Thoughts about Mike Riley from an Oregon State alum

[Hoosker]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Moiraine]

I would bump into Mike Riley on his bike riding around town

 

I approve of this hire.

[gtsum2]

A little history about myself... I grew up a Nebraska Cornhusker fan. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up during the glory years. Instead of Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Tommie Frazier, Ahman Green, Lawrence Phillips and the Blackshirt defense, I grew up with the Bullocks twins, Cory Ross, Joe Ganz, and a flashback of the Blackshirt defense with Suh and Carriker. I moved to Oregon when I was 9 years old but continued to watch be loyal to Big Red. A decade later, I attended Oregon State University and am now an alum.

 

Mike Riley is a good coach. He never won a championship or a Pac-12 championship or anything, but he produced a handful of 9 win seasons with a very limited talent pool. When he HAD talent, he did special things. Beat #2 Cal in 2007, beat #1 USC when their only offensive talent was the Rodgers brothers and recently, beat top 10 Arizona State with literally 0 NFL talent on his squad. There's a reason that despite posting a 3-9 record in 2011, starting 6-1 and ending 7-6 in 2013 and posting a 5-7 record in 2014, Oregon State refused to fire Mike Riley. He has the ABILITY to coach a team into a BIG TIME win, he's just had to compete with the USCs and Oregons for talent. The talent he can grab at Nebraska will be 3x better than that of Oregon State.

 

Nebraska will love him, players and fans alike. I would bump into Mike Riley on his bike riding around town on my way to class all the time. He'll wave to you, and if you're stopped at a light with him he'll hold a conversation with you until you part ways. Nicest guy you'll ever meet, you'd never imagine he was the richest man in Corvallis. Players coach. Every player that put on that helmet adored Mike Riley.

 

But the reason why I like Mike Riley as a hire is because he can develop players into MEN and NFL players. There's a reason that, despite Oregon's success, Mike Riley has turned more Pros. Jacquizz Rodgers, Keenan Lewis, Brandin Cooks, Markus Wheaton, Stephen Paea, and Brandon Browner are just some of the names of players under Mike Riley. As opposed to the Ducks who have have college success, Riley has the ability to do big things in college ball and groom these kids into men for professional ball as well.

 

thanks for sharing your story and the insite...it is making me feel better about the whole situation!

[hskrpwr13]

I am excited by this post!

 

I'm excited by the chic in your pic.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Thanks for your kind words, it's great to hear these things, I'm getting more and more excited for this hire, but now I'm coming to the reality.....................it's the off-season now!

[True2tRA]

Thanks for the info.

 

I knew nothing about this coach but the more I hear the more excited I am. Damn it is nice to have a good feeling about things again.

[NebraskaHarry]

He seems like a nice guy...

[jeams]

The more I read... the more I like! Thanks for the insight!

[JJ Husker]

I am excited by this post!

Well I'm excited by your avatar.

 

 

Edit- discovers someone beat me to it.

[zebraworks]

Riley is quality guy and great with student atheletes. Main problem is he has only had a winning conference record one time in last 5 seasons. Fans in Oregon were wondering how they were going to afford to get rid of him!! This year he only won 2 conference games (and against Colorado it was down to the wire).