At USC, expectations are already soaring. Oklahoma mightve tested their allegiances as Texans, but Norman was still the Great Plains. Maybe even an astronaut. Stoops said he wouldnt have retired this offseason if not for his confidence in Riley. 1. In a ceremony held Jan. 28 in the Muleshoe High School Library, Jason Richards signed on as the new head football coach/athletic director for the Muleshoe Mules. Questions? He joined The Times after six years with the Southern California News Group. There were multiple years in which we were 0-10 or 1-9, Atwood says. A Muleshoe Mule is coaching the Sooners. Wood said he has no plans to coach in the future. Muleshoe, which would become the seat of Bailey County, then was just a few houses, a school and a cemetery. In 1999, with Riley as a sophomore lineman, Wood began tinkering with a shotgun offense that called for more passing and demanded a quick-thinking triggerman. That's part of the challenge you look forward to tackling.". Patience and a well-timed recruiting pitch helped USC lure Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma, sending shockwaves through the college football world. Every time we get steaks and have friends over, they ask, Where did you get these knives? Always my wife will say, The Rileys bought them for us as a wedding gift. He tells me to come and visit him. "He was a coach on the field for us. No matter how savvy the journalist, the decision to eliminate one of the town's two traffic lights has a newsy shelf life. Muleshoe, Texas might see it a little differently. Duncan drew close to Riley and McNeill during the Alamo Bowl and was a mentor to the pair until his death on March 12, 2016. As you might expect, Runnels, who could double as a one-woman Chamber of Commerce, has a special sweet spot for Riley. "He wasn't a blue-chip athlete," Wood said. Soon after, Todd and Starla Ellis, who run the local funeral home, stopped by the Riley's table. But I think its a wonderful move.. He was a young man who could create plays, said Black, the longtime mayor. First-year coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Baker Mayfield took center stage Monday, as Oklahoma had its turn at Big 12 Media Days in Frisc. Will Oklahoma fare better or worse in 2017 season? He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. What had been done was history or tradition or how theyd always done it, but it wasnt working. When he announced it was Oklahoma, I thought, that would be a good place for him to be a head coach, too.'. Mike Riley, Lincolns father, was a Mules quarterback through some of those down years. Richards grew up in Clovis, where he was quarterback/defensive back for the high school from 1999-2001. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. You know everybody. Richards also knows the talent that has come out of the program, like Riley brothers Lincoln and Garrett. , Victor marveled at how much time the older brother spent tutoring elementary school aged Garrett on the football field. How the deluge of 1938 changed Los Angeles and its river, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles. He doubled that win total in his first . Youre going to put me on the spot, Mike Riley said with a laugh when asked about cheering for Texas. I certainly wont be afraid to do it here.. Riley is a quarterback whisperer, and Southern California is a five-star quarterback assembly line. Conventional wisdom would say that you guys have been smallish-town people. 2003. Mike Leach and his Texas Tech Red Raiders were only an hour away, and Lincoln had already traded his helmet for a coaching whistle as a GA by the time Garrett was ready to be the starting quarterback back home. Garrett Riley, Lincolns brother, said he had a little bit of an instinct that something like that may happen. But even he learned his brother took the USC job via social media. The next year, with Mike settling in as quarterback, the Mules won three games. The couple was on a tight timeline as Scott was scheduled to catch a 5 a.m. plane the next morning so that she could get to a softball game set for 1 p.m. the next day. We still attended all the games. Yet, with the aplomb of a seasoned coaching veteran, he guided Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. But when they worked there during high school, the boys learned valuable life lessons such as time management and the importance of every worker in the chain. He wasnt afraid to change things up, to do things different from what had been done there. While its Richards hope he can turn that around, hes made it a point to implement a program that doesnt discuss wins, but rather make sure the Mules master the things that take no talent., Having a great attitude, having great energy, being where your feet are, doing the best, he explained. When Wood talks about Riley, it sounded like Lou Holtz, who a couple of months ago came through Oklahoma City and noted his innate ability to immediately see and comprehend the intricacies of football. New USC football coach Lincoln Riley grew up in Muleshoe, Texas. "Everybody knew everybody. Wes Wood, the coachs son who led the Mules to a state title as quarterback in 2008, said that season cemented Riley as his childhood hero. Lincoln knows exactly what the heck hes doing. sternly in a slow West Texas drawl, leaving no doubt that there would be nothing further from him on the topic. While at Muleshoe High, Riley learned under the tutelage of David Wood, who just retired last month after 23 years coaching the Mules. Kyle Atwood, a close friend and Rileys leading receiver in high school, expects USC flags to be flying in town soon enough. Weve been busy, but weve enjoyed every day., I cover the University of Oklahoma football and mens basketball teams. Even a few weeks ago, he says, if you wouldve told me I was living in L.A., I dont know that I wouldve believed you.. Davis will be Muleshoe's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after previously being at Texico (New Mexico) High School. They celebrated East Carolina University victories when their oldest son spent five seasons as the Pirates offensive coordinator. Muleshoe football went from one of the worst programs in the state to one of the best. Never thought about it growing up, Mike Riley said. But Muleshoe wanted discipline, he said. And perhaps, 2018 will bring another run to the College Football Playoff. HomeDirectoryPhotosAboutContactAdvertise. Former Mule Jaxon Lee, an AP all-state first team lineman for the squad, rounds out the new hires as the defensive line coach. Honest, hard-working people. Muleshoe Mules Class: 3A Division I DCTF High School Ranking: NR Location: Muleshoe, Texas 2022 District 2-3A Division I Standings Team District Record Overall Record Next Opponent Shallowater Mustangs 4 - 0 10 - 2 Idle Bushland Falcons 3 - 1 11 - 2 Idle Muleshoe Mules 2 - 2 8 - 4 Idle Dalhart Wolves 1 - 3 5 - 6 Idle Did Riley envision himself as a future coach? Some folks waited afterward to get his autograph. But everyone here trusts Lincoln. As impressed as Wood was with his Muleshoe quarterback's ability on the field, he was just as amazed by his off-the-field work. He raced through his homework as soon as he got to the house simply so he could get back to football as quickly as possible, his mother recalled. Harrell told The Times, Really Lincoln was the first person that taught me Mike Leachs offense. A Muleshoe Mule is coaching the Sooners. As a freshman, he had a team-leading 221 receiving yards with a touchdown and will be expected to stay on the field for as long as he can to play on offense, defense and special teams. Ellis is the third generation to run the funeral home, which his grandfather opened in 1959. There was a reason theyd come this far. Lincoln Riley isnt surprised by the towns confusion. Like most everyone in town, restaurant owner Victor Leal has a favorite story about his favorite college football coach. But truth be told, Horsley never really was an integral thread in the town's fabric. 33 years old, due to turn 34 early in the Sooners' season, and Riley was atop one of the greatest college football peaks there is. Others speculate he wanted nothing to do with the Southeastern Conference. He looks back fondly on his upbringing in West Texas and the lessons it taught him. Which brings us to our final topic . Its probably one of the most supportive communities youll find in the state of Texas, said Richards, who had been Flour Bluffs offensive coordinator for the past five seasons. Riley is a small-town guy, but clearly hes up for an adventure. In years past, he has made it back to Muleshoe every summer. Thats coming from a program last year (where) we had a sophomore that just got offers from OU, OSU and Texas A&M, Richards said of Flour Bluff offensive guard Johnny Dickson. Playing was fun, but he caught the coaching bug while job shadowing a high school coach in nearby Lubbock. But the rest of Muleshoe moves at a crawl. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Jim Inhofe looks back on his career: 'I really wanted to make a difference, and I did', State superintendent questions whether Oklahoma students should attend state colleges and universities, 'They don't make them like her anymore': Historic 1914 bungalow in The Heights restored with love, Bed Bath & Beyond to close two stores in Tulsa, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Gatesway Hot Air Balloon Festival returning after 6-year hiatus, Last day for Utica Square store is Friday, Meet the 2023 Mr. Inside/Mr. For years, Magann's favorite Muletrain story focused on a local who grew tulip bulbs in a cotton field and shipped them to the Netherlands. 4:13. His youth has been a positive, especially on the recruiting trail. Deep on the dusty plains of West Texas, where grain silos line the sparse landscape and a dry breeze blows loose tufts of cotton across U.S. Route 84, a stretch of railroad runs along a lonely highway. The selection committee sorted through 112 applications and interviewed six applicants on Jan. 22 and 23 before determining that Richards would be their choice. He just had natural instincts.". Conventional wisdom might tell you to stay in that, thats what you do, and I certainly think that wouldve turned out just fine. The gridiron, no. But Ellis knows patience is an important part of his job description. Muleshoe football, as Riley remembers, was one of the worst programs in the entire state of Texas for a long time.. She's from Dimmitt, 45 miles away. Jeremiah Barron struggled with injuries last season, but also has the potential to be a versatile player for Muleshoe. Im fired up. Texas Tech Spring Game moved to Lowrey Field, Lubbock native serves aboard U.S. Navy floating airport, Bo Bryant is Littlefields Head Football Coach/AD, Meadow looking for a new head football coach, AD. Riley still has an itch to scratch when it comes to winning at the highest level of the sport and must feel he can reach the summit more easily from USC. What should student loan borrowers do while waiting for Supreme Court forgiveness ruling? You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel. Will Rogers was a restless 18-year-old in 1898 when he signed on to be a cowboy for the sprawling Mashed O Ranch, which covered parts of Lamb and Bailey counties in the Texas Panhandle. I cannot wait to get this thing going. He introduced his fianc, the head softball coach at Flour Bluff. 0:46 The Muleshoe Mules had a combined 1-20 record in the two years preceding the hiring of head football coach and athletic director Jason Richards in January 2020. As a junior in 2000 he helped the Mules reach the state semifinals, where they lost to Forney at the Dallas Cowboys' old home Texas Stadium in Irving. Young kids look up to the varsity kids. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Riley isn't coaching at the nearby college -- Texas Tech -- long-favored by most of his hometown folks, is an inconvenient truth. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman. Oklahoma, where Memorial Stadium could hold 17 times the population of Muleshoe. He once played quarterback for the Muleshoe. It wasnt until Wood came to town in the spring of 1996 that the teams fortunes started to turn around. Hes well-versed on David Woods success with the Mules, which included a 2008 state championship. Time the older brother spent tutoring elementary school aged Garrett on the Sports Animal radio network, FM-98.1. Youre going to put me on the spot, Mike Riley said from one of the best could create,! 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