Back to school 2017 - Section B

STAFF FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

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POSITION BATTLES

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LINCOLN RILEY’S ROOTS

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SPORTS

LINCOLN RILEY’S

NEW ERA GEORGE STOIA • @GEORGESTOIA

MULESHOE, Texas — There are 62 individual pictures of former players hanging on the light gray walls of the Muleshoe High School football locker room.

Above those pictures the words “Wall of Fame” are painted in black. On the top row, seventh from the right, is a picture of a young man wearing shoulder pads too big for his body, sporting the No. 12.

That young man is Lincoln Riley — Oklahoma’s new head football coach.

“He’s always been this kid that believed in himself,” Muleshoe head football coach David Wood said.

“Everyone’s a hero in a small town. And that’s what Lincoln was.”

FAST FORWARD 15 YEARS Now, he’s the youngest head coach in college football, leading one of the most prominent football programs in the country. But even in his new role, Riley hasn’t forgotten his roots.

See RILEY on page B4

OU SHANE BYLER/THE DAILY

DAILY

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• August 21, 2017

2017 OU football predictions

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield scrambles out of the pocket in the third quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl Jan. 2.

ABBY BITTERMAN, SPORTS REPORTER OU 50, UTEP 14 OU 21, Ohio State 35 OU 46, Tulane 10 OU 42, Baylor 27 OU 35, Iowa State 28 OU 38, Texas 35 OU 42, Kansas State 20 OU 36, Texas Tech 24 OU 45, Oklahoma State 42 OU 35, TCU 14 OU 32, Kansas 17 OU 52, West Virginia 35

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he Sooners may have some challenges this season with a new coach at the helm. However, Lincoln Riley is new to the position, not the program, which might make the team’s transition easi e r. P l u s , O U ’s f o r m e r Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield is back to lead a deep offense behind a strong offensive line. The Sooners may fall early in arguably their greatest test of the season against O h i o St at e , b u t w o n ’ t have a hard time with the rest of their non-conference schedule. In conference play, the Sooners are expected to power through the Big 12.

GEORGE STOIA, SPORTS EDITOR

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oming off an 11-2 season and finishing No. 3 in the AP Poll, Oklahoma should expect a great 2017 OU 56, UTEP 7 season. With quarterback Baker Mayfield leading OU 34, Ohio State 41 the way, the Sooners will OU 60, Tulane 17 have one of the most potent offenses in the counOU 48, Baylor 17 try. Despite losing running backs Samaje Perine and OU 52, Iowa State 20 Joe Mixon, Oklahoma returns its entire offensive line.

OU 40, Texas 30 Defensively, the Sooners reOU 42, Kansas State 38 turn players Jordan Thomas, Steven Parker, Ogbonnia OU 63, Texas Tech 28 Okoronkwo and a few other OU 42, Oklahoma State 31 key assets. The season sets up nicely for OU to make a OU 45, TCU 20 run at the College Football Playoff, and everyone will OU 56, Kansas 17 know what they’re made of week two when they play OU 45, West Virginia 31 Ohio State.

KELLI STACY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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espite having a new head coach in Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma is still the strongest team OU 49, UTEP 7 in the Big 12 this season.

With two-time Heisman OU 31, Ohio State 42 candidate Baker Mayfield OU 56, Tulane 14 and a deep offensive line returning, OU is going to OU 35, Baylor 17 have a fairly easy time in conference play. The bigOU 52, Iowa State 28 gest test for the Sooners will be week two against OU 35, Texas 28 Ohio State. Rivalry games OU 45, Kansas State 35 are always unpredictable, but right now it looks like OU 56, Texas Tech 45 the Sooners will sweep OU 42, Oklahoma State 35 the conference and head to the College Football OU 49, TCU 35 Playoff with only one loss.

OU 56, Kansas 21 OU 49, West Virginia 38

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SPORTS

August 21, 2017 •

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Starting positions up for grabs

Players compete for multiple starting spots this season

Beal and Bolton both saw playing time last fall.

KELLI STACY

OU lost star running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine to the NFL Draft, and are looking to find the next starter. The favorite so far has been redshirt sophomore Rodney Anderson. Anderson’s had a rough time as a Sooner, suffering two season-ending injuries in the two seasons he’s been at OU. Now healthy, he seems like the Sooners’ best bet.

Also fighting for playing time are transfer Marcelias Sutton, early enrollee Trey Sermon, sophomore Abdul Adams and redshirt senior Najee Bissoon.

@AstacyKelli

With football season fast approaching and a few starting spots up for grabs, here are the position battles to watch for.

CORNERBACK Senior Jordan Thomas has one starting spot at corner locked up, but the spot opposite him is up for grabs. Last season the Sooners struggled to find a solid starting right corner.

Sophomore Jordan Parker was one of multiple corners who got a shot at the starting spot last year, and is in the running again this year. Parker’s main competition is sophomore Parnell Motley. Parker and Motley were both highly praised in the spring, but Parker suffered a stress fracture in his foot and missed eight weeks of practice. This allowed Motley to play a majority of Oklahoma’s spring game, where he stood out with an interception and pass breakup in the first few series.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER With the departure of Jordan Evans, the Sooners are looking for a new midd l e l i n e b a c k e r. S e n i o r Emmanuel Beal, redshirt junior Curtis Bolton, reds h i r t s o p h o m o re R i cky DeBerry and redshirt f re s h m a n Jo n - Mi c h a e l Terry are all battling for the starting spot. Terry and DeBerry garnered a lot of praise in the spring, while

RUNNING BACK

BACKUP QUARTERBACK This isn’t a starting spot that’s up for grabs, but it is an interesting battle, nonetheless. The Sooners went from being thin at backup quarterback to having two impressive backups.

Sophomore Austin Kendall and redshirt Sophomore Kyler Murray were both impressive in the spring game. Kendall completed more than 50 percent of his passes, and Murray passed for over 100 yards.

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Then freshman cornerback Jordan Parker lines up before the snap during the game against Kansas State Oct. 15.

Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

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Sophomore cornerback Parnell Motley intercepts the ball in the first quarter of the annual spring game April 8.

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• August 21, 2017

RILEY: Continued from Page One

Growing up in a town of just over 5,000 people, Riley quickly became a known figure around town with his confident, but humble personality. He was a solid athlete, but the classroom is where Riley really excelled.

“He wouldn’t sometimes do all his homework, but he didn’t have to — he was bored with it,” Wood said.

“He was not a bookworm, he was just so brilliant, and he could just see it — listen to a lecture in class and take the test and ace it.”

Riley continued his classroom excellence in high school, and became a promising football player making the varsity team as a defensive end his sophomore year.

He made the transition to quarterback his junior year, and led Muleshoe to its first ever state semi-finals appearance, helping turn around a program that hadn’t seen a winning season in years.

“He wasn’t a blue-chipper, but for us he was very good,” Wood said. “He was a big part of that transition, and that team put Muleshoe on the map as far as football goes.”

But Riley was also still just a “good ole country boy,” according to Wood. After beating their rival Friona, he and a couple teammates spray painted the score of the game on the town’s water tower.

Riley had become an embodiment of Muleshoe. He PHOTOS BY GEORGE STOIA/THE DAILY was unselfish and had a ABOVE: Pictures of Lincoln Riley from his days at SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY quickness for including othMuleshoe High School. Riley took Muleshoe to its first ers in his success. Young kids Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley before the Red and White game on April 8. state semi-finals appearance in 2000. around town flocked to Riley, “I knew he would be suchanging on him and asking coach. “He’s a smart guy, at Tech, and when Leach was in awe of what he’s accom- life, the high school coaches were so influential and so cessful with whatever avequestions after each game. eager to learn, and willing to let go in 2009, he was given plished,” Wood said. important,” Riley said. “I was nue he took. With a mind Riley started new traditions use common sense and in- an opportunity to show he was ready for the big stage. so fortunate to have a ton of like him, he could have at Muleshoe, like taking dependent thinking along Interim head coach Ruffin great ones. They made a great gone and done anything, the way. ” blades of grass from the ophe really could have,” Wood Riley has a big task in front impression on me.”

Wood recalls watching McNeill — now Riley’s new ponent’s end zone after an F r o m M u l e s h o e t o said. “Engineering, science, Texas Tech on TV and seeing defensive line coach — pro- of him — trying to replace away victory.

“It’s growing up in that Riley right next to Leach the moted 26-year-old Riley to the program’s all-time win- Lubbock, then Greenville, NASA , astronaut — you offensive coordinator for the ningest coach in Bob Stoops and now Norman — many name it, he could have done close-knit environment in a entire game.

“Every time you saw Leach, Alamo Bowl, setting Riley up — but he says he feels ready. can’t believe the quick jump anything like that, and I knew town where just about everybody knew everybody,” Riley Lincoln was right beside him with the audition of a life- He’s had plenty of people in Riley has made in the coach- he would have been good at said. “There was just a sense on the sideline just following time. Riley’s offense explod- his life help him prepare for ing ranks. But the people it.” of community, and I think a him, just soaking it all in and ed in a 41-31 victory over this moment, including his of Muleshoe always knew Riley was going to do special George Stoia bouncing Michigan State, giving him high school coaches. lot of my values george.s.stoia-1@ou.edu “I think in a young man’s things. ideas off the chance to take the next came from that.

“I think in a young o f h i m ,” step in his career.

I’ve said a lot Now a proven offensive man’s life, the high W o o d that I’m thankOU College of Arts and Sciences coordinator, Riley followed ful for the place school coaches were said.

W h e n McNeill to East Carolina I grew up.” so influential and so Muleshoe where he broke record after When it was Last year’s graduates had an average important.

I was so decided to record. During his five years time to leave fortunate to have a switch to at ECU, Riley’s offense set the small town starting salary of $57,500 per year. a s p re a d more than 50 team or indithat built him, ton of great ones. vidual records, including reA Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies could be right for you too!

Riley had a deThey made a great oi nf f2e0n0s6e, cording the top five passing cision to make. impression on me.” W o o d seasons in school history.

He could go to w e n t t o Big schools took notice and a small school LINCOLN RILEY, L e a c h began calling Riley, hoping and play, or folAbout the Program: Career Opportunities: HEAD COACH hoping to to hire the young offensive low his dreams The BAIS is an applied Information Technology and - IT project manager learn his genius. and walk-on at Data Science degree that teaches students to design - Software implementation specialist At the time, Oklahoma was a Division I school. He chose offensive wizardry. But when and build IT and Data solutions with a user-centered - Information technology specialist in desperate need of a spark, approach. Graduates will have the skills to analyze the latter and walked-on at Wood arrived, he soon found - Network administrator users’ information problems, provide solutions, and Texas Tech, 68 miles from out Riley had become a mas- coming off a dismal 8-5 sea- System analyst create user-friendly information systems. son with an offense that termind himself.

Muleshoe.

- Software programmer hadn’t been the same since Leach had been talking to With a roster full of quarStudents in the program focus on the relationship - Website designer and developer offensive coordinator Kevin between information, people, and technology in a terbacks, Riley quickly found Wood for five minutes when wide variety of courses covering web technologies, Wilson’s departure in 2010. he turned to Wood and his out he would never see the For more information, databases, data analytics, user-centered system field in a Tech uniform. staff and said, “You know Oklahoma went straight to contact us: analysis and design, information architecture, and Riley, hiring him as their ofThen-coach Mike Leach of- what, I’m just going to let slis.ou.edu information literacy. fered him a student coach- Lincoln talk to you guys, he fensive coordinator in 2015.

405-325-3921 Tools students apply in classes include PHP, MySQL, Now three years later, the ing job, seeing his potential. knows this stuff better than I HTML5, JavaScript, Python, R, CSS, and more.

Riley traded his helmet for do.” Wood thought Leach was good ole country boy who painted his rival high school’s a headset and never looked blowing him off, but quickly Where are some of our alumni employed? realized Riley knew what he water tower is the head coach back. of one the all-time greatest was talking about.

“I thought he would (beThe student had become college football programs. come a good coach),” Leach “We sure are proud of him IT Analyst Chief Technology Officer IT Specialist III Senior Vice President told The Daily after Riley was the teacher.

CCE Information ClearSign Combustion Corp OU IT Community Ackerman McQueen here, and people sure are Riley grew during his time hired as Oklahoma’s head Technology Experience

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