely agree with what you said, although, I think Riley's play calling had a lot to do with why both guys are holding the ball too long.

[@wideawakeinotown]

i also wonder if a good chunk of rattler's on field/off field issues were due to an absentee coach with his mind in socal.

[@joemonroe46]

Over a year ago, you could see Riley’s affect change from his usual pleasant demeanor, to a negative petulant vibe, having a hard time looking reporters in the eye, even being argumentative with them. Who knows the truth but here’s the leading theory among true OU followers: three things happened: 1) the reality of having any chance for a national championship playing in the SEC dawned on him. 2) he realized that as talented as Rattler was, he was slow and slightly-built, a total non-threat as a runner. 3) Riley realized that, in effect, he had collected virtually all the best West Coast players who were attracted to him, not to OU, meaning things fell into place when the USC job came open. With them, in the PAC 10, he could have a chance at least to compete for a Mattie.

[@lajanyisrael613]

Jeff Lebby is a ex Sooner player. So he knees OU DNA and Sooner magic. Love the hire. No one on OUr defense will follow that guy to USC.

[@russellhathoot2365]

I think we’re in a better place. Was never gonna win a natty with that defense

[@davedodson8175]

If you think Riley didn’t have one foot out the door for both the Baylor and Bedlam games you’d be mistaken. You don’t take a career move like that with the recruits he had lined up without multiple discussions. He missed a full day of practice before the Baylor game for according to him “Personal” reasons. The reason more than likely was agreeing to the USC contract. I would expect the Assistants knew after that.

[@SpontaneousOracle]

Wait OU Administration did the exact same thing with the SEC. (keeping big 12 in the dark) But then scream foul when Riley does it to them? 🤣😅😂

[@matthewcahill7297]

Honestly thought i was the only one

[@marionkidwell3030]

I think we are all waiting for the 2025 or 2026 press conference where Nick Saban introduces new Alabama Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley after a socal flameout.

[@HoodDispatcher]

riley house was on the market since September

[@twrestlinga1]

I believe when the SEC announcement occurred, Riley didn't want anything to do with it and started looking elsewhere If he would have stayed with Rattler the whole season, 6 or 7 loses would have been a reality Hiring a top 10 defensive coach and a top 10 offensive coach is the right direction for OU heading into the SEC Haven't been this excited in awhile

[@msgtjeff]

Also, don't forget, that a couple of weeks or so before the OSU game, Riley was "absent" for a day (or something like that. .) and his excuse was "personal or family time. . " You wanna wonder. . .was he contact/visiting/meeting with USC peeps then. . . .?

[@OUrNit03]

Exactly!!

[@DJ-pm8vv]

Venables is an assistant If he was head coach material... why wasn't he hired YEARS ago by SOMEONE?

[@joeycatalano1119]

Because he wasn’t interested in those schools, he was the highest paid assistant in college football, that’s why.

[@carterstrain9951]

You're aware of how many hc jobs he turned down and that he made more money than a fair number of hcs right?

[@OUrNit03]

I was going to comment but it appears that others have already addressed this topic....what are your thoughts now that you know the reason?

[@lucidx2]

He turned down countless coaching jobs even Auburn recently its not like he wasn't getting offers he is a smart man and sometimes just cuz you can take a HC job doesn't mean you should it all worked out for him now he gets to coach in the city where all his kids were born OU is gonna go on a run under BV

[@number-it3hn]

If it is proven Lincoln told CW to throw the OSU game.... 😲 Wow

[@DJ-pm8vv]

What's the best way for a coach to change jobs without effecting players, coaches or recruits! There is not a way!!! He wanted to take the SC job! It's his life to live!

[@jmurdock7650]

With honesty and integrity, like a Man.

[@DJ-pm8vv]

And you were behind the scenes & know all that went on!?

[@OUrNit03]

Ask yourself this...do you believe Brent is blowing up the phones of all the recruits committed to Clemson to attempt to get them on the OU roster....We all know Riley is...that tells you all you need to know about his character.

[@Ananias03]

Riley had a falling out with AD over not being included in talks of going to the SEC.

[@slundgr]

Spencer Rattler regressed to the point of being benched. Why?

[@garyhughes9649]

I will be the first to admit Oklahoma didn't play well at all in some of their games they played magnificent second half against Texas but for the Sooners it was they scraped out a win and a win is always a win but for teams like Ohio State and I'm not knocking them you were talking about quality losses there is no quality loss a loss is a loss and they suck. But OU's coach at the time his head was in Southern California half of the season. Kansas actually beat the Longhorns so Kansas has improved. It was a strange season. ANM got Alabama Oregon got Ohio state-oklahoma State beat the Sooners that's rare Michigan beat Ohio State and there are other games played which would be considered upsets I can't remember. Alabama could have lost to the Gators and the LSU they had their close calls but nobody Rags on them cuz they only had one loss and I'm not criticizing Alabama I'm just stating a fact Alabama's a good team period and Georgia's defense look very lace panty against Alabama just being objective about it

[@SportZFan4L1fe]

I hope USC meets Oklahoma on the field soon to drop another 50+ burger on the Chokie-oakies.

[@jeremyjones4011]

I'm an Oklahoma fan and I hope USC meets Oklahoma, too. I think you forget that for about the last dozen years OU would have rolled SC.

[@Kyle-nc1wt]

Riley would never schedule that lmao y’all would die, especially if you came to Norman. The only way that would happen is if y’all somehow made the play offs or made a good bowl game and that’s not likely 😂😂

[@jeremyjones4011]

@@Kyle-nc1wt Right and by that time, guess what? SC would most likely be dealing with a fully implemented Venables defense.

[@kendallsmith5543]

People i hate to say it, but riley likely was plotting this with usc as soon as the sec talks were happening! Before Helton was even fired! Recruiting took steam with west coast kids after helton was fired and riley used Champ U BBQ to recruit for usc ! Thats likely why game planning suffered from the start and the west coast kids ( some) may have known the plan all along 😳. No way should the team have taken such a noticeable step back from game 1 after the bowl game if this isnt somewhat true.

[@wendellmcclellon4685]

Almost

[@brockkies8566]

All you have to do is go back and watch the games. His play calling was barely mediocre. He didn't do much of anything like he did in previous years. He never tried to get the running game going to help out his freshman QB when he made the change. He put Williams in bad situations all year long. He wasn't the guru that NFL organizations were picking his mind for and wanting him for.

[@LanceThompsonKssooner]

Listening to Big 12 analysts stroking the SEC about made me puke 🤢🤮 Media makes me sick.

[@zap_sigma1]

Nothing is more "off" than a bunch of supposed "adults" obsessing over where a grown man goes to coach 18-20 year olds for college football in a world filled with wars, famine, corruption, hyperinflation, & a doofus in the wh to boot. In fact, your whole conversation is just downright disturbing in how you couldn't care less about all the aforementioned things, but obsess over a game played by said 18-20 year olds. The whole thing is petty & childish on your parts. This is why you guys are getting the backlash you're getting. You're representing yourselves as petty, touchy, entitled, & out of touch with the REAL 🌎. To that I say, grow up & get your priorities correct. Coaches leave programs all the time. It's a coach in college football, & you OU cultists act as if some great sacrilege has taken place while a corrupt administration is looking to destroy our freedom. You ppl sicken me. I've always respected the ppl of the sooner state. But this demonization of a guy who gave you 7 years of his life is seriously causing me to reconsider. Edit: If the general attitude communicated by you had been that you hate to see him leave, or how it happened but wish Lincoln Riley & SC the best & you look forward to seeing each other on the field in the name of sportsmanship & good college 🏈, that'd be different. But no, you had to be petty & vindictive. So it's YOU who deserve to fail miserably. You ppl that are behaving this way need to take good, long looks in the mirror at YOURSELVES. Because it's actually YOU that is off. Your issue isn't that Lincoln Riley left for USC, your issue is that you make a game more important to you than it should be. That's what I find to be off.💯👍🏻

[@ricksaunders8074]

Lincoln was always soft Lost to teams OU never lost too Great offensive mind But losing is not a problem to Lincoln

[@garyhughes9649]

I will be the first to admit the Sooners had an off-year so did Alabama you never talk about their loss and they're almost losses the Gators just about beat them LSU gave them all they wanted Auburn owned Alabama for about three quarters those have all been forgotten we still here how Kansas gave us a scare. The Longhorns lost to Kansas never hear about that almost lost five games almost doesn't count for a damn thing. Alabama and Ohio State had a off year. Lucky for Alabama. All Season we heard about how badass Georgia's defense was they never got off the bus in the SEC Conference game I never saw their defense the one that was talked about all year but you guys have forgotten that at least we never hear about it from you. An ugly win is still a win I get it you scream too many of them together it looks bad. My lady and my Corvette are all that I am concerned about in the looks Department.

[@Unchaind08]

It's all good. We came out in a better position anyways. Riley done what's best for OU. He ran from the SEC as fast as he could and that's exactly what we needed him to do.

[@rubenloza1920]

Everyone likes to pretend. But OU fans defended Riley to the death all year. He was their man. It wasn't until he was out the door when suddenly became this problem and wasn't a good football coach. Pathetic.

[@OUrNit03]

You can't speak for all OU fans. As a fan myself, I've said long before he left that he was overrated. I NEVER saw what it seemed that everyone else saw in him. It shows whenever we play good teams with equal or better talent...he gets exposed!

[@rubenloza1920]

@@OUrNit03 Then you should have been all over socials then. Also I look at the check he got. He wasn't fired for being bad. He got paid for being good. No one ran him out of town. He chunked the duce, laughed, and got paid on his will.

[@OUrNit03]

@@rubenloza1920 How do you know I never said these things publicly? Also, no one is arguing the narrative that he was ran out or that he was about to get canned, that's silly to mention considering that's never been the topic. Myself, along with many other fans have been complaining about the lack of discipline from our coaching staff and lack of physicality our team displays. Wouldn't you agree those are traits that derive from a particular coaching style?

[@lucidx2]

Nah alot of use were criticizing his playcalling all year his game plans were terrible and it just didn't feel like the offense had any identity

[@igotjams1]

Lol, USC is loaded. Everyone followed Riley to LA. Oklahoma has all-district players from Broken Arrow, Nacogdoches and Las Cruces

[@yaqootmir9647]

Lincoln was offended only you don’t win championships with one dimensional teams period. Don’t know if B.V. is it either specially with OU headed to the SEC. Huge difference in quality of the trans between the big 12 and the SEC.

[@davethornton2930]

Talk all you want dude what goes around comes around

[@gk5891]

Welcome to the new normal. Coaches leave amd take future recruits with them, but now current players too because of the transfer portal. I don't know that they would have been worse than 10-2 in the SEC. In the West they might have lost to Bama and Ole Miss. They wouldn't have had to face Georgia unless they were their rotating opponent. I could make a case that they might have had only one loss if they had been in the East.

[@jimevert7099]

Offensive line play was poor. Missing short passing game and Lincoln inability to figure out how to figure a new solution to the drop 8 Iowa state defense. You don't come out that flat after a bye week and have Baylor just dominate the offence. The d played ok against Baylor but offence was a disaster

[@tsyd691]

Wow! OU fans sound like us Longhorn fans!!!! Lollllll

[@quanahhurtt4443]

OU traded conference championships for ESPN cash.

[@i-bsooner2115]

Which will intimately result into championships. Let’s Go!!!

[@FirthFunkPlaza]

Big 12 championships don’t mean anything anymore. Beating a bunch of WAC schools means nothing.

[@donniedavis2852]

The big 12 wasn’t doing anything to move the conference forward. Joe C had been telling them to start growing and strengthens the conference. They didn’t start making effort until Oklahoma and Texas said we are leaving.

[@penquin402]

We left because of TV times. No one wants 11 am games. It's sucks for traveling purposes. Plus no one remembers those games.

[@donniedavis2852]

@@penquin402 all the things your saying are part of the growing and strengthening the conference.

[@geraldpreston817]

No it was actually very simple and if you watched every game Spencer rattler refused to throw the ball downfield he was danken and Duncan the offense look like crap he was a 150th in the country for yards per catch unheard of by an Oklahoma quarterback.... The defensive numbers would have looked so much better had the offense just been an average Oklahoma team

[@BranDZ7]

Since September I've been saying there's something going on internally and that's why they're not playing up to their potential. Now we know why, the coach was planning his exit the whole time.

[@soonerstone80]

I can guarantee we aren’t winning 4 outta 5 conf titles no matter the conf. And going 11-2 at minimum is out the door as well.

[@MJ-pk4gh]

Riley was always overrated, he was never a real football coach, Venables is and we'll be much better going forward.

[@williamhastings4241]

There was a reason the best offensive mind in college football left. I look for CW to leave now that the offense left.

[@destinyreturns4885]

Turns out you were absolutely correct....

[@mikehappy2620]

Ok Riley's gone. So happy Bill Bedenbaugh , Demarco Murry, and Cale Gundy are still here. The best OL coach in the country. A fantastic Running backs coach, and an all around football mind in Gundy. Along with Libby the O is just fine. Waiting on the D.

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

Did well for himself, that’s what you are supposed to do. I don’t like his lying to recruits. I have never agreed with restrictions on athletes and transferring when coaches can come and go as they please.

[@Flutterfly]

Schnellenberger is no longer with us either.

[@bexxchat193]

Loyalty - what about Calvin Thibideaux???? Why is he gone?

[@ronaldlamascus1944]

He’s not.

[@penquin402]

I don't know why he's gone. Coach BV knows what he's doing. I have faith in him that he'll make the best coaching decisions.

[@BoomerKeith1]

If he's gone (nothing is official) then I can only imagine that Coach V is cleaning house on that side of the ball, which was probably needed. The defense has been a disaster for a long time. Coach V knows defense and what it's going to take to make it work. Loyalty only gets you so far. Heupel won a national title at OU as a player but was a terrible OC and got fired. Loyalty should never come ahead of doing your job successfully.

[@ronaldlamascus1944]

@@penquin402 he’s still showing up on the list of current coaches.

[@ronparsley3112]

He is the d line coach at SMU. All of the coaches on the defense were let go.

[@SP-pp4rh]

Who cares... Venables is chief and commander now. No more weak wins. Boomer-

[@themaddestlad7554]

Dillon Gabriel in my beloved Norman? 🤮🤢

[@81396xman]

Coach V was my first and only choice after that fu**er left.

[@masonparr8950]

Riley is an amazing recruiter but not good in the big games

[@number-it3hn]

Riley regressed

[@vincebuckley1499]

"You can go ahead and be Texas' pool boy, but you can count me out" Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma would've been better off telling Texas to pound sand and tried to get Mizzou, T A&M, Nebraska etc to come back and rebuild what Texas destroyed.

[@OspreyFlyer]

👍

[@leonpope861]

Lincoln Michael Riley is synonymous with passivi -ty,complacency,and duncan hines. I am not mad with Lincoln Michael Riley.We need🔥in the belly . 🧠y playmaking.Competiveness urgency.Detailed coaching was off,Lincoln Michael Riley was not in 💯%.

[@kennethmccall2975]

Norman Ok. Booed Rilley's young QB in Rattler off the field when he was 6 and O just because he wasn't putting up Mayfield type numbers. OU deserves this!!

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

The student 🧑‍🎓 section booed. That story was blown out of proportion big time. 😆 If anything Rattler showed a lack of leadership and drive. His attitude is horrible and I doubt he will ever play in the NFL. The money 💰 from the NIL will destroy the NCAA in the long run. It’s going to always be televised and watched but the game will change.

[@Jay_Jones71602]

@Kenneith McCall you are poorly informed.

[@kennethmccall2975]

You think I'm poorly informed I think you are blind to the truth. 😆

[@dementiabiden1621]

This is 2021 not 2020 players are being paid now with NIL deals they have. With that being said evidence shows that Lincoln riley was already checked out by then calling terrible plays that made the offense stagnant and refusing to make adjustments he was putting his QB's in terrible situations and in 3rd and long situations with his play calling. He continued to use the counter GT pull when this O-Line was not accustomed to it and refusing to use a zone-block scheme instead which was proving to work many times when it was tried. There is much more evidence to prove that he just was not into coaching this team this year and what transpired with the USC debacle proves it. I am not condoning the booing tbh they booed the wrong person it should of been Riley. Rattler had his own issues and that can't be ignored forcing the ball into triple coverage on a regular basis was just stupid, but that also comes back to coaching too.

[@BoomerKeith1]

LOL. You have no clue. That was a small portion of the student section and most Sooner fans were embarrassed by that. But, if it makes you feel better to believe that the entire stadium was booing him, continue to believe that nonsense. And you're right, OU does deserve to get a real coach that can prepare this program for the SEC. Thank you for acknowledging that!

[@TRC_On_Sports]

Adultery

[@Huck9000]

He was too busy with someone else. It will come out soon, that he was going to have to leave for what he was doing. His wife caught him, and it was with a high up person in the university.