Bob Stoops: Oklahoma players were 'blindsided' by Lincoln Riley news

Bob Stoops was clearly the right choice to fill-in as interim head coach as the Oklahoma Sooners continue to try to quickly move forward after learning the shocking news that Lincoln Riley was departing for USC.

Stoops held a press conference alongside OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione on Monday and provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the scene that unfolded when Riley briefly met with his Sooners’ team, informing them he would be leaving.

“They were of course blindsided,” Stoops said during a press conference on Monday. “So, they were in shock yesterday, definitely.”

The longtime Sooners’ coaching legend then shared a few moments from Riley’s final address, while adding his message to the team and how they can shift their mindset moving forward.

“I was in the meeting,” Bob Stoops added.

“They were very respectful of Coach Riley as he addressed them. Some even clapped for him as he left, but they were in shock. But then after Joe addressed them, then I had the opportunity to address them, again to understand, they are OU football.

“This one guy didn’t all of a sudden create OU football. I referenced when I stepped away five years ago, a lot of them weren’t in there, some were, but when I stepped away it was like we were at a funeral. It was like ‘guys this is my choice. It’s okay, you guys are what wins. I haven’t made a play in how long? And they all started laughing and gave me a standing ovation.'”

Bob Stoops gives hope to Sooners’ players, based on experience

After sharing with the team about the depressing scene when he left, Bob Stoops reminded the current Oklahoma squad that the program is about them, not Riley, himself or even the next head coach that is hired:

“I said it’s the same thing when Lincoln leaves. I told them you are the ones who are going to make all the plays, or not make the plays. You guys win and lose, you’re OU football. He isn’t. I’m not. Any other coach that comes here isn’t. OU football has been here a long time and it isn’t going anywhere else. It’s going to be here, and it’s been at the top of college football and it’s going to continue that way.”

While it’s unclear how much influence Stoops will have in his interim position, he’s clearly a legend at the university and potentially the only figure who could help bridge the gap with the coaching search underway. Inevitably, there will be decommits and players entering the transfer portal, but when the dust settles, Bob Stoops clearly believes the Oklahoma Sooners will continue to ascend, win and continue their tradition as one of the top college football programs in the nation.