Trojan veterans blast Lincoln Riley, USC after bowl collapse
Matt Leinart went to bed early.
Tired of hosting his family for the holidays and planning to get up early for practice, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and USC star quarterback didn’t stay up to watch the end of his alma mater’s game against Texas Christian at the Alamo Bowl Tuesday night.
He probably doesn’t regret this decision.
After letting a 10-point lead slip away in the final minutes of regulation, the Trojans ultimately lost 30-27 in overtime after TCU running back Jeremy Payne caught a checkdown pass on third-and-20 and broke several tackles on his way to the end zone for a game-winning 35-yard touchdown.
It was a maddening end to a 9-4 season already considered a disappointment by many Trojan fans after the team failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff for the fourth time in as many seasons under coach Lincoln Riley.
A number of former USC players took to social media during and after the game to express their frustrations. Leinart wasn’t initially one of them, although some people thought he was commenting on the Alamo Bowl when he wrote, “No one cares…I promise!” Tuesday evening on X.
Later, the verified TCU Football account reposted Leinart’s post and wrote “cry on,” a play on USC’s rallying cry, “Fight on!” »
USC coach Lincoln Riley, right, shakes hands with Texas Christian coach Sonny Dykes after the Alamo Bowl
(Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
On Wednesday morning, Leinart wrote that his comment “actually had nothing to do with the USC game lol.” In a video posted about an hour later, the two-time NCAA national champion said he missed the last three practices due to his early bedtime. He did, however, offer some brief thoughts on the previous night’s result and the state of Trojan football.
“It’s not a good way to end the season,” the Fox Sports analyst said. “It is what it is at this point. Big offseason.”
Su’a Cravens, a star USC safety/linebacker from 2013-15, also pointed out that next year will be make-or-break for the Riley-coached Trojans.
“Another year passes and yet we walk in the same place of above average football!” Cravens wrote on
Cravens, who anchors Rams coverage on ESPN LA, added some constructive advice in a separate, lengthy article.
“Bring more former players into the building and show these guys what it really means to be a Trojan!!!!!” he wrote. “Let practices be open again and allow every media camera to stand on the sidelines and create this Pete Carol [sic] competitive environment! Pressure makes diamonds!!! …
“LET’S ACTUALLY HOLD PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE IN THE MOVIE ROOM AND BENCHES WHEN THEY REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES!!!! Let’s get to the heart of the issues.”
LenDale White, who won two national titles with the Trojans during the Carroll years, offered to be one of those former players to return as coach.
“@uscfb I’m ready to be on staff, it’s time,” the former running back wrote on X. “What are we going to do???”
White also weighed in on the Trojans’ performance at the Alamo Bowl – writing “Do you ever practice tackling or is it always about offense?” – and having to endure more than two decades without a national title.
“I really don’t even know why I’m angry. I knew better lol. My fault!!!” White wrote. “Maybe one day I’ll get to see them in the playoffs, maybe one day won’t be anytime soon!! and I hope I can eat my words.”
Former USC longsnapper Jake Olson was asked on X for his thoughts on Riley and the Trojans following Tuesday night’s collapse.
“I have made my reflections on [Riley] quite clear during the season. Tonight’s game, while reminiscent of the season, probably isn’t the best measuring stick in all honesty,” Olson wrote. “But it’s clear there are problems, problems that still exist 4 years ago. Simply put, it’s not him.
Olson continued in the comments: “Except I will add this. It’s alarming how helpless Riley looks at times. He has regressed so much, especially in play calling. For 11 million a year, and offense being his ‘forte’, it has become very sad.”
