IMO, Riley 2023 or Bust

[BawlzDeep]

I really think Riley wants a national title and is doing all he can to make it happen. But, I also think that if he doesn't reach that goal with either Rattler or one other future prized QB by 2023, he resigns and heads to the NFL. The pressure might crush him even before that if say, another Big 12 school makes the playoff and wins a game. My biggest fear is Grinch continues his nomadic ways and jumps ship before OU is able to secure #8, and sets OU back again.

What are your opinions on Riley staying or leaving?

 

[Oklabama]

You could be right. I personally am rarely surprised when coaches take other jobs. I certainly don’t get the feeling that Lincoln is married to Oklahoma. Bob won so early that had he left I would have been shocked. Riley... hum?

 

[veritas59]

LR turning in his resignation to Joe C and Joe's reaction to his recommended replacement.

 

[CTOkie]

I really think Riley wants a national title and is doing all he can to make it happen. But, I also think that if he doesn't reach that goal with either Rattler or one other future prized QB by 2023, he resigns and heads to the NFL. The pressure might crush him even before that if say, another Big 12 school makes the playoff and wins a game. My biggest fear is Grinch continues his nomadic ways and jumps ship before OU is able to secure #8, and sets OU back again.

What are your opinions on Riley staying or leaving?

At 71, I do not anticipate any more national championships for OU in my lifetime if things stay the way they are, like staying in the Big 12 and getting mauled by southern teams in the CFB playoffs.
Of the 12 teams that played in the last three 4-team playoffs, OU was clearly the weakest team due to its lack of defense. For me, it was like having half a team compete....all offense and no defense.
OU needs to leave the Big 12 and start prioritizing defense.
Like some other guys here, I will now focus only on OU winning conference championships, winning 9-11games, and going to a bowl game.
Number 8 can come in another lifetime.

 

[owenfieldreams]

The first opportunity for us to kick the Big 12 to the curb will be when the G.O.R. expires in 2023-24. By then I will be 82. I am not optimistic.

 

[BawlzDeep]

At 71, I do not anticipate any more national championships for OU in my lifetime if things stay the way they are, like staying in the Big 12 and getting mauled by southern teams in the CFB playoffs.
Of the 12 teams that played in the last three 4-team playoffs, OU was clearly the weakest team due to its lack of defense. For me, it was like having half a team compete....all offense and no defense.
OU needs to leave the Big 12 and start prioritizing defense.
Like some other guys here, I will now focus only on OU winning conference championships, winning 9-11games, and going to a bowl game.
Number 8 can come in another lifetime.

The first opportunity for us to kick the Big 12 to the curb will be when the G.O.R. expires in 2023-24. By then I will be 82. I am not optimistic.

I'm hoping I can hang on to see #8. So, let's make a pact. Until OU gets to #10, we stick around and keep fighting the good fight.

 

[Plainosooner]

If five straight conference titles are something you consider a failure, then please go be a Bama fan. You won't have to change much game day gear. OU football has some things working against us. Useless fans are a little part of that equation.

What the OU football program has going for it, far far outweighs any negatives. In the history of OUr great program, we have had two seasons ever, when we have won a national title with an undefeated team that won it's bowl game.

We won one natty with a Sugar Bowl loss. The voting in 1950 was before the bowl games.
1955 was undefeated, won the natty and won their bowl game over Maryland.
1956 was undefeated, but with a no repeat rule, had no bowl game.
1974 was undefeated, but probation meant no bowl game.
1975 lost to an okay Kansas team, but won the natty after beating the Big 10 runner up in the Orange Bowl.
1985 lost in Norman to Miami who got pummeled in their bowl game. Won the natty, beating undefeated Penn State in the OB.
2000 was undefeated and won the natty beating Florida State in the OB.

Part of my point in this, is that you can't just be great and win the natty. You have to have some good fortune. When we've been good enough, recently, we've been pretty unlucky on all sorts of levels. And now, the quality of player coming out of Oklahoma, and for that matter in Texas, isn't as good as it used to be. It makes it tougher for us.

I do not share the notion that OU is done winning national titles in football. But I don't have to have that, to be happy with coaching, or with OUr players. I want to win a natty. We came really close my junior and senior years almost 50 years ago.

But I want want a program that is run the right way, that competes with excellence, and with class. I believe we have done that for at least the last 20 years. And I also think, in responding original poster, that Lincoln Riley won't be touching the NFL, because there is no NFL job that's better than the one he has.

I think he prefers this age group, and the impact a college coach can have on a player's life well past his graduation. And because he's great at it.

 

[CTOkie]

Plaino, following this team closely for 62 years hardly makes me a "useless fan", or one in need of a history lesson.
If you're okay with conference championships, with a team that is perennially very good with qualities that "far outweigh any negatives" but a team that hasn't won a national championship in 20 years, that's fine. OU has had some good teams since 2000 and has been exciting to watch. My point is that OU is overdue if you consider OU's history and I see the scenario for achieving #8 not getting better very soon.
I know that being great is not the only ingredient to winning championships. 2000 was a good example of a team that was focused, well coached, healthy and hungry for success, and it beat three very good teams, but it was not necessarily a "great" team when compared to other national champions. What it had were players who didn't make mistakes and played to the best of their ability.

 

[Plainosooner]

I was addressing the OP specifically. I'm not going to be calling for LR's head, if he wins three of the next four or five CCG's without winning a natty. If you can live with LR being consistent in winning the conference, and the occasional quality bowl win, then I have no complaint with you, or toward you.

My point wasn't to give you or anybody a "history lesson." it was to point out that what many assume to be OUr "birthright" as Sooner fans, is a mirage. We did it once in the 20th century, perfectly, and once in this century. I can just enjoy the greatness, with a definition too many consider to be "settling."

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Riley is the flavor of 2020.

Bradford leaves... who's got next?
Baker leaves... who's got next?
Stoops leaves... who's got next?
Riley leaves? ... Who's got next?

There were many more before these I've mentioned and there will be many more after as well. OU is a football factory. #8 is coming. I really want & hope each of you are in a position enjoy it.

 

[OUSOONER67]

At 71, I do not anticipate any more national championships for OU in my lifetime if things stay the way they are, like staying in the Big 12 and getting mauled by southern teams in the CFB playoffs.
Of the 12 teams that played in the last three 4-team playoffs, OU was clearly the weakest team due to its lack of defense. For me, it was like having half a team compete....all offense and no defense.
OU needs to leave the Big 12 and start prioritizing defense.
Like some other guys here, I will now focus only on OU winning conference championships, winning 9-11games, and going to a bowl game.
Number 8 can come in another lifetime.

Reminded me of the yesteryear teams of Taco Tech.

 

[veritas59]

I was addressing the OP specifically. I'm not going to be calling for LR's head, if he wins three of the next four or five CCG's without winning a natty. If you can live with LR being consistent in winning the conference, and the occasional quality bowl win, then I have no complaint with you, or toward you.

My point wasn't to give you or anybody a "history lesson." it was to point out that what many assume to be OUr "birthright" as Sooner fans, is a mirage. We did it once in the 20th century, perfectly, and once in this century. I can just enjoy the greatness, with a definition too many consider to be "settling."

To be fair, I don't think the OP was calling for anyone's head. I read it as he was speculating what LR might do. I don't think he'll leave, either. Sure hope he doesn't.

 

[iasooner1]

Until he helps secure #8 and after the Conference realignments hopefully

 

[Zgeo]

If LR had kept his foot on the gas in that Rose Bowl with Georgia instead of going conservative we would have won that playoff even with a crappy defense..... We are not far off but we need a great passing QB every year.....

Yes if LR doesn’t win a Natty he leaves, but to be honest the days of LR being the shiny new Wunderkind are over for the NFL as well as for Oklahoma.... But the pressure of not winning a Natty in x years will mount , but winning one Natty is huuuuge....I think LR can do it.....

 

[OUSOONER67]

The thing that glares at me the most with Riley is the last 2 playoffs, the offense got in a hole both times, yeah the defense did not help but the offense was pretty much shut down in both those games in the first half.
When your offense cannot score and gets in a hole I don't care how good your defense is, its a mountain to climb getting back in the game.
Some will blame Jalen for a lot of that vs LSU but the game was over at halftime vs Bama the year before with a Heisman Winning QB that COULD throw. Take the 2 QB's out of the equation and all you have is Riley and his play calling, its damn confusing at times especially big games with lots of time to exploit a defenses weaknesses. Is he the Offensive guru or not? Maybe only against Little 12,11,10 Defenses? I don't know.
The jury is still out for me with Riley. I am at a Show Me you can do it before I believe it state of mind at this point.
Things are looking up with changes on the D but the O in the Playoffs has not upheld their end either.

 

[CTOkie]

The thing that glares at me the most with Riley is the last 2 playoffs, the offense got in a hole both times, yeah the defense did not help but the offense was pretty much shut down in both those games in the first half.
When your offense cannot score and gets in a hole I don't care how good your defense is, its a mountain to climb getting back in the game.
Some will blame Jalen for a lot of that vs LSU but the game was over at halftime vs Bama the year before with a Heisman Winning QB that COULD throw. Take the 2 QB's out of the equation and all you have is Riley and his play calling, its damn confusing at times especially big games with lots of time to exploit a defenses weaknesses. Is he the Offensive guru or not? Maybe only against Little 12,11,10 Defenses? I don't know.
The jury is still out for me with Riley. I am at a Show Me you can do it before I believe it state of mind at this point.
Things are looking up with changes on the D but the O in the Playoffs has not upheld their end either.

Blaming Hurts for the LSU loss is silly. That loss is mostly on OU's typical defensive issues.....like the ones that yielded 63 points in a CFB playoff game.....or the ones that gave an average Kansas State offense 48 points.
Riley, however good he is or might become, has lots to do in getting OU to the next level and getting out of the Stoops' shadow. That's especially true now that OU doesn't have a transfer quarterback to fall back on for the first time in 5 years.
2019 was not necessarily a rebuilding year, per se. It was more of a transition or gap year with a rebuilt OL, new defensive coaches, a transfer quarterback and two new kickers to replace Siebert. It worked well enough to win 11 games and a conference title but proved to be not yet ready to face a CFB playoff opponent...and injuries and suspensions took a toll as well.
I'm hoping Grinch's first recruiting haul is the start of building a defense that can get OU away from the "Texas Tech North" stigma. And the February signing day may bring in more help.

 

[Oklabama]

As an OU fan I’m going to support Lincoln Riley and will support the new head coach when he leaves. Since some are disclosing age, I will too and to make a statement. I will be 74 a few days after we beat Texas this year, and I wouldn’t bet that Lincoln Riley is the last OU head coach I will see before I’m gone. I damn sure hope he’s not.

 

[owenfieldreams]

Our frustration is a self-inflicted wound. Our expectations are a result of an incredible history. We are rated the #1 program in the modern Era. Paraphrasing the King...how much rice can a China man eat?

 

[kcstorm06]

Our frustration is a self-inflicted wound. Our expectations are a result of an incredible history. We are rated the #1 program in the modern Era. Paraphrasing the King...how much rice can a China man eat?

Well said. The Sooners are consistent and just need that extra special player or two to get over the hump and into #8. Certainly hope the Big 12 can improve as a whole. Right now it is a mediocre conference and this year not a whole lot of improvement is seen 2-10. Little brother will be stronger on offense, but will they have a defense. Shorthorns are not back...always in a rebuilding phase. Winning bowl games but not much else. Sooners just need to break Rattler in and get him some fortified wall blocking this year. #8 may be close for us. Defense willing.

 

[CTOkie]

Well said. The Sooners are consistent and just need that extra special player or two to get over the hump and into #8. Certainly hope the Big 12 can improve as a whole. Right now it is a mediocre conference and this year not a whole lot of improvement is seen 2-10. Little brother will be stronger on offense, but will they have a defense. Shorthorns are not back...always in a rebuilding phase. Winning bowl games but not much else. Sooners just need to break Rattler in and get him some fortified wall blocking this year. #8 may be close for us. Defense willing.

After 20 years, this China man is very hungry....and until the defense returns, he will get hungrier. That said, 2021 or 2022 should be a good time for us all.

 

[BawlzDeep]

After 20 years, this China man is very hungry....and until the defense returns, he will get hungrier. That said, 2021 or 2022 should be a good time for us all.

Everyday I wake up is a good time, but to go with the discussion, yes, OU should be competitive and fun to watch.

 

[Zgeo]

Right now we are undefeated......Haselwood looks great....I have high hope for Rattler.....and the new TE.....but I fear those suspensions are for a year sense we haven’t heard anything....just have to get by without them...

 

[OUSOONER67]

Blaming Hurts for the LSU loss is silly. That loss is mostly on OU's typical defensive issues.....like the ones that yielded 63 points in a CFB playoff game.....or the ones that gave an average Kansas State offense 48 points.
Riley, however good he is or might become, has lots to do in getting OU to the next level and getting out of the Stoops' shadow. That's especially true now that OU doesn't have a transfer quarterback to fall back on for the first time in 5 years.
2019 was not necessarily a rebuilding year, per se. It was more of a transition or gap year with a rebuilt OL, new defensive coaches, a transfer quarterback and two new kickers to replace Siebert. It worked well enough to win 11 games and a conference title but proved to be not yet ready to face a CFB playoff opponent...and injuries and suspensions took a toll as well.
I'm hoping Grinch's first recruiting haul is the start of building a defense that can get OU away from the "Texas Tech North" stigma. And the February signing day may bring in more help.

Yep, I have said the same from the beginning, there was some sarcasm in my post.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

I think Rattler is absolutely the guy to keep the offense humming. And with basically the entire OL returning, every RB and a talented stable of WRs, I wouldn't be shocked to see this season's offense become Lincoln's best.

Defensively we made huge strides but Joe Burrow took all those happy feelings away. LSU deserves as much credit as OU deserves blame. By almost every standard, LSU's offense was historic. And with no Perkins or DTY, we were a shell of the defense that shut down Baylor 2 weeks prior.

I do think Lincoln needs to respect the defenses he's facing in the playoffs by means of calling plays that don't develop so slowly. They're to fast and talented. And both he and Grinch need to remain aggressive. The game is changing. Get to the quarterback or get beat. We need to land some elite guys and the defensive line or we'll continue to stay behind.