Oklahoma fans are taking Lincoln Riley’s departure as well as you’d expect.
Riley will be leaving the Sooners for USC after five years in charge of the Big 12. Riley, 38, has led the Sooners with a 55-10 record under his watch. They also made it to the College Football knockout three times but failed to win a single game.
Indeed, Riley was a hit at Oklahoma, and that’s part of why Sooners fans mourn his passing. The team’s fan base will go through five stages of grief, but early in the process, they appear to be in Stage 2: Anger.
SEX: Lincoln Riley Will Bring an Elite QB to USC
Oklahoma supporters have been reticent about Riley’s departure and they have spoken out about it. Some even called him a traitor.
That’s not the only sign Sooners fans use to get Riley’s attention. There is another “traitor” sign posted on the “seeder” statue outside the school football stadium.
SUTELAN: Why Bob Stoops is about to retire to replace Lincoln Riley
These performances will help Oklahoma fans deal with their loss, but Riley and Co. may not see them. He and the staff members joining him at USC – including defensive coordinator Alex Grinch – left Oklahoma early Monday to catch a flight to Los Angeles.
DISCLOSURE: Lincoln Riley with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, WRs coach Dennis Simmons, managing director Clarke Stroud and strength coach Bennie Wylie arrived at a private hangar at Will Rogers Airport for departures to Los Angeles this morning. pic.twitter.com/KsGKjoo6Bz
– SoonerScoop.com (@SoonerScoop) November 29, 2021
That said, Sooners fans are trying to get their message across to Riley using social media. He has been called a coward for leaving Oklahoma before moving to the SEC and has even been compared to – and judged worse – Satan.
Lincoln Riley actually pulled a KD.
Oklahoma’s beloved sports figures left the mighty Oklahoma team for a California team for a weekend getaway.
– Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley just launched the University of Oklahoma Football program 10 years ago.
– Recruiting earlier (@OU_RecruitingHQ) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley just became an enemy of Oklahoma No. 1. Congratulations, Kevin Durant, you’ve finally been demoted.
– Boomer Stan (@SoonerHokage) November 28, 2021
As an Oklahoma fan, you must be wondering how much time Lincoln Riley has spent the last few weeks on game planning researching USC, getting to know the people at the helm (who seem to already know it all too well. about him and his family) and negotiate his big deal. It makes you sick. And angry.
– Bypass Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 29, 2021
GOOD MORNING FOR EVERYONE BUT THAT TRAITOR LINCOLN RILEY
– Jessica Dark (@jessicaldark) November 29, 2021
How many times has it been said that this group is “unprepared,” “out of focus,” etc. Be prepared when your HBC head is in Orange County. congratulations @ KDTrey5 you have now been pardoned by the State of Oklahoma, who is hereby officially considered @LincolnRiley the state’s biggest traitor. https://t.co/eXdONOgh4l
– Padre (@ J_Matthews_5) November 29, 2021
Oklahoma Lincoln Riley fans are not traitors when it comes to USC. He’s a coward, he’s scared of the SEC, and is running to the second weakest Power 5 conference just ahead of the Big 12.
– Natty Buschmann (@Buschman2k) November 29, 2021
Five years ago, it seemed like no one could beat Kevin Durant for the title of Oklahoma’s biggest villain. Riley may have done just that with his decision to join the Trojans.
THAN: The best full-time coach replacements for Lincoln Riley
Before long, we’ll see if Riley can rebuild the once-proud USC program. No matter what he does, Sooners fans will set him up for one of the country’s highest-ranking coaching jobs.
