Riley to Alabama?

Is there a chance Oregon State Beaver's head football coach Mike Riley could be in line for the vacant head coaching position at Alabama?  It would seem to be a perfect fit for  the 53 year old coach of the Beavers.

Although he is from Corvallis, Mike Riley played for Coach "Bear" Bryant from 1970 through 1974.  Riley was a member of the Crimson Tide's 1973 National Championship team, and played a critical role as a defensive back during his career at Alabama.

If you think about it, the move makes sense for many different reasons.  First, it is well known that Alabama likes to hire its own, and in particular likes to hire coaches who played for Coach Bryant.  Riley is both an alumnus of Alabama and played for Coach Bryant.  None of the other candidates names that have surfaced so far have the same ties to Alabama as Riley.

Second, while the other names like Petrino and Spurrier and Rodriguez may have better overall records, what Riley has managed to accomplish at Oregon State is nothing short of a miracle.  Oregon State Football suffered 28 straight losing seasons, and while Riley never had a winning record in his first stint as the Beavers head coach (this is his second time coaching the Beavs....he left in 1998 to coach the San Diego Chargers for three years) Riley recruited the players that led OSU to a winning record in 1999 and an 11-1 record in 2000 - finishing 4th in the national polls and beating Notre Dame 41 - 9 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Since returning to Oregon State, Riley has maintained a new winning tradition in a program that has a reputation for losing, culminating in a 6-3 PAC-10 record in 2006, including beating USC, ranked second in the country.  And don't forget, prior to coaching at Oregon State, Riley was the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League, where Riley won a Grey Cup. 

Riley knows how to run a successful football program.  And put in its proper perspective, Riley's success at Oregon State matches with the success of just about any other coach in the country.  Don't believe me?  Remember, it was Riley's Beavers that came within an extra point of beating a top-ranked LSU team three years ago - in Baton Rouge.

Third, Riley has maintained his contacts in the Southeast.  After being fired from his head coaching position with the San Diego Chargers, Riley served as the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints.  In his second tour of duty with the Beavers, Riley has consistently recruited from both Louisiana and Florida.  He has not lost his contacts with the Southeast even though he is coaching in the Pacific Northwest, which would benefit him if he were at the helm of the Crimson Tide.

Fourth, Riley is a man of character and faith, someone the Tide Faithful could easily get behind.  Prior to his second stint at Oregon State, the Beavers football program was out of control and having a difficult time handling its new found success.  Beaver players were arrested for - among other things - beating up a Marine the night before the soldier was headed to Iraq and another incident in which a player stole a gay sheep from Oregon State's sheep barn.  Since returning to Oregon State, Riley has cleaned up the program considerably, restoring discipline, while maintaining Oregon State's new winning tradition.

Fifth, Riley program produces NFL caliber players.  Right now there are more Beavers playing in the NFL than ever before.  Need some names?  How about Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Steven Jackson, Nick Barnett and the Saints' James Allen.  Last year the Beavers had the best wide receiver in the country - Biletnikoff award winner Mike Hass - as well as the best placekicker in the country - Lou Groza award winner Alexis Serna.

Finally, Riley coaches in a BCS conference, is familiar with the politics of coaching in such a conference, and yet is among the lowest paid coaches at any BCS school.  In short, Riley could probably be had for a song.

The bottom line is this....before the Crimson Tide go looking for a "big name" outside of the Alabama family, I suggest Alabama call on one of its own - a big name in his own right -- to lead the Tide back to the promised land.

Comments

[Pecoman]

I am telling all you Bama fans....Mike Riley is the coach for you

[OSU Beaver]

You realize Mike Riley was born and raised in Corvallis right? Also Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Steven Jackson, and Nick Barnett were all recruited by Dennis Erickson. Of those players, only Steven Jackson played under Riley.

[Pecoman]

Actually, TJ and Barnett were recruited by Riley, but you are right about Chad's johnson.

[je]

The post makes a good case, but really, sounds like a prof. that dislikes sports and wants to see Oregon State go back down to mediocrity. I hope the Beavers will compete to retain coach Riley.

Or

Remembering, Riley's head was approaching the chopping block when the Beavs were 2-3, wants to make sure Beaver's fans are thankful we have Riley and not to take him for granted.

For both sides, it may be premature. Coaches are only as good as their last victories, and this one has two more opportunities to make this a memorable season, not just a memorable game (USC).

[KS]

Alabama may not be a good place - Consider what happened to Mike Price, when he was given that job a few years ago - bad karma ! Hopefully, Riley will stay and let someone else take over at Alabama. In the long run, it will probably be best for him.

[J Hoffa]

All the big name non-Alabama alumnus coaches have already distanced themselves from this job. Petrino, Spurrier, Leavitt, Saban and so on have all declined.

While I cannot speak to Spurrier, Saban or Leavitt, I can almost guarantee that Petrino is not interested. His situation is even better than Pat Hill's at Fresno State. Job security and personal/family reasons being the main factors in his staying at Louisville.

As for Karma, Riley unlike Price is not likely to frequent strip clubs or go out carousing w/ coeds.

It will all depend on if Riley is willing to be micromanaged to an even greater extent than Bellotti/Moos are/were at Oregon. Football in the SEC is a whole different breed of cat than Pac-10 football and while the Civil War is a big deal here, it lacks the same degree of carry over into society and even more so politics that the Iron Bowl does in Alabama.

The big knock on Riley might be his ability to recruit. UO gives him almost no competition here in Oregon. The Duck v. Trojan game earlier this season was almost a homecoming game for about 50% or Oregon's traveling squad. That would change at Alabama and also w/in all the other states where SEC schools recruit.

It would be great if Riley stayed and there are many reasons for that scenario to likely play out. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes being the Native Son and all that to an even greater degree than Shula ever was.

[Mike Hunt]

It's doubtful MAL(content) Moore will allow for true consideration of the Ducks coach, as Mr. Moore was the offensive coordinator at Alabama during Mr. Riley's footballin' days at Bama. Mr. Moore sought out Riley as an offensive recruit, Mr. Riley wanted to play defense and did, per coach Bryant's permission.
MAl ain't forgot that and he damn sure ain't forgot about what happened 4 years ago either when Mr. Riley was offered the job.
As an Alabama alumnus, I hate to burst a lot of bubbles out there, but we know the Bear is dead, and has been dead for 2 decades now, so let's drop all of the "the Bear is dead" crap and move on.
Elvis is dead too, but there's still rock n roll to this day (and the bear didn't die on the crapper either). Petrino is the guy, end of story.

[Fantasy Football Nerd]

Mike Hunt-

Dude, you are sooooo wrong. The Bear is alive in us all.

And Mike Riley will soon be your coach.

Now go back to your wife/sister, she is probably done cleaning the trailer now.

[Brandon]

Oregon State has a football team? That's really cool guys. Congratulations, you must be so proud.

[Russ]

Fellas... maybe you guys never heard but the Alabama job was offered to Riley before it was offered to Mike Price, Riley agreed in principle but after consulting his wife he decided not to go to Bama, Alabama athletics director, Mal Moore was on his way to telling teh Alabama players that Mike Riley was going to be there coach when Riley called and turned him down.... evidently Mrs. Riley wears teh pants in that relationship

[Ronald E. Patterson]

For Pete's sake... just promote Coach Kines to head coach, get a new Offensive cordinator if Rader does not prove himself as a good cordinator. It is that simple! BAMA is a defensive team!!!!!
ROLL TIDE