Sad Oklahoma fan goes viral for Lincoln Riley shirt as Sooners get blasted by Texas
In the offseason, The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel left Oklahoma off his own way-too-early Top 25 and Sooner fans lost their collective minds. It was a meaningless piece of content in the grand scheme of things; just something to keep the college football content flowing in the offseason. But it was viewed as a massive slight by a Sooner fanbase that had convinced itself it was better off with Brent Venables than with Lincoln Riley.
Oklahoma fans spent most of the offseason in the mentions of any and all USC-related social media accounts cracking jokes at the expense of Riley and yelling into the void that OU was in a better spot.
Well, at the end of the third quarter on Saturday, in the team’s biggest game of the season, Oklahoma was in the worst of spots. It trailed hated rival Texas 42-0. The Sooners got the doors blown off for their third straight loss to begin Big 12 play. Message boards in Oklahoma were calling for the heads of every coach on staff.
And the ABC camera crew found one Oklahoma fan in particular in the crowd wearing a hoodie with Riley’s face on it above the word “traitor.”
As you can expect, the internet had fun with that one.
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1578816469772939270?s=20&t=uR95Cu-SqBrYbPdk7vdz4Q
haven't heard much lately out of the "we're better off without Lincoln Riley" crowd
— Sport Large (@sport_at_large) October 8, 2022
That’s all they have now 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Rob Thomas (@RobT725) October 8, 2022
A number of folks in the college football media space — and even former Texas star Kevin Durant — were in awe of Oklahoma throughout the game, confused as to how poorly coached the team has looked in recent weeks.
Oklahoma had allowed 49 points only 14 times in its 114-year history coming into this season. The Sooners have allowed 49 points twice in the last seven days.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) October 8, 2022
This is the worst game I've see Oklahoma play in at least seven days.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 8, 2022
I've watched sports long enough to know when a team looks poorly coached.
For the last three weeks, Oklahoma has been on its heels, confused and disorganized.
This isn't about the last coach or how much talent was left behind.
Oklahoma just isn't well-coached right now.
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) October 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/jasonkersey/status/1578791779864023041?s=20&t=uR95Cu-SqBrYbPdk7vdz4Q
Texas just shutout Oklahoma in the 1st-half for the first time since 1984.
— Alex Loeb (@SpanningTheLoeb) October 8, 2022
Ayo somebody tell Brent Venables to pass the joystick….this ain’t it
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 8, 2022
And, of course, Riley came out looking pretty good.
Lincoln Riley watching the Red River Shootout pic.twitter.com/uVnTSSMVXA
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 8, 2022
#Sooners fans who say the program is better off without Lincoln Riley will tell you they are speaking on a long-term basis.
Even if you believe that's the case, I don't know what timeline exists where you can consider this remotely acceptable at any level.
— Dean Straka (@DWStraka49) October 8, 2022
The real winner of the Texas and Oklahoma game is one man and one man only…
Lincoln Riley
— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) October 8, 2022
Imagine thinking, in the era of offensive football, Brent Venables was an upgrade over @LincolnRiley. Sooner fans truly believed it.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) October 8, 2022
Lincoln Riley dumped that Sooner stock at the perfect time. Like a senator with inside info.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) October 8, 2022