Lincoln Riley has offered hints that he’s not going to coach football forever and be a lifer who works into his late 60s or his 70s. Riley gives the impression that he won’t let the football industry chew him up or spit him out, and that this introvert will spend the second half of his life pursuing other passions and interests. For now, though, Riley gives the appearance — and conveys the attitude — of a man who wants to be at USC to figure things out and solve the challenges before him. Riley doesn’t sound like a man who is itching to go to the NFL or who is tired of the hunt at USC.
Riley made a number of comments to assembled reporters at Big Ten media days on Wednesday in Indianapolis. One of the recurring themes of his remarks was that USC is playing catch-up on many fronts: facilities, NIL, and more. Once USC does get caught up, Riley suggested, everything will be better. These are words which underscore the point that Riley is at USC for the long haul and wants to be around when the facilities are finished, when the NIL operation improves, when the caliber of recruiting rises. All of that is a clear takeaway from Riley’s comments at Big Ten media days.
#USC HC Lincoln Riley: We're playing catch up in facilities. We're playing catch up in NIL. We've been playing catch up in nearly damn near every avenue.
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) July 24, 2024
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