DELAYED GRATIFICATION: Why the appreciation for seamless transition from Stoops to Riley is now heightened
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — It's been nearly six months since Bob Stoops retired, and still, the shock of that day, the surprise of that announcement remains fresh in many a mind. Bob Stoops? Retired?
In many ways, the stunning nature of Stoops' decision to leave Oklahoma after 18 seasons eclipsed everything else that June day. Yes, we acknowledged that the Sooners hired a new head coach. Sure, we allowed that Lincoln Riley was worthy of the top spot.
But did we truly appreciate the seamless nature of the transition of power?
Not really.
This past week, however, gave us pause to do just that. The coaching carousel has been in overdrive. Tennessee. Nebraska. Texas A&M. UCLA. Florida. Arizona State. And that's in no way a comprehensive list. Several schools hired their new coaches, but there are programs with proud traditions, blueblood pedigrees even, struggling to find a new coach.
"Some of the things that have happened over the past few days makes you even prouder to be a part of this university," Riley said.
As some schools struggle and a few teeter on the verge of spinning out of control — Tennessee, we're looking at you — it's a stark contrast to OU. Joe Castiglione and Co. replaced one of the most successful coaches in the country without the belly flops that we see elsewhere. They hardly even made any ripples.
And it's part of why the Sooners are where they are.
"We were fortunate enough to have a situation where nothing's really changed much, except for the head coach," Sooner tackle Orlando Brown said.
Granted, a change in head coach is no small thing, and I don't think Brown was suggesting otherwise. What he said, though, highlights the fact that a change in head coach usually brings upheaval in so many other areas. Assistant coaches. Strength coaches. Offensive schemes. Defensive philosophies.
All that stayed the same for the Sooners because Riley chose to retain the staff and maintain the status quo.
"It was pretty much the same," Brown said. "(The biggest carryover) would be the chemistry we were able to maintain as a team."
The players didn't have to get to know new coaches, adapt to new routines or learn new systems. They just kept doing what they were doing. Their lives were pretty much the same after June 7 as they were beforethe StoopsRiley swap.
Now, I'm not here to suggest that Riley hasn't changed some things. There are routines and methodsand decisions that he does differently than Stoops did. But the structure of so many program pillars remains the same.
"It was about as smooth as it possibly could've gone," Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield said, giving credit not only to Riley, his coaches and his support staff but also to the players. "We took it as something to draw us closer together. It's hard when you have a change. When somebody that recruited you and has been there has to leave, it's about how you handle it.
"We've handled it well, and I'm proud of that."
The Sooners kept building— and now, they are one win from the College Football Playoff.
That isn't a coincidence. Continuity doesn't always lead to success, but when it's combined with great talent— and this OU roster has some great talent— good things tend to happen. And rest assured, if Stoops hadn't retired and Riley hadn't ascended, schools would be coming after Riley. Hard.
But instead, OU looks to have its coach for years to come."Of course I love it here, and this is a dream job for me, so it’s nice not to have to pay any attention to that," Riley said of the hiring hubbub. "I'm very thankful to be in the position that I am."
He's not the only one in Sooner Nation who has reason to be grateful.