Lincoln Riley and Deion Sanders offer two very different ways of presenting themselves and their football programs to the public. To a considerable extent, this is due to the different situations they inherited at USC and Colorado, respectively. USC has the ultimate national brand. Colorado was a 1-11 nowhere team which needed a total makeover. Riley has made three College Football Playoffs. Deion had coached in the FCS and was just beginning to enter the world of the Power Five conferences. Riley has coached multiple Heisman Trophy winners. Deion is in his first season coaching FBS college football. Riley is in Los Angeles, a major media market. Deion is in Boulder, Colorado.
Situations will certainly shape how coaches present their programs to the public. However, this is also a reflection of the personalities involved. Riley is an introvert. Deion is the classic media-magnet public figure, who never passes up a chance to talk about himself and his efforts.
When we compare Lincoln Riley to other coaches across the country, how are they motivated (or not) by the presence of Deion Sanders? Colorado is such a ratings draw that the other coaches who face Deion this year (and in the future) might be drawn to do things against Colorado they wouldn’t go versus other opponents. Consider Dan Lanning’s speeches this past weekend: Were they done solely because Colorado gave Oregon a unique level of increased visibility?
Let’s discuss this: