Chatter From the Other Sideline: USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley

It’s a longstanding college football tradition for head coaches across the country to meet with the media early each week, reflecting on the previous game while also looking ahead to their next challenge. These press conferences often provide valuable insight into a team’s mindset, key storylines, and how coaches are preparing for the road ahead. While fans are usually familiar with the comments coming out of their own program’s headquarters, they don’t always get a chance to hear what opposing coaches are saying about their team.

With Indiana set to play USC this Saturday, let’s take a look at some of the comments the Trojans’ head coach Lincoln Riley made during his Tuesday press conference when discussing the Hoosiers and the matchup ahead.

Q: What stands out about Indiana’s defense? Seems like a strong group that is good in all facets…

“They are. No, they’ve done an outstanding job. I mean, they’re, you know, one, a lot of experience. A lot of continuity obviously within the coaching staff. There’s a lot of continuity in terms of guys that have been in that system for multiple years. And they do a nice job. I mean, they really do. It’ll be one of the deepest fronts that we’ve played in terms of number of guys that they have that can contribute and that are proven players at this level. They’ve got a full two deep and then some that they comfortably rotate. And then I think they just play very connected in the backend between the backers, between the secondary. They’ve been tough to run the football on. They do a really nice job mixing up their coverages. So, it’s a good group, it’s an experienced group. You can tell they’ve played a lot of ball together. And certainly they’re a group that makes you earn everything, in terms of what we see on tape going into this one.”

Q: First time facing off against Curt Cignetti, do you guys have any sort of relationship off the field?

“You know, we sit next to each other in Big Ten meetings and just sit there and make comments back and forth to each other the whole time. So yeah, he’s been a fun guy to interact with. I had not met him before that, I was aware of him, but that was the first time I had met him, was those initial Big Ten meetings. But no, seems like a fantastic guy. We’ve had fun together there in the meetings and obviously a coach that I respect a lot. Not just the job he’s done at Indiana. I mean, people that follow football know what he’s done, especially there in a part of the world that I was in for a while. So, very aware of those programs and the quality of coach that he is. So, a ton of respect for him and what they’re doing right now.”