Mike Riley IS NOT the answer for USC
by Paragon SC on Jan 10, 2010 7:25 AM PST
in USC Football
Email
PrintMy goal is certainly not to offend Oregon St. fans but Mike Riley is not the answer for USC.
This a classic case of watch out what you wish for.
That Mike Riley is Mike Garrett's TOP choice should be of concern to all of us. I mean come on is that best that Garrett can do? A guy who isn't even the most dominant coach in the state of Oregon? Come on, Garrett can shoot a little higher than that can't he?
Don't get me wrong, Mike Riley is a fine coach. He is a decent developer of his teams and players. he has put 12 players into the NFL during his tenure so I know he can coach. But if he has Garrett's seal of approval then we should be concerned. Other than lucking out in snagging Pete Carroll nine years ago have any of Garrett's "hires" really been spectacular?
Riley was in the hunt for the SC job before Carroll took it and had San Diego allowed Riley the opportunity to interview he might have well ended up in Heritage Hall. Some think that Garrett likes Riley because he will be seen as submissive to Garrett, that is not too far fetched for me to believe. It is all about Garrett. I can see why Garrett may have wanted Riley back then...SC was in the dumps, it was a shell of its former self on the college football landscape in the sense that USC had a rich tradition but a bare cupboard in terms of national stature at that time. Riley would have been better than what we had in Paul Hackett.
USC has changed significantly in those nine years but has Mike Riley? I know at one time he said SC was his dream job but what has he done to make himself The Answer for USC as they embark on their most important coaching search since McKay left?
It is not enough that Riley was a former USC assistant. Fine, he has lived USC football, but times are different, the stakes are a lot higher and the exposure is ten times greater. How do we know that Mike Riley will step up and repspond to the pressure of being the head coach at USC.
We don't.
USC is an elite program that commands an elite coach...
Mike Riley has not proven to be an elite coach.
Riley's personality fits the lifestyle and demeanor of the Oregon football landscape. Riley is 57-tears old, two years younger than Pete Carroll yet he doesn't come of as someone with the the "IT" factor. He has even stated that Corvallis is his home town and that the grass isn't always greener and because of that he is not the answer for USC. USC wants someone who wants to grab the brass ring...PUBLICLY. We don't know if new Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is going to succeed in South Bend but we do know he was NOT afraid to make his interests known about the ND coaching job. That is what I am talking about.
ND was Kelly's goal. He publicly stated it and when the job became available he jumped at the chance like a frog on a hot rock!
I am not seeing that fire from Mike Riley...I don't care what is rumored to be going on behind the scenes.
It is rumored that Riley has gone so far as to call all of his players to tell them that he is NOT taking the job at USC. A guy who has a chance at his "dream job" would find a way to not look like a fool by lying to his players while also inquiring about said dream job. If you want something bad enough you go after it 100%...No one is seeing that with Riley.
People are fooled by Riley's recent record against USC but Riley has not been as dominant as some would make him out to be. Riley has a career 64-47 .576 college record how is that dominant?
His OOC record is unimpressive...
2006:
Boise State (13-0)
2007:
Cincy (10-3)
2008:
Penn State (11-2)
Utah (13-0)
2009:
Cincy (12-1)
BYU (11-2)
Yes, he was the underdog in all of those games but a great coach should win one or two of those games. If Riley had done that then you might get my attention. SC will continue to schedule tough OOC games, would Riley stand up to the challenge?
Has Riley ever bagged a nationally prominent 5-star recruit? Has Riley ever gone toe to toe against the big guns in the recruiting wars and bagged the big time recruit? I laugh when people point to Riley's "discovering" the Rodgers Brothers out of Texas. They make it sound like he pulled a fast one on Mack Brown, Gary Patterson or even Mike Leach.
Like they didn't know those guys were there.
Right...
It is not up for debate that the Rodgers brothers have turned out to be pretty good players in Riley's system but lets not make them out to be world beaters. If they were so great then then why didn't the Carroll's, Browns, Saban's and Meyer's pluck these two up from the back woods of Texas for their much more prestigious, national programs?
Being a great recruiter as well as being a good to great coach is what will make a guy elite...Riley hasn't shown us that. I realize that there are very few elite recruiters in CFB but if Riley beat just one of those for a top player then it would raise my eyebrows.
Riley can only live off of Pete Carroll's recruits for so long, at some point Riley has to bring in his own talent. Is he up to the challenge?
Again, Riley is good coach but with the level of exposure he brought to Oregon State how come no one is beating down his door to go to the next level of college coaching? Heck, he is an Alabama guy but they didn't even open the their Rolodex to get his number. He doesn't seem to have the same level of energy that Carroll, Saban or Meyer have and that is key when representing with those sorts of programs. He may be good at a laid-back program like Oregon State but how will he respond to high pressure and bright lights at USC? Especially when you consider who he has to replace.
Does anyone think those expectations are going to be high?
Ya' Think!
You can only hire a guy on what you know about him...not about what you think you know about him or what you hope he might become.
Oregon State knows how good they have it...so much so that they are offering Riley a lifetime contract. He is a great fit in Corvallis, but I am not sure how his level of success translates to USC.
If he takes up OSU's offer then you have your answer...
66 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
[Riley] isn’t even the most dominant coach in the state of Oregon?
He is a decent developer of his teams and players. he has put 12 players into the NFL during his tenure so I know he can coach
First off, I’m not trying to convince you that Riley is the guy for SC. Nor to come in and try and tell SC fans who their coach should be, or what you ought to be looking for. And if you folks believe Riley really isn’t the guy then I certainly won’t argue.
But I think if your beliefs are based on these statements, perhaps you may consider giving your position a re-think.
Your conclusion on Riley really needs to be placed in context. Consider what he’s done given where he is. No disrespect to OSU as either a school or program, but come on. It is OSU. The talent level of the recruits just isn’t there, and what Riley has done given his circumstances is pretty impressive. Project what he might do given the facilities and talent at SC.
Anyway, that was it. Just a kind of pointless comment, I guess.
Whose Axe?
OUR AXE!
Yeap!!
The talent level of the recruits just isn’t there,
And whose responsibility is that?
and what Riley has done given his circumstances is pretty impressive.
No question…but he can’t even beat his in state rival when the chips are down…that won’t fly at USC.
He hasn’t gone toe-to-toe with big guns and won one recruiting battle let alone been in the game. He hasn’t pulled off an upset of a top OOC opponent, you need that MoJo to be an elite coach.
He is perfect for Corvallis…he gets his teams up for some games and they are a good Pac-10 opponent but when he has the chance to win the Pac-10 he wets the bed…
He's 4-5 against the Ducks with a Home game next season
He is holding serve against Phil Knight U. Quite an accomplishment. I don’t think you appreciate the difference in resources between the two schools.
Chip Kelly is going to own him forever.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
It really doens't matter
I would be absolutely floored if Riley left OSU for USC. Four reasons for this:
1. His personality and demeanor fit low key Corvallis much more than Los Angeles.
2. He has already had his “the grass isn’t always greener” moment when he left OSU the first time for the Chargers.
3. He is from Corvallis
4. OSU is about to offer him a lifetime contract
All that said, if for some reason he did go to USC, its not a terrible hire. Riley is a good coach, and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t recruit elite talent at USC. But he’s certainly no Pete Carroll, and I can’t help but think that with his personality, he won’t be able to handle the LA media if they don’t start off hot right away. Riley’s a great coach, but I think you need a bigger personality for that job.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
Exactly!
If you’re a recruit and Neuheisel or Riley show up at your door which one are you letting in?
He is PERFECT for Corvallis…NOT USC
I'm not necessarily saying he's the guy but...
Jim Harbaugh does have the demeanor ‘SC should be looking for in a head coach. He’s arrogant, cocky, and has a swagger. I think we need that type of persona in the new HC. I don’t see that in the reserved Riley.
Read me at www.conquestchronicles.com
by Joey Kaufman on Jan 10, 2010 8:51 AM PST up reply actions
PC has his faults
but when you open up a dictionary to look up the words “arrogant” and “obnoxious” you will find Harbaugh’s picture. He’s also boring and unimaginative and he’s losing all of his assistants. Without Toby, Stanford is going to implode. If you want a guy with swagger you go might as well go for broke and bring in The Pirate, he’s THE guy that scares the living crap out of Pac-10 coaches and fanbases, with Chris Petersen and Bronco Mendenhall a close second. Unfortunately those three would challenge Mike Garrett’s dominance at HH just like Pete Carroll, and we know he’s had enough of that.
Mike Garrett wants Pete Carroll gone, it’s no coincidence that so much “inside information” is being leaked by the Athletic Department. Garrett pushed PC to the threshold in December, now by making all of this public Garrett is slamming the door.
FIRE MIKE GARRETT!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 9:09 AM PST up reply actions
There’s no reason to think he couldn’t recruit elite talent at USC.
.
But what’s more important, there’s no reason TO think he could bring elite talent into USC. You can only blame OSU’s lackluster recruiting on Corvallis for so long. All recruiters have obstacles. But great recruiters can overcome that, or at least try to. Riley has not even made an effort to sell Corvallis (which Craig Robinson hasn’t had a lot of problem doing). It’s almost like he knows he’s not gonna be able to overcome that because he’s not a good enough recruiter, so he finds the outcasts that no one else wants, who are actually good, and uses them. But he hasn’t tried to push forward at all. OSU is sitting in the same place they were 4 years ago, for all of their on field success, they’ve not improved in recruiting.
That’s all fine and good at OSU, but how is that gonna play in USC? Let’s just imagine Mike Riley going against Mack Brown and Urban Meyer and Nick Saban and countless other coaches for the Joe McKnights and Reggie Bushes of the world. It’s gonna be a bloodbath.
But lets take that a step farther and just talk about the 4* recruits that every Pac-10 school offers. USC still gets those kids now. But imagine Riley going up against Kelly, and Sark, and Neuheisel, and Stoops, and Harbaugh. Riley is going to have to work his ass off for every single recruit that he gets, and he just hasn’t throughout his career shown that’s something he can do. If you’re handing over USC to a new coach, you can’t give the reigns over to someone who has not shown the instincts of a good recruiter, no matter their location.
So, as a Duck fan, please USC, hire Riley!
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
by jtlight on Jan 10, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Unfortunately this is all a power grab by Obersturmführer Garrett
who is tired of playing second fiddle to an elite coach. We already have the best coach, but the Little Tyrant feels he deserves the credit for USC’s success. That said Riley probably isn’t stupid enough to say no to a lifetime deal at OSU and subject himself to the whims of a megalomaniac.
FIRE MIKE GARRETT!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 10:12 AM PST up reply actions
I feel Riley has never wanted to work for Garrett, but just uses him to get what he wants.
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 10, 2010 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!
But Garrett is too stupid to figure that out.
FIRE MIKE GARRETT!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
I don't think MG is smart enough to be stupid, why in the hell did USC hire this horses ass in the first place.
Ronnie Lott or Marcus would have been better.
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 10, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
Two words: Heisman Trophy
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
No-one else wanted it. And I don’t mean that as a hack on Garrett, for once – I can’t remember the circumstances but I do remember reading about what was going on and it was a tough position to fill… so Garrett coming on board was like getting someone from inside the family.
There’s plenty of highly qualified Heritage Hall alums that can do the job now, I’d give the job to Daryl Gross in a New York minute. Give PC $5 Million and Daryl Gross and you can bet he changes his mind.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
As a Syracuse fan, I approve of this :)
Sorry, he might be great here on the west coast, but he gave my hometown Orange the Greg Robinson Experience.
Good point, but if your other choice was Obersturmführer Garrett, well…
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
Send him off to exile in Riverside!!!!!!!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 11:53 AM PST up reply actions
I wonder why Mikey likes Riley so much?
Bring me Herm Edwards—end of story
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 10, 2010 8:49 AM PST reply actions
He’s probably going to be the default option. Unfortunately he’s OLD, a poor game planner, boring,predictable, and horrible under pressure. Might as well hand it to Bates, he’s a lot cheaper and would be easier to fire, but he’s still capable of learning.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
Thank you for this Paragon
I completely agree with your analysis. As a lifetime Chargers fan I will add that Riley, Mr. WonAndFifteen, did indulge in some gamesmanship last time around, playing the Spanos’ and Mike Garrett against each other. HE’S DOING IT AGAIN. In the end, while Riley being his laid-back and ambivalent self, Pete Carroll swooped in and proved to everyone that he was the man for the job, showing passion, energy and desire. I have seen nothing of the sort from Riley.
As far as developing talent goes, just remember that Riley and Harbaugh were front and center during the Ryan Leaf debacle, and while no one can hold them responsible they just stood back and gawked at that train wreck. Do you think that happens to Tony Dungy, Bill Belichick or any of the elite NFL coaches? There’s a lot to question about PC’s record in the NFL, but he never lost like Riley, and I will guarantee you that the NFL will NEVER be courting him again.
Finally, Mike Riley is OLD and he is Mike Garretts first choice. Those two reasons alone make him unfit for the job.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
JDR! JDR! JDR!
No college experience though. My next choice would be Chris Petersen. Anyway, Riley is 56 and I don’t believe his personality will fit ’SC; However, no one knows what Riley can and cannot accomplish yet. He could be terrible or he could be the next Urban Meyer, except older. If Riley comes, I want coach O to be the DC.
How abut 1-15…
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
The deal is that Mike always wanted to be coach and he will be the first AD-HFBC-HBBC-and HBaseBC.
The true four headed monster!
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 10, 2010 11:50 AM PST reply actions
I taste puke in my mouth…
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 11:56 AM PST up reply actions
Mike Riley is the best choice!
I disagree with most of the anit-Riley comments. He is one of the best coaches in the country and would provide a seamless transition for USC football. He is part Trojan and is JRob’s best friend. What he has done in Corvallis is nothing short of remarkable.
Hey Tex, how about we bring June Jones out here!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
They’ll be challenging TCU for the City Crown (Boot?) in a couple of years!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 2:53 PM PST up reply actions
I’ve always hated frogs legs
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
m glad you posted that. Riley would be terrible. Give me Mike Leach!!!
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
+100
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 1:26 PM PST up reply actions
He belongs here in Disneyland. I'd give him a bit part in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie, haha!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 1:28 PM PST up reply actions
I mean YO-HO!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 1:28 PM PST up reply actions
I do love Leach
But, there is no way it is happening. We need a super-clean coach to appease the NCAA. And, although he has never been found of a primary NCAA infraction, Tech’s incompetent AD forever tarnished Mike Leach’s sterling reputation.
Sound familiar? I am going to do some more research on Riley and post something later, but I’m on vaca in Hawaii, so I’ve got to get away from the laptop before my wife serves up my nuts in a pupu platter!
"I do love Leach"
I cringed saying those words outloud.
by Julio Nievas on Jan 10, 2010 2:46 PM PST up reply actions
Lucky guy!
What island and resort?
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 2:54 PM PST up reply actions
Oh yeah! You are immune to any bad karma emanating from HH.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 8:44 PM PST up reply actions
Yah get there on the course with Jonny Drama
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 11, 2010 7:26 AM PST up reply actions
FIRE MIKE GARRETT! FIRE HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
Bwahahahaha! Hire him! Enjoy your 6-6 season after which he’ll flee to the new LA NFL franchise.
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Jan 10, 2010 8:29 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Wow! Cardinals defense wins it.
Incredible game! Highest scoring playoff game ever.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Sports By Brooks tweets that Mike Garrett has told people he likes Herm Edwards for USC job.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NONO NONON ONONONOONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO#$%!$%#$^%&!
by Julio Nievas on Jan 10, 2010 5:15 PM PST up reply actions
... Then goes onto say the boosters are calling the shots on the hiring.
Not MG, who SBS says will be fired when the President retires later this year.
by Julio Nievas on Jan 10, 2010 5:24 PM PST up reply actions
The boosters want Jack Del Rio. This is going to get really ugly very quickly.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 6:11 PM PST up reply actions
Whats wrong with Herm he will be tough on players and he does know what he is doing.
What you what Riley or his cousin Weasel or someone like that.
Fine the nearest cliff Mike Garret and put your car in Drive and step on the peddle.
by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 10, 2010 6:03 PM PST up reply actions
And now it turns out Carroll is going to raid the staff
including Norton and Ruel.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 6:11 PM PST up reply actions
Herm has a career losing record
and is known for weak Xs and Os, weak game mgmt, and ultra-conservative offense. definitely a strong leader, however, but would HAVE to have great coordinators.
He’s a Paul Hackett style coach.
¡Fusílenlo, después veriguamos! - Pancho Villa
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jan 10, 2010 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
