Rileys work ethic and confident mindset were instilled by his parents. Oklahoma, where Memorial Stadium could hold 17 times the population of Muleshoe. It attracted 10,000 souls. Kids just loved him, said David Wood, Muleshoe High School's football coach since spring 1996, when Riley was in sixth grade. Riley has surpassed actor Lee Horsley as Muleshoe's most famous son. He was selling him to me, Stoops said at the time. Riley already has plenty of quality head-coaching experience behind him, plus a hefty new contract approved by the school last month. His offense has placed five players in the top 10 for rushing yards in a season and nine players in the top 10 for receiving yards in a season. One of those guys, not necessarily write things down. "As long as I could have kids like Lincoln, I knew I could compete.". Muleshoes favorite son is now the youngest head coach in major college football. But everyone here trusts Lincoln. fellow students never quite understood, she said. Even a few weeks ago, he says, if you wouldve told me I was living in L.A., I dont know that I wouldve believed you.. Its like Christmas Eve and Im 6 years old. Two years into that gig, Riley found himself promoted to head coach when Stoops unexpectedly retired in June of 2017. I would put those at the top of the list.". Muleshoe, a 5,000 population town about 68 miles northwest of Lubbock, sits about 17 miles east of the New Mexico line. Mike and Marilyn Riley had to settle for the revelry generated in their hometown. Once he decided on the coaching ranks, I figured he'd be climbing up the ladder pretty quickly.. "Muleshoe -- don't you like just hearing it?". Hed recently been elevated to receivers coach at Texas Tech after years spent endearing himself to then-coach Mike Leach as a student and grad assistant. Seeing the Mules football program flourish while learning from his coach, Eric Roanhaus, New Mexicos winningest football coach, added to Richards desire to become a mentor in the football ranks. He brought a program and a culture to Muleshoe that hadnt been there, Riley said. There were multiple years in which we were 0-10 or 1-9, Atwood says. After three years of student coaching as an undergraduate and another as a graduate assistant, Leach, on Valentine's Day 2007, offered Riley. Patience is the whole key.. Few will ever forget Riley leading the Mules at Texas Stadium. Lincoln Riley's father doesn't seem to be a big talker. But everyone agrees that the boy was uncommonly bright, even if he didnt take notes in class and sometimes skipped his homework. Family roots run generations deep in Muleshoe, making it sometimes feel like time is standing still. sternly in a slow West Texas drawl, leaving no doubt that there would be nothing further from him on the topic. District 514 W. Ave G Muleshoe, Texas . Notice something in common about the starting quarterbacks for Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia entering this year? That notion crossed his mind the last Sunday morning in November, as he decided within a few hours to leave the comfort of Oklahoma for the uncertainty of USC. Most folks here seem just fine with that. Getting Darrell Davis, one of Richards high school football coaches, was something both men have been talking about for 15 years and have made happen. But he happily embraced the familys other enduring legacy in town, as the third of four Rileys to quarterback the Muleshoe Mules. They were some complex plays as complex as you can be at 11.. Mayfield and Murray became the No. The next year, with Mike settling in as quarterback, the Mules won three games. Wood began with a program that fielded 22 players in a school of about 450 students. Anytime they wanted to bounce something off of someone, Donnie was the person that they talked to , I think it was their mutual love and admiration for college football. Head coach Jason Richards hopes that preseason growth can be turned into regular-season success. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel. But as much as he relished playing the game, Riley suspected his playing days were over when he passed on small school college football to attend Texas Tech. Hal Mumme was the head coach at McMurry University in Abilene, which is about three hours from Muleshoe. But after Riley walked on at Texas Tech, then-Red Raiders coach Mike Leach encouraged him to get off . Some people dont desire to be a head coach. Small town, feels like he's their own. They want their kids to be successful, not just in athletics, but in anything they do.. Muleshoe Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 36 players) Head Coach: Reyes, Nic ( Sr.) Martens, Nathan ( So.) Lo and behold, we get there in the team meeting and Lincoln was told, Coach (Leach) isnt coaching this game and guess what? Still, he opted not to play as a senior. Wood, determined to put an end to the exodus, noticed a seventh-grader playing at the junior high with "lots [of] football smarts" if not lots of blue-chip skills. The older he got is when I was more impressed with him. Riley is a small-town guy, but clearly hes up for an adventure. Jalen Hurts could be next for the Sooners. Ellis is the third generation to run the funeral home, which his grandfather opened in 1959. Muleshoe rolled through four playoff games on their way to the Class 3A state semifinals, including a rare win over Friona that inspired Riley and three teammates the next summer to climb the rival towns water tower and spray paint the winning score, 23-13, for all to see. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Mules scored just one touchdown during the entire 1969 season. Were not allowed to talk about the wind in my program. Hidden facts about Muleshoe, the best restaurants discovered while recruiting and plenty more fun with Coach Riley on this week's Fifth Quarter! During the season, itll be harder because hell be gone before they are awake and theyll be asleep before he gets home. Others speculate he wanted nothing to do with the Southeastern Conference. That part has always been important to me.. . Never mind that Riley was only 19 years old. The work was strenuous enough to teach Lincoln Riley the intended lessons about hard work and responsibility but also to convince him he had no interest in inheriting the family business. His final game at Muleshoe and last as a quarterback in a competitive game was a senior-year loss in a state semifinal game at old Texas Stadium. Former Mule Jaxon Lee, an AP all-state first team lineman for the squad, rounds out the new hires as the defensive line coach. He was telling me about some other opportunities that were in the foresight of his career. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley watches the Sooners play Iowa State on Nov. 20. Theres something about being raised in a small town, said his wife, Caitlin Riley. He's been too busy. Muletrain, it should be noted, actually has been around since the late 1950s as a radio offering on a station that beamed it in from Clovis, N.M., 30 miles away. There are many friendship threads in Rileys small hometown of nearly 6,000. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 866-495-5172 Already a member? Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach saw enough in him to recruit him as a walk on, but it wasnt too long during his time in Lubbock before Riley moved into a student assistant role. He's certainly more comfortable in his job than he was a year ago at this time. MULESHOE, Texas -- Magann Rennels has been on the job as a local television newshound for almost four decades. You can cancel at any time. Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Jason Richards. Copyright 2022. That will never change.. Growing up here, Ellis says, it often felt like you were insulated from the ails of the outside world. "Didn't see eye-to-eye with the coach," Mike Riley said. I wish I could have recorded Lincoln with how smooth, precise and decisive he was on that night of the game, McNeill said. Ive always carried that with me., USC coach Lincoln Riley on what he learned from high school coach David Wood, There was backlash to his new, strict approach at first, too. Mike Riley still works in agriculture; he's run a cotton warehouse for years, which means he's been able to get to Norman for a few games each of the last two years, but when the harvest arrives in November, Saturday's a work day. He inspired the whole town, Wood said. The Mules only return one all-district player in wide receiver Irvin Torres. Despite Muleshoes noted success, the squad hit a rough patch, winning just six games over the past three years. Who can help student-athletes cash in? , Victor marveled at how much time the older brother spent tutoring elementary school aged Garrett on the football field. "He was a coach on the field for us. But growing up, he always knew that he would leave. That plains was the prettiest country I ever saw in my life, as flat as a beauty contest winner's stomach, and prairie lakes scattered all over it. As impressed as Wood was with his Muleshoe quarterback's ability on the field, he was just as amazed by his off-the-field work. 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No matter how savvy the journalist, the decision to eliminate one of the town's two traffic lights has a newsy shelf life. I really saw his potential to be a rocket scientist, Wood said in 2015. Copyright 2019 KCBD. The only time they were away was when they attended the University of Texas. Upon the completion of his degree in 2012, he was named the running backs coach at Augustana College in Illinois. Thats what you grew up in, thats what your daughters are used to, Riley says. Continue reading to hear more about OU's youthful coach. He raced through his homework as soon as he got to the house simply so he could get back to football as quickly as possible, his mother recalled. Im sure hes got a pretty nice home now, making what hes making., Its possible that Riley has been keeping up with USC from afar given his affinity for Harrell. But Muleshoe wanted discipline, he said. After two years as OUs offensive coordinator, hell take over as head coach. However "favorite" and "biggest" were eclipsed when 33-year-old, coach, took over one of America's most storied. Stitt expresses 'strong disagreement' with Oklahoma AG over Catholic charter school, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, Lincoln Riley: 12 things you may not know about the OU football coach, Big 12 Media Days: After a whirlwind month, new OU coach Lincoln Riley takes center stage, Dan Snyder is under investigation over line of credit taken out by Commanders, Lionel Messi named men's Player of the Year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards, LeBron James is facing weeks on the sidelines after foot injury, "I am scared of needlesr" Lillard on getting a drug test after his 71-point game. "He knew all the progressions. They celebrated East Carolina University victories when their oldest son spent five seasons as the Pirates offensive coordinator. On a recent late-night broadcast of ESPN's Sports Center, anchor Neil Everett said, "When it comes to college football coaches, there's Nick Saban and there's everyone else.". Marilyn, his mother who grew up on a Muleshoe farm, and his father, Mike, who came from a family that operated cotton gins among other business ventures, graduated from the University of Texas. His youth has been a positive, especially on the recruiting trail. It's also home to two of the greatest offensive minds in college football. Head Cross Country/Head Girls Powerlifting Coach . But truth be told, Horsley never really was an integral thread in the town's fabric. It didn't hurt that Riley had the services of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who won the Heisman Trophy in December. The town would never forget. Over time, some of the Riley stories from those days have come to drift into tall tales, depending on whos telling them. What should student loan borrowers do while waiting for Supreme Court forgiveness ruling? No matter how Riley and the Sooners fare, the 105-year-old town of Muleshoe will be proud of him. I said, Ruffin, Ive read all about him. But thats the kind of guy that Ruffin is. But he dislocated his throwing shoulder before the start of the season trying to make a tackle during a practice. They just didnt know how to do it.. It wasnt until Wood came to town in the spring of 1996 that the teams fortunes started to turn around. A top-10 preseason ranking is expected and, last week, the Sooners were predicted to win their third consecutive Big 12 championship. The Rennels' house on West 3rd Street is conveniently located just down from Muleshoe High, whose Friday night football games the station videotapes for continuous airings on Saturdays and Sundays. The theories are numerous, but some here who know the Rileys wonder if the sprawl of Los Angeles might offer a semblance of anonymity. Jason Richards grew up in Clovis, New Mexico knowing about Muleshoe, which was only about 30 miles from his hometown. I grew up where the wind makes you tougher. We were so close in age, it became a friendship, but he was a friend I respected. Georgia was one of them. Once she was his Sunday school teacher. He wasnt afraid to change things up, to do things different from what had been done there. He has learned from experience. Everyone knows everyone, especially the Muleshoe native whose hiring as OUs coach created shockwaves throughout the college football world. "That's a good question," he said. Here are five things to know about new USC football head coach Lincoln Riley that should shed some light on why the 38-year-old decided to take over the Trojans instead of staying at Oklahoma or moving on to Louisiana State. 877-845-6272. Hes the young man who helped his alma mater install the spread offense, which led the Mules to a 2008 state championship. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has agreed to become the next USC football coach. Los Angeles, on the other hand that felt like a world apart from Muleshoe. The Mules won one game in Wood's first season, then five the next, giving Muleshoe its first. Muleshoe, which would become the seat of Bailey County, then was just a few houses, a school and a cemetery. Over the past six years, the offense averaged 38 points per game and amassed an average of more than 400 yards per game. ", 521 Pile StreetClovis, NM 88102Ph: (575) 763-3431, Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation As the young mayor explains, change often comes to town at a particularly cautious pace. McNeill, who accepted the head coaching position at East Carolina, hired Riley to be his offensive coordinator. For many coaches, its difficult to turn the football mind off. "He loved the job and was used to working for nothing.". Editor's note: This story was originally published on August 10, 2017. Questions? Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley talks with his players during a game against Oklahoma State on Saturday. Conventional wisdom might tell you to stay in that, thats what you do, and I certainly think that wouldve turned out just fine. From Muleshoe to Clemson, Riley carries on the principles of Mike. Wes Wood, the coachs son who led the Mules to a state title as quarterback in 2008, said that season cemented Riley as his childhood hero. Questions? A rocket scientist. Will Rogers was a restless 18-year-old in 1898 when he signed on to be a cowboy for the sprawling Mashed O Ranch, which covered parts of Lamb and Bailey counties in the Texas Panhandle. Davis will be Muleshoes defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after previously being at Texico (New Mexico) High School. Its because he has an exceptional memory a photographic memory. But it was no mirage. In the beginning, it was because he was the only guy that was around to watch film with me.. Hes ready to be a part of that city and what comes with it. He believes Reyes, who will make his varsity debut in the teams season opener at Sundown on Aug. 28, could be one of the best offensive linemen hes ever coached. Cheerleading Sponsor Cheyanne Cage. Almost seven decades later, another 18-year-old in Muleshoe was ready to find his way, and the folks from Lincoln Riley's hometown swear he could see anything in the world, just ahead of him. By June, however, coach Mike Leach had seen enough. He always has. The only passing reference to L.A. found here comes from a novelty Rodeo Drive sign behind the bar at Rodeo, Muleshoes lone watering hole. 2023 www.lubbockonline.com. Riley even remembered his old high school while working at Texas Tech. His coaching career would soon take off into the stratosphere, leading him to East Carolina, then Oklahoma and now USC, but Riley was already a star in Muleshoe. His immediate retirement plan is . "I think grit, never giving up and just playing . Stoops said he wouldnt have retired this offseason if not for his confidence in Riley. His grandfather, Claude, was the first, leading the Mules to an undefeated season in 1938. David Wood was Rileys high school football coach. Of course, some weeks are slower than others in this farming town of 5,000, located 70 flat, High Plains miles northwest of Lubbock. Davis will be Muleshoe's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after previously being at Texico (New Mexico) High School. LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - After two seasons as the Head Football Coach/Athletic Director at Muleshoe High School, Lee Walker has been reassigned. Ive got to do my best to take advantage of the situation the continuity that was kept on so many different levels: players, staff, so many different people, with how this (coaching transition) went down, Riley said. She's from Dimmitt, 45 miles away. Like most everyone in town, restaurant owner Victor Leal has a favorite story about his favorite college football coach. We were on the way to San Antonio and the bowl game and we were obviously thinking we were going to have our normal role at that Alamo Bowl game, said Simmons, who coached wide receivers at the time. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'easternnewmexiconews_com-box-2','ezslot_3',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easternnewmexiconews_com-box-2-0'); Oklahoma University head football coach Lincoln Riley raises the Big 12 Championship trophy after the Sooners beat TCU 41-17 in the conference title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas last December. As a quarterback, Wood says, his intellect was his greatest asset. A decade later, Lincoln Riley's new contract at Oklahoma calls for a guaranteed $3.1 million a year for five years. Garrett Riley, Lincolns brother, said he had a little bit of an instinct that something like that may happen. But even he learned his brother took the USC job via social media. Lincoln has a photographic memory, and when I say that, I really mean it.. In Muleshoe, no one needs any convincing. At the helm of an I-formation, pro-style attack that bears no resemblance to the offense he ran at Oklahoma and will bring to USC, Riley led the Mules to an undefeated regular season in 2000. I certainly wont be afraid to do it here.. Then cast your vote, Bruce Springsteen adds to mythology with three-hour show at Tulsa's BOK Center, State board approves new academic standards with Ryan Walters' last-minute revisions, More than 800 Oklahoma medical marijuana farms linked to organized crime, drug agency says, Gov. He was all for it.. One is USC head coach. Following the 2009 season, he left his position as the Red Raiders wide receivers coach to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at East Carolina under head coach Ruffin McNeill. The selection committee sorted through 112 applications and interviewed six applicants on Jan. 22 and 23 before determining that Richards would be their choice. When OU was searching for a new offensive coordinator in 2015, Stoops called McNeill for permission to speak to Riley. Rodriguez, Alan ( Jr.) Lopez, Jaxher ( Jr.) Dominguez, Ryan ( So.) In West Texas, Muleshoe's team was for decades a source of disappointment. Rileys coaching success has been anchored by a spread-it-out, fast-paced attack. He played out the year on the defensive line instead. Suddenly Muletrain was competing with SportsCenter for eyeballs. I just wanted to build on people that wanted to be in Muleshoe and want to get things going again.. Muleshoe football, as Riley remembers, was one of the worst programs in the entire state of Texas for a long time.. "To see him grow and develop into what he's become, it's pretty remarkable. Mike and Marilyn Riley have lived in Muleshoe all of their lives. He was a sponge. In 2017, once Riley took the reins from Stoops, Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy while leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He was a computer on legs. And Muleshoe, its a town that backs people from the community. This article originally ran on July 15, 2017. For Riley's part, Muleshoe was good to him, providing the setting for a solid upbringing, a town where a boy who would someday lead one of the nation's most famous college football programs could learn lessons that shaped him. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Learn how this Muleshoe High School student is connecting with coaches in TX and nationwide. Its probably one of the most supportive communities youll find in the state of Texas, said Richards, who had been Flour Bluffs offensive coordinator for the past five seasons. And it's no mirage. Ive never been afraid to go against the grain if I felt like it was the best thing for the team, for the program. USC coach Lincoln Riley remains a celebrated figure in the Muleshoe High football program. Hes the person who has a spare second for those wanting to talk to him during visits home. Atwood, who was one of the four, recalls that the boys were caught as soon as they descended the water tower. What had been done was history or tradition or how theyd always done it, but it wasnt working. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, USC hires Lincoln Riley: Complete coverage of Trojans shocking coaching move, extended this week all the way to the state Senate, Lincoln Riley jetted for USC, and Oklahoma is left to furiously wonder why, Breaking down the USC roster Lincoln Riley inherits, Rileys arrival signifies a triumphant return, USC football coaches: Glory and gaffes, from Gloomy Gus to Lincoln Riley, Roundtable: Our March Madness projections for UCLA, USC and others. People know each other. A lot of the values I hope I still carry today were carried from my parents and people in that town. By Gail M. Williams My daddy would roll over in his grave if I said I was gonna root for USC, Sam Whalin, the schools retired maintenance director, says with a laugh. What had been done was history or tradition or how theyd always done it, but it wasnt working. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) It's pretty much the talk of the town.. Watch the latest highlight videos for the Muleshoe Varsity Football team Soon after, Todd and Starla Ellis, who run the local funeral home, stopped by the Riley's table. Theres an intense sense of pride. A newspaper article from the Clovis News Journal about USC coach Lincoln Riley during his high school days is on display at his parents home in Muleshoe, Texas. Few believed it at first. Each of the thousands of bales waiting to be loaded and shipped off weighs up to 500 pounds. "I think I took things from him and a lot of my coaches. "The value of hard work - I think the community has always been built on that. No one in Muleshoe was more thrilled with Riley as Oklahomas coach than Graves, who served as the voice of Muleshoe football broadcasts and has been a Sooner fan since 1947. Mike Riley calls Muleshoe just like a lot of small towns. 1. Yet, with the aplomb of a seasoned coaching veteran, he guided Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Never thought about it growing up, Mike Riley said. COURTESY/Riley family. The next year he was hired on at Oklahoma as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under the nationally-renowned Bob Stoops. My dad worked me enough there throughout the years that he broke me on that, Riley joked during an interview with The Times last week. Muleshoe, just 22 miles from the New Mexico border, is home to the National Mule Memorial. 4 min read. "It's quite an accolade to say I was able to be a part of his life," Wood said. When Lincoln attended Texas Tech, about 70 miles northwest of their home, the Rileys cheered for the Red Raiders. Kind of overwhelmed. 4:13. You know everybody. But I think we saw this move as potentially a chance for them to experience new things, and when they get out in the real world which will come way too quick I want them to have been exposed to different things and different areas and different kinds of people. Duncan was receiving a National Football Foundation Legacy Award in New York City at the same time and Riley wanted to be by his mentors side instead. Graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Sooners were predicted to win their third big! Sent once a day, and when I was able to be a talker! Kids like Lincoln, I knew I could have kids like Lincoln I! There would be their choice was originally published on August 10, 2017 Claude, was the head position! New matching items about the starting quarterbacks for Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia entering this?. 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