Lincoln Riley explains why accountability has to be pillar of USC

Spring camp for the USC Trojans can be summed up by one word: accountability. From the weight room to the classroom, head coach Lincoln Riley expects the same type of commitment off the field as his players have on it. Helping those falling behind, determination and repetition are all aspects of accountability that Riley wants his athletes to adopt as the spring bleeds into summer workouts.

“I think the simplest way to put it is we just believe in championship teams and playing football championship level of ball involves involves being at that level and every single thing that you do,” Riley said. “You can’t pick and choose like as a player as a coach like which things you think matter because in reality, they all matter. I mean, this game’s so competitive, the margins are that thin and so we just we approach everything the same.”

That’s why Riley brought in players like star quarterback Caleb Williams and five-star plus recruit Domani Jackson out of Mater Dei — who are blue chip prospects that fit the bill Riley mapped out when he was hired at USC.

Whether Riley’s players are coming into the program from elsewhere, or those that were on the roster in 2021, everyone is on an even playing field when it comes to being held accountable and fit the standard the first year Trojan head coach expects.

“You’re either performing at the standard that we expect, which is a championship level standard, or you’re not and if you’re not — it doesn’t matter who it is .. we don’t really care,” Riley said. “I mean, we’re all accountable to it. We’re all held to the same standard and expected to perform at that level, and that’s our job, and that’s the player’s job.”

Riley isn’t interested in excuses out of his players and staff, and has been relentless to hammer that into his players since day one of spring ball. The little things matter and that’s what is going to lead the Trojans to where Riley envisions sooner rather than later.

“We don’t really place value on things,” Riley said. “They’re all valuable. If we asked you to do it, it’s valuable. We don’t ask you to do it, we’re not gonna work on it. But if we asked you to do it — player, staff member, anybody — we’re all held to the same standard and there’s no, there’s no leeway.”