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Riley on Staff

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Not only that, but as ASSISTANT HEAD COACH!!! Haha. So much for “he’ll have a minor roll and let Smith do his thing.”

Where are all the numb nuts who said my sources were wrong? i.e. “Riley is just taking a walk through Valley”…yeah, to his corner office.

Jonathan Riley, officially HC.

495 COMMENTS

  1. So if JS gets this thing turned around, as someone mentioned above Riley will get the credit because he’s the only one capable of winning in Corvallis. But is JS fails that narrative is a fart in the wind?

    Nepotism at it’s finest.

    Pure Fuckery. I need to think about this and whether OSU football is deserving of me donating $$$ anymore.

  2. Absolutely ridiculous. Nobody earning $1.9 million a year and hired as the head coach of a P5 team should need a “mentor”. If you do, you’re not qualified to be the head coach.

    • Where does it say he was hired as “mentor”?

      He will be assigned a position group to coach. Every P5 HC has at least one AHC (and many have 2), are they all unqualified for the job?

    • I agree with you. But there were plenty of people on this board calling for the JS + Erickson combo, and are now making the case that someone making 1.9M doesn’t need a mentor.

      • I was totally on board with Erickson. Hesitant with Riley (mostly because he has only be gone for 3 years) but am fine with an experience AHC. And I am sure Riley will do fine as a position coach. Just don’t want “back up QB” syndrome to invade the coaching staff.

        • Riley doesn’t bother me.

          Its just the idea of putting Ex-Coach under new coach – just seems like a bad idea and sends a clear message to the new coach.

          Possible that JS is all in on this, maybe even his idea, just seems like a bad one.

      • First sign was Riley recruiting BOTH of our QB commits as soon as GA got fired, when everybody knew he was dead man walking at Nebraska.
        Nebraska fans have another reason to be pissed, as he used their resources for OSU recruiting instead of trying to salvage their season.

  3. This is bad on so many levels…

    This would be like taking an ex-president of a company and re-hiring him as a VP or manager under the new president. When has that ever worked well. The ex-president will always think he should be in charge and knows better.

  4. This makes me sick. Ya’ll attacking angry for hating a guy who was the reason the blog was started in the first place.

    As long as that walking dead, in n out eatin, gum chewin, nice guy is anywhere near our players we are fucked. This feels almost worse than before. We all thought we’d never get rid of MR and we finally did.

    Now we have our golden boy from the only truly successful season in recent memory running the show. My grandfather has had season tickets for 40 years. All of the big time donors he’s spoken to love the hire. Those members of the old guard, content with 6 wins every now and again, need to go. But money talks and the big donors got their way.

    We will never get rid of these fucks because we are the Beavs and being the nice team with the nice fans is just so nice. Now we have the nicest nice guy ever on staff.

    Our athletic department will continue to act like a clown show with no changes. Despicable.

    No bowl game in Smittys time here. We better watch out for Southern Utah next year!

    • Did angry quit being a Beav… twice… with zero notice?

      If you can justify that, then ^^^this tripe you just dumped for all to see holds zero water in your very head.

      • Yep. Terrible decision to add a coach with 17 years of experience as a head coach at the power 5 level and a better than .500 winning percentage. Really poor decision to hire a guy with two Grey Cups on his resume. Madness to have a guy who coached at least 5 QBs to the NFL on your staff.

        We should totally have a coach that is super intense and demands that his war daddies live in the hard.

        • It’s not me rehiring someone ineligible for rehire. Is it not relevant to point this out? The man will be paid an executive level salary from Oregon State University. The man has no business being hired in any capacity at OSU above a sub-contractor level.

          • And since when has being solid about the standards written for Oregon State, not to mention the State of Oregon and probably every business you can think of that writes a handbook, been a bad thing?

            I understand that coaching entices people away from other programs. I don’t begrudge anyone following their dream. When they choose to play that game, they are living by the sword. The man has made a mint playing that game. That’s a solid for him.

            But it was at our expense… twice.

            When you burn that bridge, you burn that bridge.

  5. I moved some of the comments from the prior thread. Hopefully it doesn’t break the thread. Pettibone, you’re no longer first, but still first in our hearts.

      • I was coming around to a lower tier role for like 1 year… But Assistant fucking head coach!!!?? This is self sabotage by JS. Maybe Riley never gets to speak to the team or something and this is ok?? I don’t know. So heated right now.

      • The incestuous retards you speak of are above the football program (University President) and high paying donors.

        OSU football is once again hitching its wagon to a well that has run dry. What is the definition of insanity?

        • Infirmity of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility

          Unless you’re talking about the really really really dumb non-definition that people like to perseverate on the internet.

  6. Can we quit screaming at angry now? I feel like every time AB comes out with a hot take there is so much resistance and then woops, eventually he is right. let’s all admit he was spot on and quit bashing this blog, jesus. Angry’s not even a official reporter and he’s right 99% of the time. So just STFU already and maybe listen for a second.

  7. I retract all comments. Riley on staff I would support and fight angry to the end…..but AHC, thats a different level. I still think going on twitter rants hurts the program more than you think….but whatev.

    Forgive me BitterSadMadDepresseAgitatedBeaver followers.

  8. Quotes from Kerry Eggers Article:
    http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/380745-268196-mike-riley-returns-to-osu-im-really-fired-up

    Riley had two other offers to coach with Power Five schools, “and I almost took one of them,” he said. “This deal came up in just the nick of time. I had to tell both (schools), ‘I have to do this. I have to do it because of my feelings for Jonathan, for Oregon State, and because of my wife, my daughter and my grandkids.'”

    “Oh, my gosh, can you believe it?” Riley said. “It’s the best thing. I’m so thankful. We’ve been around the block. The timing of all this was perfect. The fact that I’ll get to work under a guy I’ve admired and enjoyed for so many years at a place I love, with the reconnection with my family here — I’m just so thankful for it.

    “I told Jonathan to hire the best people he can and plug me in wherever he wants to,” Riley said. “I could do the secondary — that’s where I spent half my career. I could coach quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends. … I’ll do whatever Jonathan wants me to do.”

  9. TO: Facilities

    From: Scott Barnes

    Purchase Order: 17-18 A2643-2

    Child Size Podium 40 inch maximum

    Last week we had to do Coach Smith’s introduction seated at tables when we learned at the last minute, that he could not be seen from behind our standard podium. Please source a new podium for future pressers. Maybe check Toys R Us? Don’t spend too much! History indicates he won’t be here very long.

    PS: Update…. Hiring Riley makes him look even smaller. Reduce to 36 inches.

  10. Truly amazing…….i blame Ed Ray more than anyone for this. All the hard ass talk (recycled from the last mistake) and no vision at all. Barnes is to blame to a lesser extent, I’m not sure he got push back from some of the donors or not. Or he just assumed the Erickson talk meant people would be ok with retreads.

    Smith has signed on the dotted line. Whether it’s a death warrant or winning lottery ticket is yet to be seen.

  11. On a positive note, some big news coming later today/tomorrow regarding this blog.

    With new connections I think we’re about to hit prime years.

  12. Jesus! I’m really disappointed in Smith and the OSU athletic department. Just for a second forget about all his bad coaching (hard to do), how is ok to hire someone who has quit twice with no warning leaving them in a mad scramble to find a new coach? You’d think there would be some policy in place to prevent this. Smith had sabotaged himself. I do find it hard to believe that Riley had offers from other schools. I guess all we can do is hope he doesn’t influence Smith too much…at any rate we still have women’s basketball and baseball to win championships for us

  13. Just wonderful. After years of mediocrity as OSU head coach, and getting FIRED at Nebraska, we bring him back as AHC!!!!
    I guess this means another year watching him chew his gum on the sidelines while the final 2 minutes of the game get #$@#% away and the clock runs out!

    This may be the final nail in the coffin for me. Time to give up on the program???

  14. Jesus H Christ. Got a text from one of my friends and thought he was yanking my chain.
    I am a small donor to the football program. I will never give another red cent while that loser is associated with the school. He left twice and basically told the school to fuck off by not getting rid of his incompetent cronies. Smith has fucked up big time by making such a divisive hire. The school looks like a women that takes back the asshole that keeps beating her up.
    I hope folks send emails to Barnes. I am. The stupidity is astounding.

  15. My prior thread got deleted-not sure why as I felt it was an objective look at the Riley hire. I will make it short and hopefully Angry does not have issues with it. Nobody knows how the Riley hire is going to pan out. JS is a new coach and having some experience on the staff may help. I get the bad feelings towards the second stint by Riley. However, in a reduced role, he may actually be an asset, especially during the transition period. I would have preferred a reduced role such as a qb coach. However, this still may work, regardless of the past skeletons in the closet.

  16. Jesus, I’ve gotten 10 texts and calls from people I know who hold season tickets and one guy who has 3 parking spots for tailgaters one row away from the valley football center. All have cancelled their tickets. All like the JS hire, none of them want Riley on staff.

  17. This narrative will never end because next year we will see some improvements from our 1 win season, and all will be well in Beaver nation. They will point to GA as being to only cause of our recent downfall.
    In other words, unless we have another 1 win season we’re fucked and will have to listen to the Riley apologists for at least a few more years.

    Like others have said, I think I might skip my donation this year. Health insurance costs are skyrocketing anyway so I could use the money to keep that disaster funded instead of the Beaver football disaster funded. At least insurance covers me if I get cancer.

      • Is my memory faulty or was it Heyward who had a crew of DB’s who seldom looked for the ball and reaped a harvest of PI flags?

        Don’t get me wrong, I’d still like to see him on board especially for his recruiting.

    • Hmm, let’s see what the two choices are here:

      Smilin Mike the walk on backup corner from 100 years ago.

      Cory Hall the NFL defensive back with recent, proven success and an actual track record of coaching up NFL corners.

      No, yeah. I totally see your point.

  18. You know what this means: Banker, Langs, and Cav are back in play. Smith will ask Riley for recommendations, etc. Smith looks up to Riley.

    This is bad.

    Haven’t heard anything of the sort yet, but they’re in play now.

    • Been a long time Beaver fan. If they bring back the former Riley assistants, I will be done with this team. That is totally unacceptable.

    • The Riley hiring by itself was controversial, especially at the position that he is coming in at . Bring on the former sub-par entourage, with the exception of a few select position coaches, it would be stupid and suicidal.

    • I would never want Banker back. I understand why people don’t like Riley even though I do, but I don’t understand why people don’t like Langsdorf. Can you explain that to me? He seems pretty cool. He has definitely done well in the past with QBs – even coached Eli for a season – and Eli was actually a lot better that year than he typically is.

      • His game plan is 60/40 pass and when that doesn’t work he panics and starts throwing every down. Rarely did he ever make changes at half (Riley also). The easiest way to beat Langford is stack the box on first down and he’ll start passing. He’s also terrible at 3rd and long plays. Trys to throw short dumps that come up short. Nothing like watching a 5 yard deep crossing route when you need 8.

    • Laughable at best. Come on man, seriously. Banker, not coming back. Already hired a OC, and an offensive line coach.

      So to say they are in play is another one of your anti Beaver ploys to get all the people pissed off at OSU. You all realize you are just hurting Oregon State more by throwing a bitch fest. It happened, Riley is back.

      Lets show those bastards at Oregon State who is boss, we are not donating anymore, take that Ed Ray, you too Scott Barnes. I am going to go over here an pout, wah wah. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAPPY AND PLEASED ABOUT THIS….only difference, they don’t troll social media and tell the entire world.

      Come on, you realize how absurd and immature you all look by posting this shit.

  19. This is literally the talk of Corvallis. There is a feeling of shock and disbelief. I haven’t seen anything like this since Riley left for Nebraska.

  20. Told you the Riley Gnat would bite the beavers in the bottom. Time to update my icon to that Purple Gnat that turned the smurfs into zombies. Same could happen to this staff with the Riley gnat bite spreading.

  21. Culture is going to suck. Riley’s infectious reach will inceste J Smith’s culture.

    I agree with Riley, Lang’s, Cav, Banker are all back in play. For fucks sake

  22. Dave in Tumwater aka Scotty just went off on the Joe Beaver show lololol.

    I think you were getting under Parker’s skin there at the end.

  23. I’m not a fan of this but I think people are having a bit of an emotional overreaction. He is the assistant head coach in addition to whatever position he ends up coaching.

    Smith is the head coach. Michalczik is the associate head coach and run game coordinator. Lindgren is the OC and QB coach.

    People are assuming Riley will be much more powerful than he will be because they’re scared and angry.

    • Sure, and yesterday you said he would have a bit part and that would be fine. Keep rationalizing. Maybe you’ll see him leading us to a Rose Bowl by tomorrow.

      • I don’t think he is more than a bit player. Associate should be higher than assistant so he’s not even Smith’s right hand man.

        My assumption is he has no expanded authority, but given his experience he will provide input on whatever Smith wants.

        You are acting like Riley has complete control and that he’ll get all the credit for any positive accomplishments.

        But keep acting like I’m the one making mental errors.

        • He left twice before, no warning. That right there disqualifies him from ever being paid by OSU again. Period. Not to mention his antiquated predictable offense, poor coaching performance, lackadaisical attitude and terrible player development.

          • He isn’t going to be designing the offense or managing the game though. Those are valid complaints I share about Riley but they’re irrelevant to his current job.

            I will definitely want to watch whatever position group he coaches though. He hasn’t actually been in charge of a position group in a long time so who knows how he will do. I do question his energy levels.

          • He is a washed up shitty coach. He got handed the keys to a Lexus in NE and brought back a beat up Yugo. He sucks! His expiration date was 2009. If you have ever run a business, one bad hire can fuck up an office. He is an underachieving loser at this stage. Smith is an idiot to hitch his wagon to this albatross.

        • But by bringing Riley on his staff, it shows he values his “opinions” on how to coach football. So, regardless of his title, he will have Smith’s ear “sounds good Jonathan, just be sure that the dbs don’t look back … don’t use timeouts … trust me, this one star OL is legit… if we’re winning, stop trying to score” etc etc. So, no one thinks he’ll have complete control, just with his assistance, he will influence JS into bad decisions which will lead to losing games.

      • I think at the end the day he will mostly just be a position coach. AHC is simply a title for a guy with tons of experience. The guy that will be doing most the actual AHC work is the OL coach since he is likely wanting to pad his resume.

  24. Is it possible for us to run a campaign of voicing our complaints about Riley and his handling of the Brenda Tracy situation? It worked at Tenn, think it work in this situation?

      • Link to send Ray an email:
        https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/user/66/contact

        Here’s what I sent:
        Dear President Ray,

        I am an 2001 Alumni and a season ticket holder for the past 16 years. I’m writing today to express my displeasure with the re-hiring of Mike Riley. With the #metoo movement taking off as it has over the past few weeks, I find the decision to bring Mike Riley back to the staff completely unacceptable. Riley’s handing of the Brenda Tracy situation brought shame to our university.

        I’ve been a season ticket holder through good seasons and bad and I’ve never wavered on if I was going to renew. This year I’m going to have to seriously consider IF I’m going to support the school I love. With this hire this decision is leaning more and more towards me having to turn my back on the university.

        Thanks

        • It’s good you wrote him, but if I’m Ed and read that I know you are going to ultimately support them. You wavered if you were going to renew, they hire Riley, and you still don’t say no. To me, as Ed, that’s a yes.

        • The guess here is you won’t even get a response. My letter would have stated I will no longer donate to the University until he steps down or is removed as president.

  25. Some of these callers on the joe beaver show need a reality check. They still have the taste of Riley’s ball sweat fresh in their mouths.

    Stop looking at Riley’s career as a whole. Look at the last several years. What happened at OSU? What happened in Lincoln? Clearly a coach in decline that the game has passed by.

    This is a pathetic assistant coaching hire and reeks of desperation.

    • Nope.

      In fact, if his “other offers” had a likelihood for more in base salary, Nebby can rightly go after him for the potential difference that he declined.

  26. This is the big news for our blog: https://twitter.com/SiddFinch4/status/938882455863480320

    Sidd has great sources. Huge boost to the site. He, along with my other great source, up the ante here at AB.

    Sidd’s presser:
    The truth is…I love OSU. As I posted when I got word out about Jonathan Smith, I have (some) connections, I do care and I prefer anonymity. The main reason I prefer to contribute to AngryBeavs (AB) is because I also have a life, as we all do, and do not wish to keep up with Twitter as often as I have recently. My goal is to share the truth based on what I know or learn, instead of speculation, whenever possible. My opinion will come through at times too – and it will not always jive with AB. However, that is a good thing for the sake of this site and all of our collective thoughts about the Beavs. Remaining anonymous is important for those reasons too. Some of you get REALLY upset – which is (sort of) fine – just respect one another. We’re here because we care, but that does not mean we will always see things the same way. And, AB doesn’t charge any of you compared to those other sites. This should be your go to Beavs site for that very reason. If you want to donate, great, but it’s not required. Most of our teams are doing well and we all want football to get back to winning and doing so consistently. And to that point I would encourage you to support OSU Athletics financially whenever able – as I do – but again, that’s up to you. I’m very excited about Jonathan Smith and what he can do, no matter who his on his staff. I trust him and his plan at this point. Let’s get back to the Rose Bowl! GO BEAVS!!

    -Sidd Finch

  27. I asked for Jonathan Smith to be the HC, and I think he’ll do a great job.

    I don’t know how I feel about MR coming back a third time. I honestly have always said he’d make a great assistant coach, but not the head honcho. Now we shall see how he does with his position group if he gets assigned to a position group. Maybe special teams with Jake Cookus? Maybe TE’s?

  28. So, trying to figure out where Coach Niner is heading with the rest of his staff…he’ll be able to get 10 assistants (but the 10th can’t be named until 1/9/18

    OC/QB Lindgren
    OL Michalczik
    RB ?
    WR/TE ?

    DC ?
    DL ?
    LB ?
    DB ?
    *Names linked to OSU: Bray (Nebraska), Heyward (Oregon), Inoke Breckterfield (Wisconsin), Tim Tibesar (OLB coach @ Wisconsin), Scottie Hazelton (DC @ Wyoming), Cory Hall (OSU)

    STC Cookus

    TBD Riley

    Don’t know anything about Tibesar or Hazelton – these names are new from Eggers today.

  29. The only good that I see that can possibly come out of this is that maybe he can talk all the old clueless donors who love him into donating more money.

  30. There’s now a Paypal donate button up. This will be on all posts going forward as we move to a donate model. The reason I feel this is justified is we actually have sources aboard now, a recruiting branch on twitter, and there is cost in site upkeep, etc. I’d like to be able to give some of the donation pot to these people to keep them motivated. We’re growing and becoming just as good, if not better than the mainstream sites. Yet with a totally different model that’s in your hands to maintain. Users can donate anything they wish (though I think Paypal has a minimum $1 that they enforce). Paypal keeps 3% of donations, which is why I tried to go Bitcoin. They also take $.30 of for each translation, so on a $1 donation it’s a hard hit (33%). Paypal isn’t great, but people seem to like it, so we’ll go with it.

    If someone wants to donate using crypto those addresses are in the old posts and still valid, or just email me to ask.

  31. Just going on record, I like the hire, I like Riley. I’m wrong a lot, made a lot of bad decisions. I love the prequel trilogy (just kidding – relax).

    Also, I think a lot of you guys are being big ol’ bitches about this.

    Also love the new pay pal option.

  32. Oh great Beaver in the sky, take this dumpster fire as offering of our ineptitude — let us throw Mike Riley’s bicycle on the fire as a symbol of sacrifice **slowly rotate burnt beaver carcass rotisserie as hot juices spittle in the flames**……

  33. Does anyone here know what the typical roles and responsibilities are for an “Assistant Head Coach”? I think people are overreacting to the title. He will still be a position coach, but he will have more off the field related responsibilities.

    JS has never been a head coach and probably doesn’t know everything there is to know about running a program – paper work, organizational stuff, dealing with the league, refs, parents etc.. A lot of stuff will be completely new to JS. Riley’s weakness appears to be on the field performance. His experience deserves the title AHC.

    • I don’t care what his title, role or responsibilities are. Mike Riley shouldn’t even be allowed to sweep the floor at the VFC. Period. End of story.

      It is not born out of hatred. It’s what I have seen with my own two eyes the last several years of him coaching here and at Nebraska.

    • All this is true. It’s also true of other retreads who weren’t too good for OSU… twice. It’s also true of several up-and-comers within the assistant ranks all over the landscape.

      Someone would have given Riley his market value. That’s fair enough. And Nebraska deserves for him to make a good faith effort to offset their buy-out. His value, according to experience, should come with a high tag.

      What’s so abhorrent is that we’re the ones paying that offset.

    • He led one of the worst defenses in the country at Nevada in 2013, but he only had one year in the program so maybe it was a talent issue?

      His track record at NDSU and Wyo is good, he has NFL experi nice, and he knows what a winning program looks like.

      I think it would be a good hire.

  34. Hey Jon,,, err I mean Coach Smith. I think you may be on to something here. What a great way to honor your predecessors. I don’t know if you remember me. I preceded Coach Riley. He used my guys to break that twenty eight year drought… oh the good times.

    I would be honored to accept the title of Associate Head Coach or Assistant to the assistant Head Coach or really just about anything at this point. Let me know and I can be in Corvallis within twenty four hours. I checked the Greyhound schedule!

    PS: I think former recent coaches Craig and Joe might be interested in this program. They’re dead so only a little less energetic than Mike, if you know what I mean.

  35. All-round sad site…

    Well, more pathetic than sad I guess…
    You call yourself fans while at the same time making disparaging comments and doing more damage to the school you claim to love than you know…

    • At least we didn’t slap OSU employees, fans and boosters in the face by rehiring Mike Riley a second time.

      Should I tell you what the national perception of OSU is since this occurred? Training Wheels for Coach Jon Boy is on the nice end. Most just post various gifs with incredulous looks or guffaws in them. There are a lot of Brokeback Mountain pics making the rounds as well. Forums are somewhat tame at the moment. Nebby fan thinks we deserve each other… except for the one who thinks NU should get their money back since they returned a defective good.

      You can note how this blog is being perceived on a national level to support your narrative.

      Any time.

      We’ll be here.

    • I’m so sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities. I realize you’re new here… it’s a fairly “rough and tumble” site but freakishly accurate as to the reality of OSU athletic endeavours for both good and bad. Opinions put forth here generally run ahead of what eventually transpires,

    • There is an old saying…something like “those who have the least responsibility for making important decisions tend to be the most vehement in criticizing those decisions they don’t agree with.” We tend to do a lot of that here. Oh…and welcome to the site, Sidd.

  36. Some hires good …. others well… I think enough have been said about those or at least I will let you guys talk about the bad ones…. the good one today is that we grabbed u of w’s strength coach he had been with coach Pete a long time so that leads me to believe he may be a darn good snag.

  37. OSU football is so small time/amateur hour. Why in the fuck would you ever bring this washed-up has been back to the program and then celebrate it like it’s a great hire? Sadly you could see this coming from the moment they kicked his ass out of Nebraska. I wish i could say that i shit canned my season tickets and stopped donating to the school because of this, but i already did that a while ago. Just wait, he’ll figure out a way to get his old buddies Banker and Langsdorf on the staff as well. Ugh.

      • Banker I’d say had an ego, not elite and not a good recruiter. So I’d say the chances of getting him back are slim. MR we knew it was probable, but we’re hoping not. I’m of the wait and see game. If Riley is he only ‘retread’ hire then I’m ok with it because Riley might actually loosen up and have fun in a non head coach way.

  38. This is who this situation will play out:

    1. JS falls on his face MR will be there to be a “steadying force” for the program and become head coach again.

    2. JS is suscceaaful and moves on to greener pastures MR will be there to continue the “standard of excellence” he help JS build.

    Either way we are stuck with the bike riding, gum chewing, old fart until he finally keels over.

  39. The common themes I see with the pro-Riley people is they’re living in the past in thinking he was once a good coach, and then they’re just pro everything OSU. Almost like a parent with their kid. It’s unconditional love. So at that point they have no choice but to rationalize the situation (if they have to; most won’t see it objectively). I don’t think this makes them evil people. Just emotional and unconditional, and at that point the chance you’re objective is zero. Also some primitive tribalism because Riley is “one of them (from Corvallis)”.

    • I’ve had this thought a few times. If the majority of fans want him they deserve him. It’s like some kind of mass delusion stockholm syndrome. Oh well!

  40. Another thing that is upsetting is that he will be getting paid and I wonder how much his salary will be taking away from the available salary pool for other assistants we might have been able to bring in, and now can’t because we don’t have the money.

  41. I was out of town since Thanksgiving, my plane landed at 11:15 am, and Riley on staff is the first thing I hear about OSU at 11:30 this morning!!!

    This is the death-knell of the Jonathan Smith era. It is over before it begins. I was concerned about the JS hiring being a done deal since UW week. Now this on top of a short-sighted hire. The old guard donors are killing OSU athletics form the inside out. They cannot move beyond Riley nostalgia.

    The only positive plausible explanation for this hire is this:
    JS agrees to have Riley coaching Safetys and Riley is going to close the deal on Talanoa Hufanga as the first key recruit for JS era. RIley stays for a max 2 years and is the ONLY person from his staff to ever be back at OSU.

    If this isn’t the cause of the hire, all is lost in my book. Riley’s experience, wisdom etc (positives) do not outweigh the negatives for such a return. It is a net loss for OSU in the momentum among the fan-base, national image, confidence in JS, fund-raising etc.

    I think the old guard big donors should be pushed for huge donations right now for the west side before this train derails. I am sad for OSU fans and amazed at the ineptitude/lack of foresight within the athletic department. Huge mistake to bring back Riley.

    Mike Parker is shamelessly embracing this as the best-case scenario possible for JS, without seeing the real potential for long-term disastrous consequences. Unbelievable how people lose perspective when guided by close emotional ties and friendship. This a a multimillion dollar endeavour not a family reunion.

  42. People are acting like Riley is the head coach-he is not. Concern that he might have too much influence-Lets hope not. JS needs to listen to all of his assistants and then independently make his own decisions. If Riley is a small cog in the wheel, then I am not concerned. Riley does have some qualities that, in limited doses, could help the program. Too much Riley will sink the ship.

  43. People can say what they want about the Andersen era. They can point to the terrible handling of the quarterback position, the schizophrenic offensive philosophy, the general terribleness of the team, and they would be right about every point.

    You know why I will still remember the Andersen era fondly though? Because for all of his faults, all the ups and downs he put us through, all the downright awfulness of this year’s 1-11 season, he:

    1. Beat the Ducks for the first time in seven years.
    2. Wasn’t freaking Mike Riley, and didn’t have Mike Riley on his damn staff

    For three years, we were free. We were FREE of Riley, free of his decrepit tentacles slithering into every corner of the football program and filling it with mediocrity, free of his retarded offense that took a QB three years to learn, and (mostly importantly), free of the neverending yet oh-so predictable four losses he would rack up each year out of his inability to coach a football team. Even when Andersen was completely awful, at least we were to fire him and pursue a new head coach that could turn the program around.

    Now? I feel nothing but dread and depression for the Johnathan Riley era. He’s like Jason; no matter what we do, he keeps on rising up from the grave and forcing us to take him back to be abused by him over and over. The senile retards that are the old guard have such strong Stockholm Syndrome that they would believe Riley if he told them the world has no color except for black and white, and they will continue enabling him until either they die, or he does.

    At the end of the Andersen era, I was disappointed, but at least hoped we could hire new blood to take this program back towards the upper half of the PAC-12. Now, I have the worst feeling that I’ll be 70, most of you will be dead of old age, and Riley will still be coaching this program as a brain in a damn jar.

    I’m going to email OSU Athletics now, and vow to them that not one cent of my hard earned cash will EVER go to any part of the Athletics program until Riley is kicked out, and never is allowed to set foot as a coach on my favorite campus ever again. No donations, no tickets, no merchandise. NOTHING.

    Fire Ed Ray, and install a president that wants to win at every level, from academics to athletics.

    Fire Scott Barnes, and install an Athletics Director that won’t accept mediocrity or nepotism in any sport.

    Fire Johnathan Smith (only exception being if he was literally forced into it at gun point by the old guard), and replace him with a coach that won’t stock his staff with Riley or his cronies.

    Fire Mike Parker, and install a new radio host who will keep OSU athletics accountable and demand answers, instead of being a yes-man for them.

    And most of all, for all these new hires, DO NOT HIRE ANYONE WHO EVER WENT TO OSU. Enough of the nepotism, enough of the Riley and pals club, and enough of segments of the fanbase who worship Riley with a cult-like fervor. It’s time to get new blood and new people into the program who care about nothing but winning and doing it right, and won’t hesitate to remove anyone who is comfortable with trying to relive the past decade. It’s obvious at this point that we must break fully free of the past if we are to have any hope of competing at the highest levels of any standard a university can be measured by, and it should’ve been done yesterday.

    And to anyone still at OSU reading this: Get your friends, tell the whole damn campus about Riley and how he looked the other way when his players raped Brenda Tracy, and don’t stop protesting and raising hell until he’s tar-and-feathered out of Corvallis, Tennessee-style.

    (And before anyone replies, yes, a lot of this is borne of emotion. No, I don’t care. Riley has coached OSU’s football program into the ground for literally over half of my lifespan, and I won’t tolerate it anymore).

    • I actually need your help (or anyone else willing to contribute) with this email I’m drafting up to Barnes now. Didn’t Riley take subtle shots at OSU while he was at Nebraska? I’m having trouble finding links to what he said specifically though. Anyone care to lend a hand?

  44. This is like forgiving your spouse for cheating twice and taking him/her back for a third time.
    He quit twice. He doesn’t belong here.

  45. Reading over some of the comments….y’all sound like a buncha fuckin whiny ass duck fans…..we build this thing with a strong foundation, and people who are invested in OSU….you who want flash and big time….you want les miles or whoever that will use us as a stepping stone? That will not work….we are not a destination…..our only real hope is a guy like Smith stickin around long enough to change the culture….Riley will be in the background….he won’t outshine the HC

    • Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But to think that Riley fits your “strong foundation, and people who are invested in OSU” strikes me as absurd. Just my opinion.

      A significant part of a “strong foundation” involves energy, focus, and a demonstrated desire to achieve victory. One who is “invested” in OSU doesn’t leave a job at OSU with little/no notice simply because he disagrees with his boss.

      I’m all for strong foundations and people who are invested; Riley doesn’t fit your criteria.

    • Sure… whatever… don’t care… you can have your loser football program… coming in 2016.

      I’m going to go watch some hoops… and wonder if Ritchie McKay might want to come back. He has to be tired of coaching at a diploma mill. And OSU will rehire him.

  46. I thought something was up because the day he got fired, he said something about heading back to Corvallis right away He didn’t even seem upset about being shit-canned. It’s like he never lived in Lincoln. It makes me think the JS/MR combination was a foregone conclusion long before an official announcement came out. It must have been something Ed wanted, Barnes doesn’t have the connection to Smilin’.

    • They tried to make this a clandestine hire because they knew it wouldn’t be popular…so they leak a photo late at night, then we hear rumors he’s walking around campus/VFC the following morning. People still think it’s nothing, but it gives them a day or so to get used to the idea and rationalize it. It worked. By the time it was official people had convinced themselves the worst coach in Nebraska history (yes, he was even worse than Bill Callahan) is a good fit on a rookie coaches staff.

  47. Didn’t get a chance to listen to the rest of the Joe Beaver Show after I called, until now. Wow, Tumwater Dave bringing it against the Riley hire better than I did. Clearly wrangled Parker, who essentially accused him of rooting for Jonathan Smith to fail.

    Most calls are in favor of Riley and some callers are getting choked up. Unfuckingbelievable. This fanbase’s embrace of mediocrity, living in the past, and perceived safety is sickening. I’m almost ashamed to be associated. BeavGirl has it right, there’s some weird version of Riley Stockholm Syndrome.

  48. Parker actually took 10 minutes to set the table in opposition to Tumwater Dave before going to his call. Parker knew the exact arguments against Riley and yet his affinity/friendship with JS and riley keep Parker from seeing anything sinister happening as a result of this move.

    I do like Mike on the game calls, esp baseball. However he has been wrankled far too often at Tumwater Dave over the past 5 years. Parker has hidden behind the company banner as an employee, as if it shields him from sharing his own view, but he vociferously argued in favor of Riley in any exchange, even as GA was the head coach, and will continue to do so from here on.

    JS will be hard-pressed to get out of Riley’s shadow, even as Parker has touted him the “Favoured Son come home”.

  49. Nope….

    Some of us see this for what it is….he’s a position coach with a lot of experience he can bring to the table…..some of you need to get a grip…..just as bad as the sentimentals are the Riley haters……the truth is somwe here in the middle

    • I think you’ve missed the point. Your points are valid, but what about the fact that we just re-hired someone who walked out on us twice. What about the fact that Oregon State looks like a little bitch who can’t think for themselves and build the program with contemporary thoughts and strategies. There is no way anyone outside of Corvallis will take us seriously.

        • We can win all day long, but with Mike Riley being one of the highest paid state employees in Oregon after he cut and ran from his previous duties as an employee of the state, we will never be taken seriously.

          This also opens OSU to a host of potential complications involving what might and might not be enforceable in employment contracts. If the university doesn’t abide by their own policies as written, they choose to set that precedent.

  50. Dave always calls at the beginning of the 1:00 hour. By the time Mike was finished with his preamble pro-Riley argument, it was nearly 1:15 when he went to Dave’s call. Dave was succinct, passionate, cogent and articulate as ever. Parker was obviously upset and perhaps frustrated, as some have tried to argue on this thread that it is defeating JS to say such things now. Dave parried with a last effort to wake up those who care to the concerns at hand. Parker dismissed it and moved on to other callers without much debate.

  51. How does one go about converting to a Duck fan? The Beaver’s leadership is so piss poor, fan base so pathetic, that I’m beginning to think I’d enjoy seeing the shit kicked out of them.

      • Eggers has lost his credibility. Heard him on the radio during my commute this evening, going out of his way to sell Mike Riley to the fans. The fact he has to do that also shows this is no longer about Jonathan Smith. It’s already Riley’s team.
        I can no longer consider his coverage of Oregon State football objective. Sad.

    • Screw that. NCAA football is such a poor product at the highest levels. It has really gone downhill in the BCS/Play-off eras. The only reason I watch any is for emotional ties. If OSU football wants to cut that tie, I’m just not going to watch college football.

      Hey! Look at that.

      I have most weekends next fall open for whatever.

      Now if we could just get our AD to make the license fees for each sport’s season tickets to be exclusive, maybe we wouldn’t have to watch all those true Beaver fans dressed as seats occupy the areas behind the benches.

      Bunch of self-righteous hypocrites.

  52. I just called my dad, who is also a beaver fan but doesn’t follow it quite as closely as I do, and told him about the hire. This is how it went:

    Me: “Did you hear the big OSU football news?”
    Dad: “Yeah, we hired Jonathan Smith, right?”
    Me: “Did you hear who he hired as assistant head coach?”
    Dad: “No. Who?”
    Me: “Mike Riley.”
    Dad: “You’ve gotta be freaking kidding me. Really?”
    Me: “Yep.”
    Dad: “Shit.”

    (I should point out here that I can count the number of times I remember my dad EVER swearing on one hand have fingers left over.)

    Dad: “Why do we want mediocre? Seriously?”

    It went on with him lamenting the Good Old Boys’ club, and questioning who will REALLY be in charge of the program.

    I love you, Dad :-)

    Maybe it’s karma for us angry beavs laughing at Nebraska the last three years, but having read Husker message boards, they seem to be pleased with us taking Riley back since he’s such a gosh darn swell guy (even though he has “shitty coaching”) and he’s a good fit at Oregon State where mediocrity is acceptable.

    FMBL (F my beaver life)

  53. I think folks are too high on Riley being the QB guy they say he is. It seems like folks forget how bad his QBs start out in his system and it takes until like the third or fourth year in his system for them to be good. I don’t know if this was the result of his playbook or the coaching up of the QBs.

    • The Mannion days are an example of Riley’s handling of QB’s, and to the detriment of the W/L record. All that “got to run more” talk from Riley as he called (or allowed to be called) pass after pass to enhance Mannions record.

      • As DiT says, the Mannion era was a competitive dead end. One good year culminating in 9 wins, losing record overall. But hey, got records and stuff (until Luke Falk broke them)
        Whoopie.

        I like Mannion, but the record doesn’t lie.

        • We should have been at least 11-2 that year. We didn’t run the ball against two of the worst run Ds in the country and still managed to lose competitive games. We stick Mannion in the bowl game and make him hand off… boom… TD in four plays without a pass. What do we do with that lead?

          The Stanford game we’ll call a toss-up, but we controlled that game because we punched early, and they stumbled. Instead of continuing to punch, we go all pass happy in the second half.

          And who knows what would have happened in the CW if our dedicated ST coach, “earning” $360k/year, didn’t keep sticking Wheaton out there to look like a drunk chasing fungoes.

  54. Some amazing comments today. Great work team.

    Angry gets to tell everyone who talked shit the last couple days to lick his balls. Jack killed it. Seaver and BeaverBeliever: literal laugh out Louds.

    Riley may not get much out of his players, but damn he gets the A game out of this blog.

    Stay angry my friends

  55. That runningback from Lamar HS in Houston, Tazhawn Henry, wants to visit OSU. He’s a TCU verbal commit who previously had OSU in his top 5, and his teammate Kase Rogers is an OSU verbal commit who is visiting this weekend.
    Not sure if Tazhawn will make it on this trip or not, but dont be surprised if his name pops up this weekend.

    So that’s 2 guys to keep an eye out for. Reggie Hughes and Henry

  56. Man that Tumwater Dave call was classic… I remember Mike Parker lived on my street when i was growing up in Corvallis, seemed like a nice guy…i certainly enjoy his calls but don’t have anything to compare him to. He comes off as quite intelligent.

    Am i missing something or did Riley have OREGON STATE, ranked at some point in 8 of his 14 seasons… Do you realize how absurd that even is? I think a winning record in conference too?

    Love all the passion.. Idk if i’m buying the whole “abandoning twice” thing. Seems pretty standard in coaching profession…I was at that Sac st game… we def had some low moments but he also proved he could win and develop talent.

    Can i please get a more detailed and precise reason for why we are so anti Riley? Hurts me to see everyone so upset and not interested in season tickets/donations

    • What the hell kind of metric is that?

      Had us ranked at some point what? That’s garbage. It’s also something that had become common before his second stint.

      He took a ~4-loss team, took it down a little, brought it back to 4 losses for a stretch then bombed.

  57. Riley in an assistant role will maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. His weaknesses are play calling and game management decisions, which are terrible weaknesses for a head coach, and why many great assistants can’t become great head coaches. He is done being a head coach, but I think his years of football experience and strengths in player recruitment and development, as well as just behind the scenes work, make this a hire with lot of upside and little risk.

    • The worst part of the hire, is going to be the continued talking about Riley on this page. All these comments about “Riley is going to get all the credit if things go well” is absolute BS, it’s all going to go to J Smith, the coordinators, and the players. The only place it’s going to be all about Riley no matter how it turns out is going to be this page. If you all hate Riley so much, just quit talking about it and maybe a little more about the coordinators that are going to actually make a difference and the players we are recruiting. (And outside shot at Hufanga now that Riley is on staff too)

      • You should tell the local and national media this. They will defer to him, not 9.

        Nobody hates Riley. Anyone who knows anything about business hates that OSU doesn’t.

        Stop with the Hufanga talk. He’s not going to OSU. He’s not even staying in the state… or the PNW, for that matter. He’s going to USC, and that’s that. I thought the outside shot was because 9 spent a couple hours talking to hi and Scott Sanders the other say.

        It’s nice to see that you’re already deferring to Mike Riley for 9’s efforts. It took you less than one post to prove that which you rant against correct.

        • You’re right in that Hufanga will probably go to USC or UCLA. And you’re right that Johnathon Smiths talk likely helped. But the truth is our outside shot at getting Hufanga is now better given Riley’s relationship with him. Just like any outside shots at some of Arizona’s or Colorado’s recruits improved getting their coaches. I know it’s hard to stay grounded and admit good things about Riley because he does have good traits for this time, just as well that he has been a terrible head coach for at least the past 4 or 5 years

          • I hadn’t thought about UCLA now being viable for him.

            Good point.

            Regardless, he will end up playing college football in Los Angeles. Riley does not move the needle one iota.

  58. Wow, this staff is more pathetic than I could have imagined. The runt QB whose limitations prevented the Beavers from winning the NC, and whose personality makes Helfrich look assertive. The only reason he even gets a look is because he’s been riding the coattails of Petersen. Look how well that worked for BYU and Sitake. An OC from the 2nd worst offense in the conference, which I guess would technically be an upgrade. An OL coach from the team that only finds success when the QB is fast enough to run the hell away from the lines. Bray I guess is okay. No Poly or black coaches (except S&C) to help with recruiting players. Then the rotten cherry on top of the shit sundae- bring Simple Jack back as AHC. I would have been okay with QB coach, but geez.

    More than anything this just smacks of settling and small time mentality from the athletic department and university. No decent ideas, so just go for the feel good reunion to bask in the glory years of Chicken-fed Chicken Bowls.

  59. I will try again to state an opposing view that gives another alternative for why not everyone thinks the sky is falling based on an assistant coach being chosen. First, I will stay by saying as much as you want to brand us as Riley apologists, I am not one. I wanted Riley gone as much as anyone. I don’t think that the whole Mike Riley tenure was bad. I think Riley had his time as head coach and time passed him by.

    That all being said, I take issue with those on this site calling the JS era a failure because he allowed Riley back. I also hate preseason polls. JS should be evaluated based on his success or failure with the team. When a narrative is created that that requires us to choose a side, now we will all be predisposed to back our position in the future. I tried to lock Angry into defining success now so that we can do a bit of level setting and discuss something constructive as opposed to destructive.

    I would define success at OSU as 2 out of 5 years being top two in pac12 North. 9 out of ten years making a bowl. From that description Riley was actually a successful coach here until his last couple years. I think Angry pinpointed the civil war loss for the roses as being the turning point and I could agree with that.

    Finally, the unconditional love for the university comment that Angry makes is intended to be a slight. I don’t agree with everything that OSU does, but I will say that it also doesn’t change my outlook on life. I am really, meh, on this hire, not emotional at all. I find it ironic that it is said if you don’t hate Mike Riley you are just emotional and lacking objectivity. Angry, you have such an emotional tie to Mike Riley that you have zero objectivity. There are others on this site that have given reasoned arguments for why Riley should not have been let back, which has provoked thought for me. However, many have just been emotional rants with name calling.

    • I agree with this whole heartedly. Let’s move on, and look at what the team needs to do move to the next level of winning — what does this team need to do to get to a bowl season? What DC candidates should we be looking at? Who is available? Who is a stop gap, etc?
      I didn’t want Riley either, but here we are, now that we understand what the worst looks like, shall we look at the best case scenarios….? I really hope JS can succeed with or without Riley — I will not root against the Beavs, or wish them to fail just to make a point, which is what it seems like Angry does from time to time.
      May the mighty Beav in the sky smile down upon us, and take us to better days.

    • You’ve made some good points. This site is often not the bastion of rational discourse it claims to me.

      Above I said that while I didn’t like the decision I thought people were emotionally overreacting and was told I was rationalizing. So prepare to be told that you’re a a Riley stan for simply not having a conniption fit.

      • You were and are rationalizing because there is no emotion attached. You create some weird emotional straw man so you can attack said straw man.

        Rules is rules.

        What do we call it when the rules don’t apply to a small group within an organization? What do we say about it when they are the highest paid employees at said organization?

        • I’m starting to understand why Art Briles was even an inkling of an idea for some of you.

          Your lack of standards go well beyond simple business ethics and abandon simple standards of decency.

          • You’re equating the Briles scandal to Riley being hired as a position coach after leaving twice?

            I’d never support Briles being hired.

          • There were some here who did.

            That now makes sense to me. It didn’t at the time, because I thought at least we have some standards of decency.

            But now I know you and them have no standards. So it all makes sense.

            Fuck it! Let’s hire Jim Leavitt, the guy who will have to deny the characterization of the action performed by him upon one of his players at a university sanctioned event.

            Why the hell not?

    • Sorry, but this decision is a simple one that was missed. It in itself as a failure, and poor judgment shown in the abandonment of simple ethics such as this immediately scream failure.

      Success is more than wins and losses. When we make decisions antithetical to common, accepted standards to which everyone else is supposed to adhere, we have already failed.

    • Riley himself is not the main problem. What he and the school’s and fanbase’s embrace of him represents is the bigger problem. Smalltime, stuck in the past, mediocrity celebrated here, won’t get anyone better, clinging to a guy who pulled an FU to OSU when he went to Nebraska and left our program in a tailspin rather than doing the hard work of turning the program around, desperation.

  60. Any chance they can rename the Stadium, the VFC,and the Truax center to honor the home town legend who has agreed to again grace OSU with his persona of greatness. Make sure the ceremony does not conflict with his induction into the Husker Ring of Honor. Nebraska has waived the normal waiting time due to his awesome run in Lincoln.

  61. Sparky was posting at the same time as I. I agree with his sentiments…the sky is falling MO works in the short term, but the fact is we have a first time coach that apparently wants some familiarity in getting the program going.

    I could care less whether Riley is here or not, but I think it will be interesting to watch.

  62. Did you notice how Mike Parker kept referring to our new Assistant Head Coach as “a guy named Mike Riley”? He’s trying to make him sound like someone new because he knows that THE Mike Riley comes with a ton of baggage and bad history. He’s trying to separate the guy we hired from all of that, but it’s not possible.

    • I’m amazed that a guy named Mike Riley is apparently some great recruiter and magnificent developer of talent as well as eye for talent. Apparently none of the clipboard holders he “put” in the NFL would have amounted to a hill of beans if it weren’t for a guy named Mike Riley. Why, he single-handedly discovered the rock that Derek Anderson was under, not just the guy underneath. Nobody knew anything abut DA until a guy named Mike Riley came along and recruited him. The same thing happened with Matt Moore. I remember his freshman year like it was yesterday… a fresh-faced walk-on, I think.

      Jake Gelakoska was also a great one. He was certainly worth sticking Kellen Moore with the short guys at camp. And who can forget that time we were getting pummeled in a game, so a guy named Mike Riley stuck in that redshirt frosh walk-on that was so undiscovered that it took extreme garbage time more than halfway through the season to even put him in?

      Good times, all.

      There’s not much need to mention all the other pasta that was thrown at the wall to get those three and three others out of 14 years of glorious success… where apparently being ranked at some time during the season means something. Rest assured they were great young men, if not great or good players.

      And nowhere else in the country does any coach ever teach and develop great young men. That is a trait exclusive to a guy named Mike Riley. None of the things he does for hundreds of thousands of dollars plus benefits could be done by someone else, someone more deserving or, dare I say, worthy–two things which are impossible.

      Everything will be okay. OSU will not treat someone else with similar circumstances differently, because a guy named Mike Riley would not allow such a thing to happen. So when a professor abandons his or her post to take an impromptu vacation, they will be rehired when they return. That’s the new standard set by a guy named Mike Riley. I’m sure the employees of OSU must see the benefit that was just created for them by that magnificently wonderful nice guy.

    • He’s going to be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by the organization that he abandoned twice.

      Everything is far from okay, folk.

      • Why does it matter that he left twice? What about hiring coaches who we are pretty sure that if they find success here they’ll leave for a better job? Is that a red line too?

        What’s with the abandonment issues, Jack-o?

        • Issues?

          I see we need a lesson in basic business practices here.

          If an employee abandons his post, you never deal with that former employee in a employer-employee relationship again. S/he can be your best friend, but you do not budge on these simple business ethics. You can’t ignore public actions or words. Someone who openly shows or tells you that your business is not high enough on their list of priorities to honor with at least two week’s notice is someone who is either a moron or someone who should have the sense to know that playing that game will result in closed doors, burned bridges or a simple understanding that person just doesn’t honor the employment you provide them.

          Anyone who just abandons their post and wants to return to OSU can now not be told, “Well, you just left your desk one day, never to return. It doesn’t matter that you got more pay. That’s nice for you. But you demonstrated that you can not be trusted to be employed at this university when you took the trust we previously gave you and threw it away.”

          Sorry, Bike Smiley alters that by creating a high profile precedent. They may as well take that part of the employee handbook out. That’s how loose we are with our standards now.

          I realize you have no standards. But don’t make fun of those of us who do. We are the ones who have kept the word turning while you all reward disloyalty and job abandonment like it’s Tammany Hall around this place.

          • That doesn’t matter to me. Accepting that precept allows anyone to think this is about performance, not actions performed that were antithetical to OSU’s common standards as agreed to and performed by all others within the organization.

            Performance is a hazy tit for tat. Simple, common rules that create a solid foundation for any organization are easy, clean and right.

          • This would be equivalent to starting that player who is constantly five minutes late to every team meeting. He’s the only one who is ever late, because everyone else respects the time and place they share with others. But this guy gets to do what he wants when he wants with no consequences.

            So you tell me that lack of discipline will turn out well in the end, and I’ll be fine with the much more egregious disrespect Riley showed OSU twice.

          • I think his poor coaching record (historically poor!) and them accepting that is better condemnation of that type of fan’s mind than the “he came back three times” thing.

            I’d welcome him back 10 times if he were a good coach/winner.

      • Jack, we get it! Enough about a stupid HR role that nobody on here cares about but you. It is not a shock that management positions don’t always follow HR rules. I’m sure this question was asked and rationalized away in the bureaucracy that is a major university.

        • Whoa!

          I was only being a stickler for a very simple rule to which just about every organization adheres. If any position does not follow rues that are written, then don’t bother writing the rules. Once you abandon your standards, you have no standards.

          I wasn’t headed there, but now you bring up the specter of corruption.

          Why not?

          It’s not like we have any standards now.

  63. There is a reason in the Navy that a former CO of a ship is not brought back as a dept. head or XO.
    No matter how it is rationalized, this will undermine Smith’s authority even if it is very subtle.
    If he needed or wanted his sage advice, he could meet him for a Kicker at Dutch Bro’s.
    If JS needed training wheels, he should not have been given the bike.
    Mike Riley is actually a brilliant con man. Sounds like most Beav fans want to buy some swamp land.

    • And yet all kinds of other companies bring back former leaders in other roles all the time. So maybe the Navy isn’t the only example to look at?

      I think you guys freaking out over a non-issue is beyond comical. Especially your rationalization that it undermines JS. Especially because I know none of you would be freaking out if he’d hired Dennis Erickson in the exact same role.

      The issue isn’t that he is the former HC in a different role, its that it is Mike Riley and some of you are so blinded by your hatred of Mike Riley that you will justify that its a bad hire in anyway you can.

      I wouldn’t have hired Riley but at the end of the day he’s a position coach. Its not undermining JS’s authority, he won’t be charge of play calling or game management. He will coach a position.

      Its a non-issue.

      • You’re going to have to source that claim.

        You need to provide an example of a former leader who quit (once is fine) without notice to go to a competitor then was brought back in a role more important than that of sub-contractor. Resignations, retirements and having the simple decency to give notice all exclude anyone you think did this. Those people actually respected their employers and get to hold emeritus positions and such.

        Just go find me someone in any business who abandoned their job then was welcomed back with open arms.

        • If anything, a leadership role should probably double the respectful time given for transition.

          Again, I understand the college coaching world plays by the sword. But you’re complaining that someone who was gashed by said sword is now holding a shield when someone they know is armed approaches. You make no sense.

          If you want the easy part in the Navy, rules were written in blood. Follow them, or you dishonor those who bled before you… and you might add to the tally and end up in Leavenworth because you think rules are just wordy words that are written on some obscure piece of paper made from a tree you don’t even like.

        • I am not talking about your this is an HR policy problem with the hire. I don’t care about that. All I care about is rather he will help the program and as a position coach he likely will.

        • Just playing Devil’s Advocate here, but one really big name comes to mind who left a company on bad terms and then was welcomed back and has been successful…

          LeBron James

          (I still don’t think I like the Riley hire, btw)

          • As fucked up as his whole announcement thingy was, he still adhered to the rules as they were written. While he was far from professional in manner, his contractual obligations were followed professionally to a tee.

          • Yeah, he left, won a championship, and came back. Riley left, completely fail, came back mostly failed, left and completely failed, and returned. Totally the same path…….

        • This is a stupid comparison. Coaches leave immediately without notice because of the nature of the position. He would not be allowed to remain after taking the better job. Too draw a comparison to a professor leaving on sabbatical after class schedules are out just shows me you don’t care about reality.

          • It’s a direct and rational comparison. Coach’s follow this same ethic (except for two, as pointed out below). They just don’t care because of the money that’s involved.

            But I totally concur that it’s up to the school to uphold these basic principles. I’m not naive enough to think some dude who skipped out on his post because he won the lottery has standards as simple as these. He has nothing to lose by asking for another executive level salary from the school he ditched. The professor would be the same way–same standards, or lack thereof.

            Don’t think I’m mad at MR for this. He’s completely oblivious to these basic principles. It’s a norm for him and one other coach, as pointed out below.

      • 1. There is no hatred.
        2. You are justifying a bad hire.
        3. You have no standards, especially a very simple business standard written down and followed by just about any business you can imagine.

        • You know what business doesn’t and never has followed that standard? Coaching.

          You can’t make up new norms for a job, coaches don’t give notice. Its the norm in that field.

          You can complain about the norm but complaining about someone following the norm is stupid.

          • And the norm is that once bridges are burnt, those coaches never get to go back.

            I’m trying to think of any coach in any sport who has done it… other than nice guy Mike Riley at cute little chumpville known as OSU.

            There have been plenty of start and stops, where coaches made a decision to leave only to return within days or hours. That’s very different. But it does speak to the understanding that burning bridges is recognized by even those people you would say have norms counter to common businesses.

            Sorry, but coaches know what’s what. Any one of them will tell you they played the game knowing full well the consequences… except for Mike Riley and his lovable little chump, OSU.

          • I think you’ve found the one. Booby did not occur to me.

            I think we now have a comparable program to OSU. Louisville is a shining example of what’s good and right in morality and ethics and setting a standard for all to achieve greatness in the future.

            Or it’s not.

            I felt better when I was ignorant of Louisville and OSU having the same standards.

        • Yes, that would be an issue if they are the worst performing group. Of course most on this board said Riley would be fine as a position coach prior to JS hiring him, now suddenly he will be terrible in that role?

          He is more than qualified to coach a position and I doubt they will be poorly coached.

  64. Reports are that JS talked to Riley before JS was offered the job. I imagine the conversation ended something like this:

    MR: And if you get offered the job make sure there’s a clause in the contract that every bowl eligible season you have you get an automatic contract extension. It’s a really neat deal.

    JS: That’s just the kind of sage advice I’m looking for. By the way, it looks like you might be looking for a new job once the season is over. Keep your phone on.

    Hip, Hip, Hooray!

  65. GOOD NEWS…?
    Reports are that Cristobal will be named HC at nike u. This per Aaron Fentress of NBC Sports Northwest.

    As said before, I like having a guy with no PNW ties there. Now, will Leavitt stay–not likely.

  66. Riley’s other new role will be good will ambassador to the old codgers that have season tickets and still like him.

    He will be outfitted in an orange vest and a badge with his name “Mike” like a Wal Mart greeter.

    He will work the concourse pre-game. “Hi… I’m Mike welcome to Reser. Enjoy the game.”

  67. Cristobal hire at UO probably benefits them in the short term but not the long term. Never make a decision based on emotions. Cristobal’s body of work is not impressive. My only concern is whether Hayward will still come home to OSU

    • I think he has a decent year next year if Herbert stays healthy and then it starts falling apart. Not impressed with the the hire. Clearly trying to save the recruiting class.

    • Agree. Short term he may keep the recruiting class together, however, if Leavitt leaves as I expect, short term results on the field will be negatively effected.
      Long term, not only does Cristobal have a lackluster record but he is likely to look for a way out of the region. I’m actually surprised phil would OK naming another “carpet bagger” to the position. No official announcement yet.

      And, certainly, the more important aspect is getting Heyward to OSU. Primarily for recruiting.

    • They’re probably focused on the fact that he coached for Saban the last few years and are hoping it rubbed off. They did the same thing with Harbaugh and fortune cookie.

  68. Downplaying his role as a position coach doesn’t make sense either. Everybody on this board has been clamoring for young energetic dynamic recruiters. Riley is none of those things. I’ve already said it but I’ll say it again:

    Who do you think would win a head to head recruiting battle for a highly rated defensive back recruit:

    Mike Riley or Corey Hall?

    Riley- old, walk on back up in college, never played in the NFL. Coached defensive backs a hundred years ago.

    Cory Hall- young, energetic, successful college career, 7 years in the NFL, coached up an NFL corner and a freshman all American in the last few years.

    I’m just using Hall as an example, although this could turn out to be a real scenario. My point is that whatever position Smith has Riley coaching is one that could have been coached by a guy like Hall. That’s a loss any way you stack it.

    • Hopefully, Coach Niner is smart enough to bury Riley in the pressbox for games so nobody sees him on the sidelines and assigns him some obscure position group to coach (nickelbacks or slot receivers or backup tight ends) and doesn’t let him talk to the media.

      But, then again, luck o’ da Beavs would suggest that Coach Niner is going to make Riley the DC…

      *sigh*

    • Yes, they need good recruiters. But to say Hall (or other unknown coach) is automatically a better recruiter than Riley is not something you actually know.

      Fyi, I think Riley could easily win that battle. You bring up Hall putting guys in the NFL. How many players has Riley coached that have made it to the NFL?

      Look, every staff has a few older guys. Just like your entire staff shouldn’t be Beavers just for the sake of being Beavers. Your entire staff can’t be based on who is the “best recruiter”, you still need guys that can coach.

      Honestly, I view Riley as coach #10. They still have plenty of other spots for dynamic recruiters (assuming Riley won’t be a quality recruiter).

        • I didn’t say he was literally #10.

          I view him as that in the sense that he isn’t being brought in to be the main recruiter or main guy at any position. He is someone JS is comfortable plugging into multiple roles.

          That is why I (and by I, I mean how I personally view the hire) as the extra guy that wouldn’t even exist 1 year ago.

      • Riley would get smoked in that battle, and it wouldn’t even be close.

        An 18 year old kid doesn’t give a rat’s ass about some player Riley “put” in the NFL 10 years ago. A guy like Hall can point to Decoud and say “I was his position coach, 2 years ago. He directly credits me and my coaching for getting him to the league”. Riley can’t realistically say that about anybody since he hasn’t been a position coach in 20? years. He can try to take credit for players making the NFL when he was a head coach but that’s pretty hollow, since he’s not the guy that worked with the players one on one every day.

        • Are you a hot shot 18 year old recruit? If not, your opinion of who would smoke who is meaningless to me.

          And frankly, I think you are wrong. Plenty of recruits would choose the guy with decades of coaching experience over a DB coach with very little experience.

          • I’m not a hotshot anything, but I have two teenage athletes living in my house so I see first hand what they and all of their friends talk and care about. So head outside and play hide and go fuck yourself.

        • Hall is obviously a compelling recruiter for some guys. Are they the right guys?

          Who was recruiting Petras, Levengood, and Smalls? I don’t think Hall was assigned to all of them.

          According to the recruiting sites, Woods, McGiven, and Lockette are the ones that have been getting our better commitments the last few years.

  69. Hahaha Oregon going with the dumb choice. Basically they went with their Hall. Not smart. Such a short sighted decision. It’ll feel good for the recruiting cycle and a few games next year and then wear off extremely quickly when cristobal is overwhelmed. Let’s see if they get even dumber by putting a large buyout into his contract which they’ll have to pay when they fire him.

    Glad Sumlin didn’t get hired. That would have been too good of a fit.

    • Or, maybe a better comparison would be, bring back Rich Brooks… moved on to the NFL and was unsuccessful, moved to Kentucky and was unsuccessful, but bring him back to Orygun where he brought them out of the dark years! No one would be that stupid…..would they?

  70. Cristobals only has one win vs what you might consider a big school. Beat a very mediocre Louisville in 2011, when Louisville was in the big east. That’s it. That’s the best of his resume. 8 wins was the high and it was only once.

  71. With the Cristobal hiring, and Leavitt probably going to FSU, I’m guessing Heyward is probably the new DC at the Nike Sports Academy. I’m also guessing that this may make Corey Hall the favorite to be the new DC. They are probably waiting to see what happens with Heyward before knowing where to slot Hall on the staff. I could live with Hall as the new DC.

    • “I’m guessing Heyward is probably the new DC at the Nike Sports Academy…

      They are probably waiting to see what happens with Heyward before knowing where to slot Hall on the staff.”

      I think you are right on both counts, but, in any event, am not so sure Hall will be DC.

    • I wouldn’t be so sure they would promote Heyward to DC there…they may bring in an outsider rather than promoting within. I’m hoping Heyward becomes Beavers’ new DC and Trent Bray LB’s.

  72. My issue with this hire is that it is possible to get comfortable with losing. Smith is in a new position and has never lost a game as a head coach. There is a familiar line in boxing where they say that an undefeated fighter hasn’t learned how to lose. Smith hasn’t learned how to lose and he strikes me as a guy that would hate to lose. Riley on the other hand has lost more games than he has won over the past several years and is very used to losing. He has clearly learned how to lose. My concern is this losing mentality may rub off on the other coaches and the players. (Similar to Angry’s zombie bite analogy.) I don’t want the coaches ever feeling like a loss is acceptable. I think this is the primary reason that so many of us don’t want Riley anywhere near the program.

    • Great comment!

      One need look no further than MR’s recent remark at Neb where he said (parapharase) “we’ve got everything going swell except for the W/L in games.”

      I’ve not seen people here saying they hate MR, what I do see is longtime fans who don’t see team success resulting from his lack of fire and acceptance of losing. Do people really think that approach (from the “assistant head coach”, no less) will not rub off on the rest of the staff and the players?

    • Exactly. To everyone saying “he’s just an assistant coach, he’s not running the show,” this is why he’s still dangerous. Not just infecting the whole staff with being ok with losing, but being ok with being just ok. I get it, he’s a nice guy, but as a football coach, it’s better to be a little more like Chip Kelley or Nick Saban than to be like Riley.

    • If you want to speak to the management dynamic, I would start with (‘s willingness to put MR in line when he doesn’t espouse the vision of the program and displays his now infamous apathy.

      Nebby fan sure likes to use the word apathy when talking about MR… that, and classy.

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