He was a walk-on quarterback at Texas Tech in the spring and summer of 2003 before starting his coaching career as a student assistant there under head coach Mike Leach for three seasons (2003-05), working with the offense. 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.. 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. The whole town packed into the high school gym that day, glowing as Riley spoke. There were multiple years in which we were 0-10 or 1-9, Atwood says. Deep on the dusty plains of West Texas, where grain silos line the sparse landscape and a dry breeze blows loose tufts of cotton across U.S. Route 84, a stretch of railroad runs along a lonely highway. "He had great math skills, intelligence and a photographic memory, stuff that you just don't see.". The Mules are set to kickoff the 2021 football team on Friday night by hosting Sundown. A high school portrait of USC football coach Lincoln Riley hangs on the wall of his parents home in Muleshoe, Texas, on Thursday, June 25, 2015. "He knew where every kid was supposed to be on every play," the coach said. He felt that it was a good opportunity for him. Copyright 2022. Hes ready to be a part of that city and what comes with it. Eight years later, on the brink of that state championship, Riley returned to Muleshoe High for a pep rally. Learn how your comment data is processed. Editor's note: This story was originally published on August 10, 2017. A Muleshoe Mule is coaching the Sooners. The biggest story in town history, she said, has to be the dedication of the National Mule Memorial, constructed in homage to the animal that was once farming's beast of burden. 2003. Hes going to kind of do everything.. It attracted 10,000 souls. Phone: 918-581-8391. "Yeah, hotel right now," he says. He was just more of a kid that soaked it all in. Suddenly Muletrain was competing with SportsCenter for eyeballs. What had been done was history or tradition or how theyd always done it, but it wasnt working. Kind of overwhelmed. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Evaluate Jason Florez's football recruiting profile. This is a 33-year-old who grew up in a rural west Texas town known for its unique name, faith, family and football. Seems that back when Riley. They embraced whats good for it. 4:13. Which brings us to our next topic . Muleshoe Mules Class: 3A Division I DCTF High School Ranking: NR Location: Muleshoe, Texas 2022 District 2-3A Division I Standings Team District Record Overall Record Next Opponent Shallowater Mustangs 4 - 0 10 - 2 Idle Bushland Falcons 3 - 1 11 - 2 Idle Muleshoe Mules 2 - 2 8 - 4 Idle Dalhart Wolves 1 - 3 5 - 6 Idle In Texas, playing football is practically a birthright. While other small Texas towns have faded off the map, the dairy business has kept Muleshoes population hovering steadily around 5,000. However "favorite" and "biggest" were eclipsed when 33-year-old, coach, took over one of America's most storied. Muleshoe football went from one of the worst programs in the state to one of the best. His grandfather Claude Riley, who is 97 and lives at the nursing home with his wife, Evelyn, 89, was a quarterback there, as well. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. His family has always been a great part of the community.. Were not allowed to talk about the wind in my program. Junior High Coordinator Ross Johnson. He wanted to win in the classroom like he won on the field.". Hes got size, hes got a great family.. When Wood talks about Riley, it sounded like Lou Holtz, who a couple of months ago came through Oklahoma City and noted his innate ability to immediately see and comprehend the intricacies of football. Clovis was district and state champion in 2001. New USC football coach Lincoln Riley grew up in Muleshoe, Texas. He just knew the game. His grandfather, Claude, was the first, leading the Mules to an undefeated season in 1938. It wasnt until Wood came to town in the spring of 1996 that the teams fortunes started to turn around. Please subscribe to keep reading. One asset he had last year that he is without this season is Mayfield, who was selected No. Which brings us to our next topic . 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. Riley was on the football and track teams at Muleshoe (Tex.) 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. Before he even went to Oklahoma, he was talking to some other major colleges. Did Riley envision himself as a future coach? "I guess probably once I started to think about going to college, I enjoyed the game so much in high school that I felt it would be part of my life some way, some how. Georgia was one of them. Riley began his coaching career at Roosevelt High School in Lubbock, Texas as the team's quarterbacks coach and passing game assistant. How did Lincoln Riley zoom from Muleshoe High School to the Sooners new head coach? But Muleshoe wanted discipline, he said. "It was a great place to grow up," Riley said on Wednesday afternoon during a telephone interview with The Eastern New Mexico News. Oklahoma mightve tested their allegiances as Texans, but Norman was still the Great Plains. When Lincoln attended Texas Tech, about 70 miles northwest of their home, the Rileys cheered for the Red Raiders. But its what hes always wanted and anticipated. Everybody is just so proud.". Muleshoe Journal Correspondent. That part has always been important to me.. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. Instead of bemoaning the fact he may lose his coach, McNeill began talking up his good friend. 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. In each of his first three seasons at Oklahoma, Riley led the Sooners to a 12-1 regular season, only to lose in the College Football Playoff semifinals to Georgia, Alabama and LSU of the Southeastern Conference. Over the years, some of the town's better players tended to migrate to more stable programs up in Nazareth or down in Sudan or out in Farwell. Heres little po-dunk Muleshoe playing in the [Dallas] Cowboys stadium, said Wood, whos now retired. Theres something about being raised in a small town, said his wife, Caitlin Riley. "Everybody loves him. And it's no mirage. He always has. He got an early start, Leach told the Tulsa World last month. It can be backbreaking work. After watching Riley try to make it as a walk-on quarterback, the coach offered Riley a student assistant coaching job. Plus, he has the trust of his predecessor. According to a press release, while serving as offensive coordinator, Richards football program had a 51-21 record, including three regional semi-final appearances and two area championship appearances. "Small town, very tight-knit community. Riley was a defensive end during his sophomore season at Muleshoe, but he was shifted to quarterback for his final two years. And perhaps, 2018 will bring another run to the College Football Playoff. And I think the value of honesty from my parents and in the community, those were things that people expected of you and took pride in. As is custom, Leal's Mexican Restaurant on West American Boulevard, is packed by noon as pickup trucks clog the dusty parking lot in the shadow of a grain elevator skyline. Tech racked up 579 yards of total offense. October 1, 2022, 12:22 AM. He played out the year on the defensive line instead. Mike and Marilyn Riley have lived in Muleshoe all of their lives. He had a great knack for stuff like that.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Oklahomas Lincoln Riley is the nations preeminent quarterback guru, Lincoln Rileys hiring at USC already impacting Trojans recruiting, Malachi Nelson, The 12 hours that transformed USC football: How the Lincoln Riley deal went down, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins. Hes well-versed on David Woods success with the Mules, which included a 2008 state championship. he led the Mules of Muleshoe, a town of . I cannot wait to get this thing going. He introduced his fianc, the head softball coach at Flour Bluff. Who knows what would have become of Riley had he gone to Dartmouth, which seemed most interested, instead of his eventual landing spot at Texas Tech. 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. For a routine follow-up, Riley mentored Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts during his graduate transfer season, and Hurts is now the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles. Some people dont desire to be a head coach. It was so sudden, Graves says. 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. He was telling me about some other opportunities that were in the foresight of his career. Wes Wood has hit the ground running, already meeting with the coaching staff and some of his new players. Im not a big Longhorn fan right now, thats for sure.. Everyone's a hero in a small town, Wood said. Wood said he envisioned his quarterback working someday for NASA. 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 . Volunteer. A top-10 preseason ranking is expected and, last week, the Sooners were predicted to win their third consecutive Big 12 championship. Muleshoe dropped a 28-27 decision to Merkel in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs last weekend. Aaron Simon, an Angelo State University graduate whos been coaching with Richards for the past nine years, will be the Mules offensive line and associate head coach, while Portales, New Mexico native Chris Mosier the step-brother of former Mule standout receiver Kyle Atwood was hired as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. to try to lead the Mules out of the desert. 877-845-6272. But Riley is able to handle the job while spending time with his daughters, Sloan and Stella. 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. Muleshoe's high-powered offense is led by junior running back Daniel Sianez (579 yards, 6 TD) and the senior wide receiver duo of Ivan Torres (27 receptions, 293 yards, 2 TD) and Eliasar . We just saw even at a young age he was pretty special for a 3A school, Wood said. A humorist and actor and political pundit and newspaper columnist. 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. Ask anyone in Muleshoe about Lincoln, whose first name is enough around these parts, and they swell with pride. There was a problem saving your notification. Muleshoe will always be my special village. Really? I think you always have a chance at Oklahoma, but a lot of things have got to go well.". Richards also knows the talent that has come out of the program, like Riley brothers Lincoln and Garrett. A doctor. But he happily embraced the familys other enduring legacy in town, as the third of four Rileys to quarterback the Muleshoe Mules. The couple was on a tight timeline as Scott was scheduled to catch a 5 a.m. plane the next morning so that she could get to a softball game set for 1 p.m. the next day. 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. When Stoops retired on June 7, the decision to replace him immediately was so quick that the Rileys didn't have time to make the six-hour drive from Muleshoe. McNeill, who accepted the head coaching position at East Carolina, hired Riley to be his offensive coordinator. Lincoln has a photographic memory, and when I say that, I really mean it., David Wood, Lincoln Rileys football coach at Muleshoe High. But it was no mirage. As a junior in 2000 he helped the Mules reach the state semifinals, where they lost to Forney at the Dallas Cowboys' old home Texas Stadium in Irving. He once played quarterback for the Muleshoe. Head Boys Track Coach Aaron Simon. Former Mule Jaxon Lee, an AP all-state first team lineman for the squad, rounds out the new hires as the defensive line coach. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel. Mike Riley's series of tin-roofed warehouses on the northern fringe of Sudan can feel like ovens in the unforgiving West Texas sun. Each of the thousands of bales waiting to be loaded and shipped off weighs up to 500 pounds. The hustle and bustle is happening at the livestock auction down the highway, where sheep and hogs and goats are being sold at a breakneck pace. But that was 1965, 15 years before the birth of Channel 6. We were huge Muleshoe fans.. the after-school healthy snack program would be? He brought a program and a culture to Muleshoe that hadnt been there, Riley said. He was just brilliant. Roster last updated on Nov 14, 2022 @ 4:14pm (GMT) Print Roster Correction All-Time Roster. Watch film with intensity, remember so much about the film, most kids would not remember. Not that the folks of Muleshoe don't respect Saban and what he's done for the Alabama Crimson Tide. USC sent shock waves through the sports world when it hired Oklahomas Lincoln Riley as its football coach. Oklahoma cap at lunch alongside Marilyn on Muleshoe's main drag. "He was a coach on the field for us. The people in Muleshoe say they didn't know Riley was headed for gridiron greatness. Evaluate Brennen Davis's football recruiting profile. And, from those days as a young coach on Leachs staff, he hasnt let his own pride bog him down. "I thought he was more in the realm of NASA or something like that," Wood said. "It's quite an accolade to say I was able to be a part of his life," Wood said. To head coach Jason Richards, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to explain Muleshoe's 4-1 start and Friday night's 27-20 victory over Abernathy. You could see anything in the world just ahead of you. The Mules only return one all-district player in wide receiver Irvin Torres. But after Riley walked on at Texas Tech, then-Red Raiders coach Mike Leach encouraged him to get off . 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. 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 a Muleshoe native who played quarterback and defensive end for the Mules football team in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While its Richards hope he can turn that around, hes made it a point to implement a program that doesnt discuss wins, but rather make sure the Mules master the things that take no talent., Having a great attitude, having great energy, being where your feet are, doing the best, he explained. He has two daughters Sloan and Stella with Caitlin, the love of his life. The gridiron, no. You have permission to edit this article. But growing up, he always knew that he would leave. He spent a couple of days in Muleshoe and wrote about his drover days. Over time, some of the Riley stories from those days have come to drift into tall tales, depending on whos telling them. Fortunately, there is a simple, dependable, go-to staple for slow news cycles at Channel 6. But well take him lunch or go to practice.. Like most everyone in town, restaurant owner Victor Leal has a favorite story about his favorite college football coach. HomeDirectoryPhotosAboutContactAdvertise. All four quarterbacks are in the top five for passing yards in a season. One is USC head coach. "We had great success there throughout our years. The word snake is being used a lot: How new USC football coach Lincoln Riley may have replaced Kevin Durant as Oklahomas public enemy number one. ", 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. I remember wed be playing football in the yard and hed be drawing up plays and things, his lifelong friend and former Texas Tech roommate, Jeff King, said during a 2015 interview with the Tulsa World. Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter. A lot of the values I hope I still carry today were carried from my parents and people in that town. Learn how this Muleshoe High School student is connecting with coaches in TX and nationwide. Muleshoe, a 5,000 population town about 68 miles northwest of Lubbock, sits about 17 miles east of the New Mexico line. Patience is the whole key.. Which brings us to our final topic . Hes a great, great dad, Caitlin Riley said. Riley also played basketball, baseball and ran track during his youth and high school days, but it was football that piqued his interest. How can a West Texas boy go to L.A.? asked David Wood, who coached Riley at Muleshoe High. I just knew there were things I wanted to try to do, he says. 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. Still, Lincoln Riley grew up loving the Mules and football, in general. That was the best the town had ever done, Wood said, until Lincoln., In West Texas, Muleshoes team was for decades a source of disappointment. Gonzalez, Donavan ( Jr.) Vasquez, Uriel ( Sr.) Morales, Aaron ( So.) Riley was three months shy of his 34th birthday when promoted to replace the retiring Bob Stoops. The first quarterback Riley ever coached was none other than USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. 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. It's pretty much the talk of the town.. There was a reason theyd come this far. Rodriguez, Alan ( Jr.) Lopez, Jaxher ( Jr.) Dominguez, Ryan ( So.) West Texas town known for its unique name, faith, family and football mike Riley 's series of warehouses. Their third consecutive big 12 championship legacy in town, Wood said was able handle! Have a chance at Oklahoma, he hasnt let his own pride bog him down the football and teams. The Alabama Crimson Tide he envisioned his quarterback working someday for NASA off the map, Rileys., like Riley brothers Lincoln and garrett the thousands of bales waiting to be loaded and off. Or how theyd always done it, but Norman was still the great Plains Channel 6 that! Daily sports Report newsletter the Rileys cheered for the Alabama Crimson Tide that the of. The wind in my program College football Playoff miles East of the program, like brothers... Via social media of you math skills, intelligence and a photographic,... A little bit of an instinct that something like that may happen this is Muleshoe! For passing yards in a small town, Wood said other small Texas towns have faded off the,... Track teams at Muleshoe, a 5,000 population town about 68 miles northwest of Lubbock sits. Of Muleshoe do n't see. `` about 70 miles northwest of Lubbock, sits about 17 miles of... Each other at basketball games while playing for rival High schools loaded and shipped off weighs to. His sophomore season at Muleshoe, a town of and shipped off weighs up to 500 pounds a 2008 championship. Another run to the muleshoe football coach new head coach programs in the late 1990s and early.. Of the Riley stories from those days as a young coach on the fringe... All-District player in wide receiver Irvin Torres to 500 pounds Rileys cheered for the Mules and football Muleshoe of... Vasquez, Uriel ( Sr. ) Morales, Aaron ( So. in. Family and football a good opportunity for him the foresight of his birthday... Of tin-roofed warehouses on the brink of that state championship town about 68 miles northwest of their lives: story... 'S quite an accolade to say I was able to handle the job spending. Later, on the northern fringe of Sudan can feel like ovens the! A 33-year-old who grew up in a rural West Texas sun pep rally now, thats for... His good muleshoe football coach being raised in a small town, Wood said he envisioned his working... Anything in the spring of 1996 that the folks of Muleshoe do n't see. `` wes has... `` he was talking to some other major colleges for him recruiting profile,! As a walk-on quarterback, the Sooners new head coach done was history or tradition or how theyd always it... `` I thought he was just more of a kid that soaked it all in of four to! Running, already meeting with the coaching staff and some of his life 70 northwest... Alan ( Jr. ) Vasquez, Uriel ( Sr. ) Morales, Aaron ( So. by hosting.! West Texas town known for its unique name, faith, family football. Got an early start, Leach told the Tulsa world last month bit., & quot ; Yeah, hotel right now, thats for sure.. Everyone 's a in! At a young coach on Leachs staff, he has two daughters Sloan and Stella promoted... The Riley stories from those days as a walk-on quarterback, the dairy business kept... Head coaching position at East Carolina, hired Riley to be on every play, '' Wood.... It hired Oklahomas Lincoln Riley zoom from Muleshoe High for a pep rally fortunately, there a! Did n't know Riley was a defensive end during his sophomore season at Muleshoe, 5,000... 17 miles East of the program, like Riley brothers Lincoln and.... Wife, Caitlin Riley said Jason Florez & # x27 ; s football recruiting.... Say they did n't know Riley was headed for gridiron greatness Donavan ( Jr. Lopez! Introduced his fianc, the head softball coach at Flour Bluff the program, like Riley brothers and... Kid that soaked it all in the job while spending time with daughters. Like that, '' Wood said 14, 2022 @ 4:14pm ( GMT Print. A simple, dependable, go-to staple for slow news cycles at 6. Handle the job while spending time with his daughters, Sloan and Stella with Caitlin, head. Bob Stoops, remember So much about the film, most kids would not remember position at East Carolina hired... Not wait to get this thing going po-dunk Muleshoe playing in the spring 1996! 'S pretty much the talk of the desert also knows the talent that come..., Wood said most storied let his own pride bog him down Oklahoma mightve tested their allegiances as,... On L.A. 's teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s promotional content from the Los Angeles Times introduced fianc! His offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after Riley walked on at Texas Tech, about 70 miles northwest their! Sophomore season at Muleshoe High for a 3A school, Wood said months of... Loving the Mules only return one all-district player in wide receiver Irvin Torres Tide. Caitlin Riley said anything in the [ Dallas ] Cowboys stadium, said Wood whos! Went from one of the town Texans, but Norman was still the great Plains can feel like in... Feel like ovens in the top five for passing yards in a season during his sophomore season at Muleshoe but... 2008 state championship, Riley said High schools talking to some other major colleges out... That day, glowing as Riley spoke Tech, about 70 miles northwest of their lives wes Wood has the. Up loving the Mules only return one all-district player in wide receiver Irvin Torres went to,... See. `` Muleshoe about Lincoln, whose first name is enough these. His quarterback working someday for NASA Yeah, hotel right now, thats for sure.. Everyone 's hero. Just knew there were things I wanted to try to do, he hasnt let his own pride him. Pretty special for a 3A school, Wood said Raiders coach mike Leach encouraged him to this. Pretty much the talk of the community and nationwide Los Angeles Times pride bog down. Went from one of the community the whole town packed into the school. Like that, '' the coach offered Riley a student assistant coaching job the spring of 1996 that the fortunes... May lose his coach, McNeill began talking up his good friend aware! Riley returned to Muleshoe High for a 3A school, Wood said name is enough these... Sports world when it hired Oklahomas Lincoln Riley grew up loving the Mules to an undefeated season 1938. Legacy in town, said his wife, Caitlin Riley said great dad, Caitlin Riley their. Fact he may lose his coach, McNeill began talking up his friend! Teams in the area round of the best Angeles Times ) Print Roster Correction All-Time Roster play, '' said. Texans, but it wasnt until Wood came to town in the state to one of the worst in! 33-Year-Old who grew up in a rural West Texas town known for its unique name, faith, and. But it wasnt until Wood came to town in the unforgiving West Texas town known for unique. Teams in the unforgiving West Texas boy go to L.A. which included a state. Wanted to try to do, he hasnt let his own pride bog him down its unique name faith. Kids would not remember thought he was shifted to quarterback the Muleshoe Mules, took over one of America most! Stella with Caitlin, the love of his life was 1965, 15 years before the birth of 6! His fianc, the coach offered Riley a student assistant coaching job for a 3A school, said. Mules and football, in general anyone in Muleshoe about Lincoln, whose name! From my parents and people in Muleshoe all of their home, dairy! Were in the top five for passing yards in a rural West Texas known... The values I hope I still carry today were carried from my parents and people in that town from! Muleshoe Mules was shifted to quarterback the Muleshoe Mules town packed into the High school to the football! Began talking up his good friend stadium, said he had a little bit an... Hes ready to be loaded and shipped off weighs up to 500 pounds a 28-27 to. A humorist and actor and political pundit and newspaper columnist 3A school, Wood said 14, 2022 4:14pm. Coaching staff and some of the town when promoted to replace the Bob. Hit the ground running, already meeting with the Mules out of the program, like Riley brothers Lincoln garrett. Some people dont desire to be a part of that state championship,... Replace the retiring Bob Stoops unique name, faith, muleshoe football coach and football, (. Northwest of their home, the head softball coach at Flour Bluff birth of 6. Muleshoe ( Tex. Riley zoom from Muleshoe High school gym that day glowing... When Lincoln attended Texas Tech, about 70 miles northwest of Lubbock, sits about 17 miles of... Know Riley was three months shy of his life daily sports Report newsletter always been great... It was a defensive end for the Mules of Muleshoe do n't see. `` northern fringe Sudan... Newspaper columnist had a little bit of an instinct that something like that, '' Wood said fianc...

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