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Nathan Hyun’s Column, Podcast, and You’ve Been Schooled Video
Can Lincoln Riley bring the Trojans back to being elite?
Since Nov. 28, all the talk surrounding the future of the USC Trojans football team has been about Lincoln Riley. In what has been a tumultuous season for USC, with the firing of Clay Helton and losing eight games this season, the hiring of of a top-tier coach is something USC fans have been waiting all year long.
No one expected the hire. Not even Pete Arbogast, voice of the USC Trojans, who said that he was sure it would be Matt Campbell the day before Riley was hired. So, it is safe to say that many people are excited for what Riley brings to the table. USC fans hope Riley can bring 5-star recruits, a packed coliseum, and most importantly, a national championship back to USC.
But can Lincoln Riley bring the Trojans back to being elite? Let’s take a look at some pros and cons for what the former Oklahoma head coach brings to Los Angeles.
On paper, Riley is one of the top five coaches in college football. Taking over for Bob Stoops at Oklahoma in his first coaching job, Riley ended up going 55–10 and making the college football playoff three times. For anyone that knows college football, that is Nick Saban territory.
Did I mention that Riley produced two Heisman trophy winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray? Riley knows how to recruit and he knows how to take advantage of the talent he has on his team. The offensive firepower Riley can generate is unmatched.
The excitement is definitely there, as USC recently announced it had 1500 season ticket deposits within the first week of Riley getting hired.
But I think the excitement is a little premature.
Yes, USC has already taken an important step in hiring one of the best coaches in the country, but I say, let’s hold on just a minute.
With all the confetti and fanfare that has been happening the past week, many people are forgetting that Riley is not perfect. Even with a great regular season record, Riley has not won games when it has mattered — he won only one bowl game. His defense at Oklahoma also gave up over 380 yards per game this past season.
Furthermore, Riley has never rebuilt a team before. He may be smart, but he has to learn how to take on a completely new staff and players that he has never worked with. If any part of his rebuilding process screws up, Riley is in for some trouble. Even Trojan great Pete Carroll went 6–6 in his first season with the Trojans.
One more important aspect to consider is that the Trojans are just not what they used to be. It has been over a decade since the Trojans were consistent national title competitors. Riley will not change the program in an off-season, let alone one season with the players USC currently has.
USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn certainly expects Riley to bring national championships back to USC, giving Riley over $100 million. But fans will just have to wait and see if Riley is worth that much. It’s not bad that expectations are high, yet, I believe that USC football is still two years away from returning to their glory days. Nonetheless, if I had to choose who to rebuild USC’s football program, I would look no farther than Lincoln Riley.
It is an exciting time to be a Trojan fan.
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