By Sean Labar
Lincoln Riley was almost universally viewed as an offensive mastermind and the next young, innovative head coach in college football when he took over the Oklahoma program from Bop Stoops in 2017.
In his first season as the Sooners’ head coach, Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy and Oklahoma finished with a 12-2 record, which was good enough for the No. 2 ranking in the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma ultimately lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in a double-overtime thriller in the Rose Bowl in 2018, but Riley followed his first year as the head coach in Norman with two more consecutive 12-win seasons. He led the Sooners to Big 12 Championship victories in all four seasons as Oklahoma’s head coach and his record of (55-10) was the highest winning percentage of any coach in the program’s history.
So while Sooners’ fans were far from thrilled when it was announced that Riley was leaving Oklahoma for USC, the Trojans’ brass was desperate to get the program back to its glory days and ponied up a massive contract worth $10 million per season, loaded with incentives.
With his track record, The move was widely praised in LA media, with the Los Angeles Daily News calling it a walk-off home run hire for the Trojans after Riley’s “brilliant” five years at Oklahoma. The article went on to predict that Riley would revive and transform not only USC football, but all of football in the western third of the country.
After his first season in Hollywood, Riley looked exactly as advertised, leading the Trojans to an impressive (11-2) record. Caleb Williams, who followed Riley from Norman to LA, won the Heisman trophy and it looked like the new USC head coach had instantly revamped the program.
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But last season, the Trojans took a step backward. Instead of building on the momentum from the 2022 season, USC finished (8-5) and it was obvious the Trojans’ defense was a glaring issue.
So this offseason, Riley — who has often been tabbed as a “quarterback guru” and “great offensive mind” that has ignored defense — made significant moves to bolster that side of the ball in the transfer portal. In 2023, he named D’Anton Lynn as the USC defensive coordinator after it was clear that side of the ball needed massive help after the 2022 campaign.
But now we are in the final quarter of the 2024 regular season and USC is (4-5) in its first season in the Big 10, fresh off an upset loss against Washington. Riley’s reputation as the next coaching prodigy has faded.
So with the Trojans looking like they are trending in the wrong direction, it’s no surprise that former players are speaking out.
Former USC Star LenDale White Unleashes On Lincoln Riley On Social Media
LenDale White is a recognizable name for almost everyone who has followed college football since the early 2000’s. The former USC running back, who won back-to-back national championships alongside Pete Carroll, took to social media on Saturday night to air his frustrations with Riley.
White bashed the “sorry” state of his alma mater, calling the current situation “ridiculous” and “beyond laughable.” The former USC star even campaigned to take Riley’s place.
Pay me to be mediocre I swear I can do it
— LenDale White (@thereal_lendale) November 3, 2024
“Pay me to be mediocre,” White said. “I swear I can do it.”
Mf can’t even get bowl eligible….!!!!!!!! This shit is beyond laughable
— LenDale White (@thereal_lendale) November 3, 2024
White called Riley a “glorified QB coach” who “ran” from Oklahoma. He later claimed Riley is “stealing” money from USC with his 10-year, $110 million contract.
Lincoln u are fucking stealing from USC. Donate ur salary to help recruit that coaching job u doing ain’t helping shit
— LenDale White (@thereal_lendale) November 3, 2024
“Donate ur salary to help recruit that coaching job,” White wrote, adding that Riley “ain’t helping s***” in his current position.”
It’s clear by the profanity-laden rant that White isn’t impressed by Riley and believes he has always been overrated.
It’s safe to say unless there’s a drastic turnaround, more key alumni and fans will follow suit and lash out at Riley like White did. But based on that contract, the Trojans appear to be stuck with their head coach for a while.
