USC Coach Riley Sends Message to Critics After Beating Ohio State
The No. 18 Trojans used a white sheet of paper to dismiss outside noise after holding the Buckeyes to 18 points.
By Allison Singh ·
USC head football coach Lincoln Riley ended a press conference with a handwritten note on Saturday.
The Trojans defeated Ohio State, dropping the Buckeyes from No. 2 to No. 11 in the AP Top 25. This win keeps USC alive in the College Football Playoff hunt.
Riley answered questions about the game before pulling out a white piece of paper. He told reporters he needed a second to articulate his thoughts. He then read a prepared statement word for word.
"This program is built on internal joy, not external applause," Riley read from the sheet. He said the victory belongs to the staff, players, and administrators inside the building. He noted that he told the team before the game he was the right person for the job. As long as the people within the walls believe that, he said, that is all he cares about.
Riley stood and walked toward the door after finishing the statement. He said "adios" to the room as he left the podium. It is unknown if he wrote the note himself or prepared it before the game. The remarks addressed the outside noise he has mentioned throughout the season.
The team has faced criticism recently after a 17-7 loss to Wisconsin. That game knocked USC out of the rankings and put playoff hopes on shaky ground. They also lost a third straight game to Oregon, leaving Riley with a 5-15 record against ranked opponents. The crowd at the Coliseum chanted "fire Riley" during a comeback victory over Washington.
The win over Ohio State was the Trojans' highest-ranked victory since beating No. 2 Oklahoma in 2004. USC held the Buckeyes to a season-low 18 points. The defense limited Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith and prevented a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.
Offensive lineman Tobias Raymond told reporters that only the people in the building matter. He said the team focuses on playing Trojan football every day. USC fans rushed the field on Saturday night, drowning out the external criticism. The team now faces a bye week before playing No. 6 Indiana and No. 5 UCLA. The first College Football Playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday.
Source: The San Bernardino Sun
