Jalen Hurts could be next for the Sooners. They clearly remained friends throughout the years. Later, when his younger brother, Garrett, quarterbacked the team, Wood consulted with Lincoln about their offense. Still, they somehow became aware of each other at basketball games while playing for rival high schools. 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. Lincoln is also well-known for being the Oklahoma Sooners' head football coach. (An even smaller coincidence my step dad and Riley are apparently distant, distant cousins). Makes a lot of people feel good., Wood -- who also coached Lincoln's brother, Garrett, when the Mules won the 2008 Class 2A Division I state championship with the younger Riley quarterbacking -- said he was surprised that Stoops stepped down, but didn't surprise me (OU) named Lincoln the head coach. Each of the thousands of bales waiting to be loaded and shipped off weighs up to 500 pounds. All rights reserved. Going [to USC], hes obviously ready for that challenge. In 1999, with Riley as a sophomore lineman, Wood began tinkering with a shotgun offense that called for more passing and demanded a quick-thinking triggerman. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley, center, talks with quarterback Caleb Williams (13) and quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) before a game against Iowa State on Nov. 20. Small town, feels like he's their own. All rights reserved. For many coaches, its difficult to turn the football mind off. Junior High Coordinator Ross Johnson. When Lincoln attended Texas Tech, about 70 miles northwest of their home, the Rileys cheered for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech Spring Game moved to Lowrey Field, Lubbock native serves aboard U.S. Navy floating airport, Bo Bryant is Littlefields Head Football Coach/AD, Meadow looking for a new head football coach, AD. "It's quite an accolade to say I was able to be a part of his life," Wood said. Now that Riley is a head coach, it probably is harder. 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. Riley is already having huge success recruiting Southern California. MULESHOE The Muleshoe football team found itself trailing the visiting Brownfield Cubs 23-12 with 22 seconds remaining in the first half when Mules coach Jason Richards thought about taking a . All rights reserved. Mike and Marilyn returned home from Austin soon after graduation and eventually took over family-owned cotton warehouses in neighboring Sudan. Hes the person who has a spare second for those wanting to talk to him during visits home. No matter what he decided to go into, whether it was coaching or science or math, whatever he wanted to do, I knew he'd be going somewhere and it would be pretty special. After two seasons as the Head Football Coach/Athletic Director at Muleshoe High School, Lee Walker has been reassigned. Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Jason Richards. Riley's wife Caitlin is also pure West Texas, even if she's not from Muleshoe. There was some nervous energy, Riley says. 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. Oklahomas issue during those seasons was its porous defense, but, during the last two years, its offense sputtered (at least living up to its ridiculous standards), as Riley struggled to work his magic on five-star quarterback prospects Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams Jr. Look, when 10-2 is your down year, youre doing pretty well. Has to have shaped him a little bit.. But Riley is still so young in the profession, and the longer he stayed in Norman, the more he risked the fan bases appreciation of him running dry. Mike Riley, Lincolns father, was a Mules quarterback through some of those down years. Mike Riley, Lincoln's father and a lifelong Muleshoe resident, said he didn't even know his son was interested in coaching until his senior year of high school. 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. Riley played briefly for Texas Tech, but spent more time there coaching than playing. Clovis was district and state champion in 2001. Rileys coaching success has been anchored by a spread-it-out, fast-paced attack. Rileys work ethic and confident mindset were instilled by his parents. Of course, some weeks are slower than others in this farming town of 5,000, located 70 flat, High Plains miles northwest of Lubbock. He could think on the field unlike anybody else. Hes a great, great dad, Caitlin Riley said. The crowd roared. He took the whip smart but physically limited quarterback aside and asked him to be a student assistant coach. Muleshoe coach Jason Richards discusses the touchdown run that sparked comeback. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Today, he contends that their prank, now a part of town lore, was delayed payback for Friona painting the previous seasons score all over Muleshoes own weight room. ", Riley was named the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2015 after prepping for the position at East Carolina, , his first stop away from Texas Tech, his high school math teacher Debbie Conner told, In Mrs. Conner's honors math class, Riley, routinely dissected problems using shortcuts she never considered and. "We were Tech fans here because it's close," Todd, the undertaker, announced. People know each other. Riley isn't coaching at the nearby college -- Texas Tech -- long-favored by most of his hometown folks, is an inconvenient truth. David Wood was Riley's high school football coach. (Reyes) is a stud. ", Three Oklahoma stars to keep an eye on in 2017 season, Watch for these three Oklahoma players to have breakout seasons in 2017. 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. The Sooners lost their CFP semifinal to Georgia, 54-48 in double overtime at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, but Riley had led them to a 12-2 record 8-1 against Big 12 teams in just his first season as Stoops' replacement. For years, Magann's favorite Muletrain story focused on a local who grew tulip bulbs in a cotton field and shipped them to the Netherlands. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft during back-to-back seasons. CALL. The first quarterback Riley ever coached was none other than USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Davis will be Muleshoe's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after previously being at Texico (New Mexico) High School. "Last year's team had a lot of success and that was great. He holds a masters of administration in education from Sam Houston State University, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in physical education from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, where he was quarterback for the football team. The whole town packed into the high school gym that day, glowing as Riley spoke. I havent been following them as much since the boys got bigger and went to different schools. With him, that hasnt been forgotten.. I told him youd better get in shape because youre probably not going to get a down off, Richards said. Ask anyone in Muleshoe about Lincoln, whose first name is enough around these parts, and they swell with pride. Over time, some of the Riley stories from those days have come to drift into tall tales, depending on whos telling them. Wood began with a program that fielded 22 players in a school of about 450 students. Evaluate Brennen Davis's football recruiting profile. He'd dissect defenses really quickly. In Muleshoe, no one needs any convincing. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. Under Walkers leadership, the Mules went 1-19 over the two seasons. Watch film with intensity, remember so much about the film, most kids would not remember. Herald-Times. Harrell told The Times, Really Lincoln was the first person that taught me Mike Leachs offense. He always has. What had been done was history or tradition or how theyd always done it, but it wasnt working. Garrett Riley is taking over the Clemson offense after winning the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant this past season. Everybody is so supportive. I knew he was headed somewhere, said Wood. Its something that hes excited about. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley already has made inroads in Southern California football recruiting, which should help him bolster USCs talent pool. A few years later, Leach offered Riley a full-time job as a wide receivers coach. When Riley was a freshman, the Mules won 10, including a playoff game. Sure, maybe they wouldnt have chosen California as their favorite sons next step. Muleshoe always supports their own.. Just do what got you here, Riley said. If you did they all hail from the Southland then Lincoln Riley probably did, too (and that list doesnt even include Mississippis Matt Corral, who is a possible Heisman Trophy finalist along with Alabamas Bryce Young and Ohio States CJ Stroud.). Still, Lincoln Riley grew up loving the Mules and football, in general. 1. When OU was searching for a new offensive coordinator in 2015, Stoops called McNeill for permission to speak to Riley. Wood said he envisioned his quarterback working someday for NASA. Last year, Muleshoe named its football field after the longtime coach. 3 games every Oklahoma fan should circle on the calendar; full season predictions for 2017. David Wood was Rileys high school football coach. As noted in a 2019 Times profile of Riley, Like most boys in West Texas, Riley grew up wanting to be the QB1, not coach him. Los Angeles, on the other hand that felt like a world apart from Muleshoe. 877-845-6272. He inspired the whole town, Wood said. Success on the intramural field, spurred him to attempt to walk on to the Tech team in the spring of his freshman season. Did Riley envision himself as a future coach? a job as an assistant coach who worked with receivers. Not that the folks of Muleshoe don't respect Saban and what he's done for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Im fired up. Davis will be Muleshoes defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after previously being at Texico (New Mexico) High School. Hal Mumme was the head coach at McMurry University in Abilene, which is about three hours from Muleshoe. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. His family has always been a great part of the community.. Muleshoe Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 36 players) Head Coach: Reyes, Nic ( Sr.) Martens, Nathan ( So.) USC coach Lincoln Riley remains a celebrated figure in the Muleshoe High football program. Donnie always made sure to see them a couple of times a year, said Big 12 associate commissioner John Underwood, a close friend of Duncans. "Each year presents new challenges, but there are parts of the job and all the things that come with it that I'm a little more settled in with for sure.". Which brings us to our next topic . Questions? That number barely fields a varsity team. ", And so, Wood said, he hitched his career to, "Lincoln helped me get established and stay here," Wood said as he prepared for his 22nd season at the school. Pride Football camp starts Monday morning. But its what hes always wanted and anticipated. Life is too short, so dont be afraid to go for it.. It's pretty much the talk of the town.. 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