Oklahoma continues to peddle nonsensical takes regarding Lincoln Riley

On Monday, the Oklahoma Sooners were formally introduced as SEC members. Shortly after the conference's press conference, Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione appeared on the SEC Network to discuss the move. Of course, the Sooners' sports boss couldn't resist mentioning Lincoln Riley.

Castiglione discussed the athletics department's targeted growth by joining the SEC and the sentiments among Sooners coaches when...

"I will tell you, without reservation, every coach that we talked to was excited. And you know what? The ones that weren't aren't here anymore... You either gotta accept it or not. This is Oklahoma. Get with it, or get on with it."

- Joe Castiglione

It is safe to assume Castiglione wasn't referring to former Oklahoma basketball coach Lon Kruger. Indeed, the AD's comments were directed toward Lincoln Riley, who departed the Sooners for Southern California in November 2021.

Oklahoma needs to get over Lincoln Riley's departure already.

Castiglione's suggestion that Riley left Oklahoma over discontent regarding a future move to the SEC is asinine. Such comments are why Sooners fans continue spewing nonsensical Riley takes instead of focusing on their current football head coach. I understand Oklahoma was upset when Riley abruptly left for USC and took Caleb Williams with him.

But the grieving period is long gone, and the Sooners must get over it. Across Twitter/X and Facebook fan pages, Oklahoma fans devote significant time and energy to bashing Riley. I'd also argue that some of their fans care more about what the Trojans do on the football field than the Sooners.

If anything, Oklahoma fans should thank Riley for relieving them of the Alex Grinch defensive football experience.

It's comical to assume Lincoln Riley fears competition.

If Lincoln Riley feared competition, he'd find his way to Boise State or Houston and settle in for the remainder of his career. Instead, the 40-year-old head coach accepted the steep challenge of rebuilding USC football. It's a challenge that has required Riley to recruit in new areas while convincing players from eastern recruiting hotbeds to come to Los Angeles.

Riley could have easily remained at Oklahoma. His recruiting classes were among the top five in college football, he owned Texas, and the Sooners were always in the title hunt. Instead, the coach took a bigger job in a more prominent location, knowing the immense pressure and impatience that reside in Southern California.

If Lincoln Riley fears the SEC, moving to USC was not wise. While with Oklahoma, the coach only faced SEC schools during bowl games. Such potential doesn't change with a move to Troy. The inevitability of College Football Playoff expansion only reinforced the likelihood of Riley facing SEC schools with USC.

One can not be sure if Riley was privy to the Trojans' planned move to the Big Ten conference. But it's worth noting that USC applied to join the conference less than seven months after Riley's hire. I don't know how long it takes an athletic department to complete a Big Ten application, but I assume several months are needed to gather and compile data.

Thus, Riley likely knew where USC was headed before he took the job.

The USC head coach will now lead his program through one of college football's most difficult schedules in 2024. Meanwhile, Oklahoma will continue peddling Riley's departure as an excuse for setbacks or the inability to find early success in the SEC.