Absolutely Loony Rumor: Lincoln Riley (OU HC) to LSU
Here's one of several, admittedly speculative and easily-fabricated, sources. This was just too crazy a situation to not post about.
- Spencer Rattler is a former 5-star OU QB who was on Netflix's QB1 and was recently benched in favor of a lower-rated freshman.
- Allegedly OU boosters had something to do with his benching. This had/has Riley steamed.
- OU believes it is a strong enough brand to overcome his departure, and they will not match the alleged LSU offer.
Assuming everything above is true, shouldn't Riley leave at this point? OU is already headed to SEC hell, and being at a school with very deep pockets, an arguably better recruiting base, and where he is given full control would be attractive. Maybe some of those assumptions are bad, however. I'm pretty sure all boosters are hard to deal with, whatever the program.
For what it's worth, I think OU is likely wrong about losing Riley and about its brand. The school ushered in a near-miraculous transition of success from Stoops to Riley; even one dud coach can sink a school for decades--or worse.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:08 PM ^
Caleb Williams was #7 overall on 247 in the country in his class. Rattler was #11 in his.
Have not heard the rumors about the boosters, just the fans being upset with Rattler to the point where they were chanting for Williams and booing Rattler.
Just for some context. It’s not like they put in some back up walk-on. He was a premier recruit that came in and lit it up.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
The bit about Caleb is right, and I was wrong. Not sure why I misremembered him as a 4-star. Caleb was a high five guy:
https://247sports.com/Player/Caleb-Williams-46040610/
November 16th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^
LOL, does the buck stop with the boosters or the HC in Norman? WTAF.
November 16th, 2021 at 9:43 PM ^
"...even one dud coach can sink a school for decades--or worse."
Sorry, I wouldn't know anything about that.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
This is way-out-there message board rumor stuff. Totally implausible. There's very little chance that it's true.
So what I'm saying is there's a chance.
This would be hilarious if it occurred. Bob Stoops isn't currently busy right now, btw.
But, while Riley could definitely attract talent and win at LSU, it's hard to win a title in Bama's division, and he could work for Oklahoma for the rest of his career if he wants to; he'd be done at LSU in ten years or less, unless he supplants Saban and strings multiple championships together.
...And there's no way that boosters are less involved at LSU than at Oklahoma.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:18 PM ^
With OU headed to the SEC, he's either facing Georgia's new monster or a (possibly waning) 'Bama. Not sure if that has been announced, yet.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:28 PM ^
Bama has looked mortal this year. Still really good but like they can be had. Saint Nick is going to leave soon so they’ll have to replace him which is pretty hard to do.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:55 PM ^
Where did you see Nick Saban is leaving soon?
November 16th, 2021 at 9:46 PM ^
Saban is 70 years old; the 2nd oldest current FBS coach (a couple months younger than Mack Brown). It’s safe to assume retirement isn’t that far off.
November 16th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
He has said nothing about retirement. Unless I missed something.
November 16th, 2021 at 11:20 PM ^
Retirement isn’t far off but neither is Dabo.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
I read a message board rumor of Bob Stoops to Washington earlier this week.
Coaching change carousel is going to be BONKERS this offseason.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
I think Stoops is done because he wants to be done. He could have gotten a good job by now if he had wanted to. Unless he gets a retirement itch, like Mack Brown, I think he's out because he wants to be out.
But if he wanted to get back in, this would be a good year for it. He could probably get the LSU job if he wanted it.
November 17th, 2021 at 8:14 AM ^
Stoop’s family has a history of heart disease. That is one of the reasons he left coaching. He isn’t coming back. He wants to enjoy his money.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:23 PM ^
Thought it was interesting that, after Orgeron was fired, the first name Tom Fornelli mentioned as a candidate was Lincoln Riley. Seemed like it came out of nowhere at the time, but maybe there's the tiniest bit of smoke somewhere.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^
IDK man... Riley better care more about defense than offense in the SEC. You can be cute on offense all you want but it will not be like the arena bowl Big XII.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
Outside of Georgia…who is playing top-notch defense in the SEC? Their scores look like a BigXII game as well.
November 16th, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
Alabama had a shaky start to the season on defense. But they're up to #5 right now.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:33 PM ^
That's why I think Florida makes more sense for Riley.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
Regardless of whether Riley goes to LSU or stays at OU, it'll be interesting to see how his style of offense fares against better defenses in the SEC. He'll be up against much better secondaries when playing teams like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, (possibly LSU), etc.
On the other hand, I could really see his offense lighting up a conference like the Pac-12. USC should just unload a truckload of money at his doorstep.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
I don't give a whole bunch of credence to stuff like 'culture,' but does he seem like a USC guy to you? In my head, he's much quieter. Doesn't have that OTT + sliminess of someone like Franklin.
That said, it would be an awesome move for USC.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
I had the same thought. It would probably be a very unlikely move for him. But just like coaching Oklahoma in the Big-12, he'd probably be able to have USC in the playoff conversation almost every year. That won't be the case when he's coaching in the SEC.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
You think Riley runs a slick offense in Okla-fucking-homa? Plant him in SoCal, with the bevy of local 4-5 star 'croots that grew up rooting for USC. He'd make Oregon look like a Schembechler team.
If he's looking to leave OU for any reason, USC is probably the best spot Lincoln Riley could land at. I think it'd be a much better situation for him than LSU...
November 16th, 2021 at 9:03 PM ^
100%
He'd have his yearly pick of CA QB and WR. There wouldn't even be a debate about where any top-25 skill player from CA was going, like back in the Pete days. He'd crush it at USC. LSU? I'm sure he'd be fine but nothing like USC.
A few guys can be sure to have wild success at certain places and a young, offensive guy like him would crush it in SoCal.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:18 PM ^
Boosters calling shots / benching players is the stuff of fiction. It literally doesn't happen.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
Lsu is easier to win at than oklahoma but the 23 Oklahoma recruiting class is looking silly good
November 16th, 2021 at 9:17 PM ^
I can't see Oklahoma being stupid enough to let Riley go. I could believe they would overhaul the defense. They are #71 in defense.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
First time I've run across that twitter account, btw, and it's absolutely fabulous content.
The bit with Penn State "auditioning" Matt Rhule to take a pay cut (which he has "no problem with") to leave the NFl and go to State College is actively hilarious.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
Get used to it, this booster stuff will happen more and more as NIL's take control of the game.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
The coaching carousel is getting interesting, with the following P5 jobs now open:
- LSU
- TCU
- USC
- Virginia Tech
- Washington
- Washington State
Wonder where Gary Patterson and Ed O end up. Justin Fuente could fall up, but he also was an assistant coach at TCU for a few years. Could he end up back there? No idea about Jimmy Lake, but he's probably got a bad rep right now and don't see him back in the P5 ranks any time soon as a HC. Maybe a G5 school or lower, or maybe P5 as an assistant.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
My ranking in terms of desirability:
1. USC-Fertile recruiting territory. Not much stiff competition in the Pac.
2. Washington-Same as #1 (if you can recruit California well)
3. LSU-Stiff competition, but fertile recruiting territory. A lot of pressure to win in a tough conference, though.
4. TCU-Recruiting Texas is not gonna be easy with A&M and UT in the SEC, but could be the big fish in a little conference.
5. Virginia Tech-Has some (fairly) recent success that can be sold to recruits, and like TCU, there is an opportunity to put together good seasons in a weakened Big-12
6. Washington State
November 16th, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
LSU is the top job. Three guys have won titles there. USC is right up there; it loses points for not being a prime SEC job, but gains some points for location and recruiting ground.
No other job opening is even close to those two on that list.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
That's true. But they don't give coaches much slack. Orgeron had two 10+-win seasons and a 9-win season in his four years here. Miles averaged 10+ wins/season before he was canned. If a coach is concerned with job security, LSU is not the place to be.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:13 PM ^
That stat about Miles is nuts.
November 16th, 2021 at 7:27 PM ^
LSU is high-pressure, but we're talking about USC, the school that literally wrote the book on runway firings. Both jobs are tenuous, but the SEC is the premier conference and LSU is a premier program with a base of fans and boosters wholly devoted to its success. Absent a personal connection to a program or conference, the SEC is just going to be more attractive.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:33 PM ^
Lane kiffin returning to usc would be an incredible story
November 16th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
It'd be even better if he made them bring the contract to the same tarmac that he was fired on.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
You are definitely undervaluing LSU. Last three coaches won national championships.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Patterson and Orgeron can get jobs if they want them. Not top jobs, but there are a lot of jobs out there and not a lot of hot candidates.
Get ready for something really crazy, like Lane Kiffin to LSU or something.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
Patterson seems like he either is Alabama’s next DC or he’s coaching at Texas State, and that’s it.
Orgeron is in a weird place, because the Title IX stuff that’s currently going on there would, I’d imagine, make him a difficult hire for a prominent on field role.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
Good point (shared as well by blue@lsu below) about Orgeron's off-field issues. Basically DQs him from serious consideration.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
I think Orgeron's off-field issues and the team's off-field problems are going to make it difficult for him to land a job. Who knows, though. Maybe Hugh Freeze will get a take one of the open jobs and Liberty will need a new HC.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
Orgeron will find it very difficult to fin a good job as a head coach.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
The only team Ed Orgeron should be coaching is the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. Match made in heaven.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
Rattler was benched because he stinks. People can’t see reality through the stars. Similar to how people thought Shea would be a first round pick despite what he was doing in the field.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
Rattler about to go help Jedd next season…
November 16th, 2021 at 8:18 PM ^
Good fit I’d say.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Sounds like bullshit to me but it sure would be interesting to see Texas and Oklahoma start SEC play while in a state of insecurity.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
Kansas fan chanting “SEC, SEC” says it all.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:57 PM ^
Gruden is available....
I think of the few programs in the country that could attempt to pull off hiring him and pulling the rehabilitation card / sweep the dirt under the rug, LSU would be it.