Lincoln Riley illness ignites plan to have Dennis Simmons as head coach, Kliff Kingsbury as assistant — and everyone’s talking
This USC football season has become very soap-operatic this week. The successful, hotshot head coach suddenly loses two games, and the optimism of September turns into late-October misery and failure. The coach gets sick and is confined to resting at home under doctor’s orders. A succession plan is created to put an acting head coach in place.
Other coaches are being elevated to higher positions, all while rumors swirl about the job security of this coaching staff and the future of the program, one year before it moves to another conference in another part of the country.
We’re not making up this plot line. It’s all real. Antonio Morales of The Athletic unpacked these details about Lincoln Riley, USC assistant coach Dennis Simmons and offensive analyst/consultant Kliff Kingsbury.
They’re all involved in this drama, and as you can easily imagine, fans are talking. Everyone is talking. The Trojans aren’t winning big football games, but following USC football is never boring.
Here are the things you need to know, followed by reactions to these eye-grabbing events:
THE NEWS
Riley is recovering at home under doctor’s orders. Dennis Simmons is the acting head coach in Riley’s place. #USC
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 24, 2023
KINGLY SUCCESSION
#USC is working with compliance to make Kliff Kingsbury to acting assistant in Riley’s absence.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 24, 2023
REDUCING THE DRAMA (OR TRYING TO)
“It’s not like he’s gone forever,” Simmons said. “It’s one of those deals where we have an objective which is going to take place Saturday afternoon … so that’s are main focus.”
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 25, 2023
WHICH IS TO SAY, NOT AT ALL?
Dennis Simmons on how Kliff Kingsbury’s role has changed with Lincoln Riley out: “Obviously been more active in the quarterback meeting. Outside of that, his role has been as beneficial as it’s been since the day he got here.” #USC
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) October 25, 2023
THE FULL DEAL
Full video and transcript of Dennis Simmons’ comments on filling in for Lincoln Riley while he’s home sick in the link. #USC https://t.co/AXD1wz913S pic.twitter.com/kl4mA1pY1L
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) October 25, 2023
OUTSIDERS REACT
Lincoln Riley after back-to-back losses: https://t.co/FO88ug7Kko pic.twitter.com/Mi0EHop4jT
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 24, 2023
HOLY MOLY
Will USC get head coach Lincoln Riley back by Saturday’s game at Cal?
Simmons couldn’t give the media an answer (of course) and it’s likely up to the doctors to evaluate when he can return to the team. https://t.co/Llr60w3vIf
— Ahmad Akkaoui (@AhmadMAkkaoui) October 25, 2023
HIS COACHING THIS YEAR HAS BEEN VERY MORTAL
USC receivers coach Dennis Simmons, who served as acting coach the last two days, said he spoke with Lincoln Riley today and that Riley is “getting better”
Simmons: “I know we all think that he is immortal, but I guess God shows us that he is human.”
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) October 25, 2023
WE ALL ARE
Lincoln Riley has been ill. I’m curious what the process for the fill in assistant is. https://t.co/gFDjCRdfFw
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 24, 2023
OU FANS ARE AMUSED
The circus at USC continues. This thing is unraveling quickly: https://t.co/M4kNtx9vKp
— Dryfit Venables (@DryfitVenables) October 24, 2023
TOTALLY
I'm sure there will be some rational reactions to this. https://t.co/o8bLWXMAlO
— College Football Geek (@CFB_Geek) October 24, 2023
???????
The key here is "USC is working with compliance….". I would think if Riley was still there he would be deciding who was running practice? https://t.co/HxcydYo9Jj
— Palace on the Prairie (@PrairiePalace) October 25, 2023
NAH
Kingsbury is gonna backdoor his way into being the HC at USC isnt he… https://t.co/VCh3doOVAe
— The Prairie Report “Grass News” (@PrairieReportOU) October 25, 2023
HAHAHAHA
convinced this is just an elaborate ploy by lincoln riley to make someone else fire alex grinch https://t.co/5iEgP2OjPj
— david potts (@dpottzzz) October 24, 2023
SO MANY QUESTIONS
Dude either jumping ship already or is coming to the realization that he ain’t cut out for this.
In seriousness, I hope he’s ok. But woof. https://t.co/wLI1JBp2tY
— Trevor (Suite Guy) Rogers (@TrevorRogers_1) October 24, 2023
UCLA FANS GET IN ON THE ACTION
USC refuses to be a normal place. they can’t just lose regularly and go on about their day. no, there has to be some crazy shit that makes us all wonder what the fuck is going on over there https://t.co/mkcLZnUA81
— carlos: a pac-12 mourner (@equitybruin) October 24, 2023
MUST RESIST
I will avoid speculation. I will avoid speculation. I will avoid speculation. I will avoid speculation. https://t.co/QTpau9fYZB
— parker fleming (@statsowar) October 24, 2023
OKLAHOMA FANS WEIGH IN
We all know how this ends https://t.co/1qiCdbzxh3
— Chase Snyder (@ChasingSnyder) October 24, 2023
KINGSBURY DRAMA
This is not a good idea, per sources (me). https://t.co/ENHXkpCEmI
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) October 25, 2023
GULP
USC fans rn https://t.co/zPLSuAxNVe pic.twitter.com/dhDNZRo7LO
— KC🏴☠️ (@KcHolz) October 24, 2023
NO, ALEX GRINCH DID
Utah football really killed USC. https://t.co/ZeLkQXTBS4
— Doug Cartwright (@Doug_Cartwright) October 24, 2023
NO, BENNIE WYLIE DID
Utah really broke him https://t.co/uNvNAxWeJJ
— Braden (@buhraden) October 24, 2023
THE RETURN OF THE KING(SBURY)
Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury comes out to practice talking with a scout from the Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/kzONIWS2py
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) October 24, 2023
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! RUMOR CENTRAL!
Is @LincolnRiley actually sick? Is @KliffKingsbury taking his job? @uscfb
— Gary Alcock (@gary_alcock) October 25, 2023
RUN WILD!
*Kliff Kingsbury future USC head coach* https://t.co/CEaphJE5Nd
— 🦕 germs 🐨 (@germsey) October 25, 2023
IT WON'T
So Kliff Kingsbury is taking over as Head coach of USC??? How does that even happen?
— Yami ⚫️ (@BiggPapaShel) October 24, 2023
NOPE
USC Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury
— Santa Fe Sooner (@SoonerFe) October 24, 2023
AS OPPOSED TO WHAT?
In this release, seems odd that a prestigious university would choose the verbiage, “per doctor’s orders.” https://t.co/eLcLeRiCXP
— Cory White (@cwhite_ou) October 24, 2023
FACT
Stranger by the day… https://t.co/qJgmUapF2e
— 5thDown (@5thDownAnd10) October 24, 2023
FISCAL KLIFF
Kliff news. https://t.co/9g54FpkKt4
— José M. Romero (@RomeroJoseM) October 24, 2023
