Governor of Oklahoma takes shot at Lincoln Riley, USC

It’s evident Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is bitter regarding Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC. In his State of the State address, Stitt took a shot at Riley bolting for the Trojans.

“Can you imagine leaving a place like Norman, Oklahoma for a place like Southern California?” stated Stitt, per Reese Gorman of the Norman Transcript.

Many might agree with Riley’s preference of Southern California over Norman, but Stitt isn’t one of those people. While the Governor of Oklahoma appreciates the job Riley did over the last couple seasons, seeing him bolt for USC is something the state will hold against him.

At the least, Stitt can take pride in Brent Venables returning to Norman to lead the program he has so much respect for. With Venables at the helm and plenty of talent on the Sooners, the program is in good hands regardless.

More on Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans

Furthermore, Lincoln Riley didn’t leave Oklahoma alone. After a saga that included immense speculation, former Sooners star quarterback Caleb Williams followed the coach.

There was no love for Riley’s decision to leave Oklahoma, but Sooners faithful won’t take kindly to him taking their quarterback with him. Just as fans were getting over the sting of the coach’s abrupt departure, Williams made the decision to follow him.

Continuing, Governor Stitt isn’t the only popular Oklahoman who questioned the way Riley left. In his National Signing Day press conference last week, Venables may have taken a cryptic shot at his predecessor.

“I was at Clemson for 10 years, and I wanted to make sure I left it better than when I got there. Sometimes it doesn’t serve you well, selfishly speaking. But you don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” Venables said.

Of course, Riley left Oklahoma in rather abrupt fashion, and fans were quick to draw a link in his quote; perhaps Venables was throwing shade at Riley for his sudden dismissal.

Nevertheless, Sooners faithful is happy to have a coach who’s dream job it is to coach Oklahoma. Whether the majority believes Southern California or Norman, Oklahoma is better makes no difference — Brent Venables wants to be the next great Sooners coach.