USC fans deserve better than what Lincoln Riley gives them | Opinion

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As we have written about, USC’s loss to Oregon on Saturday was far more than just a loss. It was a test that Lincoln Riley and the Trojans simply had to pass, and instead, they failed.

Simply put, it was yet another punch to the gut of USC fans. The same fan base that launched celebrations when Riley was hired back in 2021 is, five years later, still waiting for him to deliver the results that they were promised.

USC fans have drawn criticism for their attendance plenty of times. But the Coliseum was absolutely packed on Saturday. The Trojan Family filled the stadium to the brim, optimistic that this would be the night things finally turned around for the program.

Personally, I was not around during the Pete Carroll era, but I have attended all but two USC home games since 2019. When Oregon held the ball in the fourth quarter Saturday night, it was the loudest that I have ever heard the Coliseum.

And then what happened? The same story that we have seen so many times: An undisciplined USC penalty and a long touchdown pass by Oregon’s backup quarterback silenced the crowd.

USC fans were hopeful this would be the night that the Trojans finally broke through. Instead, we just saw more of the same issues that have plagued this program for far too long.

And, as if all of that were not enough, we have watched the program get embarrassed off of the field. From the celebration following Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s injury, to the smack talk that USC’s players were unable to back up, to the corny giant juice boxes on the sideline, Riley and the Trojans have been a laughingstock of national media and fans over the past few days.

For well over a century, the Trojans football program has served as a representation of the University of Southern California. USC students, alumni, and fans deserve a program that they can be proud of. Instead, Riley has built one that they have become embarrassed by.

The Trojan Family showed up to the Coliseum on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the football team did not follow suit.

Plain and simple, USC fans deserve better.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC fans deserve better than what Lincoln Riley gives them | Opinion

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