Drive1010

I don't get this? Most knowledgeable fan-base in college football? Huh? I've been shocked that about only 20% of the people on here know about Mike Riley. He was only the coach of the Chargers 15 years ago...he was on everyone's top 3 list in coaching hires 10 years ago. Is everyone on this board 7 years old??????

He wanted the UCLA job...and apparently thought it was promised to him - in the same year he turned down Bama. USC - apparently Chargers said, if you interview for that job - you are fired. Riley was a really hot ticket (I don't really know why in 2000-2004) and he really thought he would get the UCLA job. He's a west coast guy who didn't want to move to the South. He wanted UCLA or USC. His recruiting and knowledge is Cali based.

As a Charger fan I don't blame Riley at all for his struggles in San Diego. He went into a bad situation with Ryan Leaf as his quarterback. He left us with Drew Brees. Also, NFL coaching success has no bearing on college success. Just as Saban and Spurrier how the NFL went. Or the long trail of NFL guys who fall on their face in college. Or Pete Carroll b/f USC... Oregon State was only really really good when Riley did have a great running back. I am sure he will get one at Nebraska. When Oregon State had Rodgers (they upset Mark Sanch-ize and USC) Riley's foundation is really run first and control the ball...but when he knows he doesn't have that guy...he goes with pass-happy just to stay in the games. He's a smart coach but can only work with what he has. When he has had great running backs, he had his best seasons. I think getting a stable of power runners at Nebraska will be a priority for him.

It's nothing like 2003. This isn't an NFL retread. It's a lifelong college guy who gets it (which is why he failed in the NFL) - he's a college coach, a teacher. BC was an NFL dork. I think the administration wants a model, a sound representation of the University and a college guy who appreciates and knows CFB history and Nebraska history - sure they want to win (and maybe Riley can now do that given the resources and brand name - he has never had that) - he's always coached behind the 8-ball. I've watched him for awhile at Oregon State and was amazed that they could even be competitive let alone shocked when they upset #1 USC. Riley won't lay and egg against top teams - he lives for that. Surprising people. His players love him and they get up for big games...which would be a nice change.

Riley at Alabama under Bear in 1973

Jeff was great 10 years ago. His QBs have sucked the last 8 years. His last great find and development was Aaron Rodgers in 2004. Since then, while he was still coach at Cal...his Qbs were some of the worst in the nation. Wouldn't touch that guy with a 10-foot pole.

The great thing about Riley is he is used to going afar to get talent. He has great ties to California (which Nebraska needs) and he has been recruiting in Texas of late (but with the Oregon State brand and not Nebraska) In terms of NFL talent...breakdown by State... Oregon ranks 32nd...Nebraska is 34. Only Utah was behind Oregon in dearth of talent in Pac-12 recruiting. So Riley (without Nike money) was behind the 8-ball. Because while Nebraska doesn't produce a lot of home grown talent - at least it has the brand name and history...Oregon State had none of that...in fact, they had a very poor negative history. So this will be nothing new to him...but now he gets the Nebraska brand name behind his recruiting efforts when he goes into Texas and Cali. And Boise State thought they were Pac-12 quality but they weren't. In Oregon State's really down years they beat them once or twice...but overall...Boise couldn't hang week in and week out. They would get up for a game against the Pac and then lose to Nevada.

No because they are in the Big10 and like almost every Big10 school - real stadiums and support. I really can't explain this to people...everyone loves talking about K-State and how they were so bad and Snyder turned them around. Oregon State had one winning season in 30 years. They played in a high school stadium. The town looks like Mayberry and rains all the time. They couldn't get black athletes to go up there. (never-mind that Oregon and Indiana are brothers in arms with bad racial KKK history - look at Oregon's history and original constitution...scary racist language.) Coaching at OSU was like Siberia...University of Oregon was just as bad in their history...but then they got Nike money and turned their facilities into the Death Star...Oregon State has had none of that. It's still a glorified farming college.

Not less resourceful than OSU. Corvallis is the biggest cowtown if you have ever seen one. Boise is far bigger and more happening and has a real stadium. Until just recently, the Reser Stadium was the most glorified high school stadium in Div 1 football. You have no idea what you are talking about. I lived in Oregon. Utah, Boise, TCU? Good god man, those schools are like FSU and Alabama committed to football compared to Oregon State.

So much negativity. Good thing...it's easy to turn around the Big10 these days This isn't the 1970's. I see no reason why Riley can't succeed. Pac-12 is so diverse and crazy offenses it is hard to defend. With Rich Rod and Leach and formally Kelly (who is now tearing it up in the NFL) and Mora at UCLA, Sark and hurry-up at USC, and Stanford being Stanford (continuing the Harbaugh legacy) and USC and Arizona State... Riley might see this as a golden opportunity. He only has to beat two teams instead of an entire conference! And he doesn't have to innovate! He is stubborn. Maybe his style of offense will work wonders in the Big10 while it was outdated in the Pa-12.

By all objective standards the Pac-12 is soooo much better than the Big10 Last year Ohio State was in prime position to play for the national title and they gave up more points to the worst team in the Pac-12 (Cal) than any Pac-12 team (including Oregon State) - the worst team in the Pac-12 - Cal scored 34 points against the barominator and usually best team in the Big10 (Ohio State) - 34 points. That was the most points they scored against a big 6 program all year...including the teams they played in their conference. Ohio State made the crappiest Pac-12 program look competitive. Anyone thinking the Big10 is on par with the Pac-12 is living in denial. Big10 defenses (lets be honest guys) have stunk it up. Big10 for the last 5 years has been dogshite. While the PAC-12 has amped it up, got first class coaches and changek d the game with new innovative offenses. I mean the Big10's best team gave up more points to the worst team in the Pac-12. Wazzu played Cal better than Ohio State. That's how far the Big10 has fallen. So when people defend Bo and say...well he won 9 games! So what? Against garbage. And he got blown out by the good teams on his schedule. Big10 is the worst conference in the nation right now...and that's sad. Oregon walked in and destroyed Michigan a few years back...Big10 struggles to win a Rose Bowl the last 20 years. It's pathetic. A mediocre USC team just destroyed Notre Dame. I wonder if kids just don't want to play in the Midwest anymore? Midwest teams and talent has sunk to an all-time low. Just slow, can't tackle, etc.

youre the only one in the state of nebraska who doesnt want orgeron. So just stop please. All that I am saying is that we need to look at a guy's character, first. Yeah, he's a great coach, but what about his character? Really? What has he done regarding character that was bad? Players loved him at USC. Did he let a player play who dragged a woman down a flight of stairs by her hair and beat her? Upon the team's arrival from its game at Michigan State Phillips was arrested for domestic violence against his then-girlfriend. Coach Tom Osborne came under heavy pressure from media to bench Lawrence but stuck with him and started Phillips in the national championship game. Don't be a hypocrite and just admit it's football and winning. Character? Please...Osborne lost that in the mid-90's when he sold out to win national titles with his thugs.

That's funny. God, I hope he adjusts from the NW better than Mike Price did.

I do think he was the perfect hire. I know people just want to win...like anyone. But Nebraska's public perception was really really bad. I applaud the administration to going back and trying to restore the dignity (of which I think Riley would bring) to the school - nationally. That might not satisfy people...but I think it's important to the school. This isn't a total PR hire (because Riley is a good coach) but it's a guy with class who if he has success can last 10 years and restore the national reputation of Nebraska...(which now is in total shambles thanks to beligerant rants and barnyard behavior.)

That's such bullcrap. I was at the Fog Bowl in Corvallis. 2004 #1 USC at Oregon State. USC had the #1 rated offense in the nation...averaging 45.3 points a game...and Oregon State held them to 28 points...and it wasn't the fog...because field level...(where I was seated, the play was fine) - it was only above you couldn't see. And then in 2007, the Beavers held #1 USC to 21 points....and won. I do think the newfangled offenses in the Pac-12 have gotten to Riley - hard. He could beat USC because they were traditional...but with the Oregon's and Arizona's and Washington's and all this running QB spread and hurry up...he couldn't cope. Good thing the Big10 is traditional to most degrees. This might be the perfect conference for him. He would thrive - not to beat a team like Oregon or Arizona...but a team like Wisconsin and Sparty.

Leach's TTech teams were much better than the teams hes had at Wazzu. Why? Easier to get Texas HS players to TTech. Yeah...in all honesty...Pullman is the ultimate Pac-12 dump. OSU is #2. I had a friend who went to Washington State...and he said they used to drive across the border to Moscow, Idaho on Friday nights because there was more happening. Moscow has a population of 23,000 Mike Price's success way back was a total aberration. There is almost no talent in Oregon and not much more in Washington. Everyone in the Pac-12 recruits from Cali. Now Riley will be recruiting from Cali (with his ties to LA schools) and Texas.

I always thought Riley got more hype than deserved...way back in 2001 when USC wanted him after his failed stint with the Chargers. But what he did at Corvallis is pretty damn good considering the circumstances and Oregon's rise to power. I'm glad he's finally getting a shot at a traditional power program...because I've always wanted to see what he can do. Nobody can predict the future...but to call him out based on his record and current OSU students is asinine. They don't know anybody...I lived in Oregon too - they think they should be Oregon or UW...Oregon State is not. They have always been little brother...trying to recruit out of Cali...up to rainy, small dump town Corvallis. And yet Riley has gotten recruits and a bunch of NFL gems. People have been saying for years...well, you can't recruit to Lincoln anymore. If Riley can recruit to freakin' Corvallis, he can recruit at Nebraska. We might see the real Mike Riley finally emerge.

You want to know Oregon State and Oregon before recently....watch the Toilet Bowl...the last 0-0 tie in CFB history... That is who they were...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI5h14cM1gA Oregon had the Nike $ to climb out of that once Phil decided to donate... All OSU had was Riley...

Because they got spoiled with "some success" - it's freaking Corvallis and Oregon State. I hope they go back to winning one game a year like they did for 30 years. In this hyper-youth-twitter culture...everyone forgets the past and everyone has no perspective. No doubt current students would be upset. All they know is decent success. They were in diapers when Oregon State and Temple were the worst programs in the history of college football.

What he can do - is he'll probably feel at home. Corvallis is considerably smaller than Lincoln but having been to Corvallis twice - it has this 1950's storefront small-town midwest feel. Lincoln is still small enough and has some of that feel. I don't think he's going to be overwhelmed...this is a guy that wanted the UCLA job 10 years back in the hub of Los Angeles. I think he took this job because it's sort of a big-time version of Corvallis...it's not an entirely new environment...it's not LA or Miami.

Seems to be directly addressing issues with Bo's teams to date: Discipline - among the most penalized and turnover prone teams in the nation annually Growth - lack of player development (Taylor Martinez was arguably a better quarterback as a freshman than he was as a senior) Vision - lack of any clear identity on offense. Constantly outschemed on defense. Oregon State has been one of the most penalized teams in the nation over the years....they are last in the Pac-12 this year in penalties per game.

No no no! We need the best, and although I do not know the OSU staff, I assume they did not have the money or facilities to attract top assistant coaches. Scour the earth, and get the absolute best at every position no matter the cost. I have grown tired of watching inept position coaches walk the sidelines of Tom Osborn field. That WR coach Bret Brennan would be nice to bring over. Coached up Brandin Cooks to a Biletnikoff and the Pac 12 record for Rec Touchdowns and Receptions I've followed OSU a lot since I use to live in Oregon. They have always had really good receivers...guys who also over-acheived and really good running backs. Riley has certainly found some gems.

If he thinks this is his last gig (given his age) - hell, he could probably always go back to Corvallis...then he might not mind burning some bridges...and maybe some of his guys don't want to move to Nebraska?...and maybe before his hire, there was talk that..."you can't just bring your entire OSU staff here...you are the HC but we want to go after the best." Ergo his quote about wanting the the best coaches who are better than him. They might have had that conversation with him...because usually coaches bring their extended family with them.

Of course that's true. Why would anyone want this young pup? Never trust anyone who falls into a great thing and has never built anything. Lane Kiffin got handed the keys to a Ferrari at USC from 2003-2006...and suddenly everyone thought he was a great coach. I could have been the OC for those USC teams and done well. Chip Kelly set up an entire program and system that the current HC is simply continuing and following and the OC is doing everything that was already set in place.

He'll probably keep most of his staff from OSU. He's a small town down home loyal guy. This is how it works in CFB...a HC gets his "guys" who follow him and then the HC feels the need to reward their loyalty.