One of the first things I learned in my journalism classes at USC is that as a writer, you never want to become the story. Over the weekend, I managed to find a way to screw that up.
Following USC’s 42-27 loss at Oregon Saturday, I asked Lincoln Riley a question that he called “the dumbest question I’ve been asked, as long as I’ve been a head coach.” Most of you reading this story likely know what I am referring to. If somehow you do not, feel free to go and look it up on your own, but I am not going to repeat it here.
Unwanted attention
Over the past few days, I have gotten far more attention on this subject than I ever expected—or wanted. After a bit of reflecting, I wanted to use this as a space to apologize for what I said, as well as to clarify my intentions behind the question.
It comes from a place of passion
As many of you know, I am a recent USC alum and proud Trojan. I am extremely passionate about USC football, and want to see the Trojans succeed. By no means am I some Oregon or Oklahoma troll trying to clown on USC’s head coach. Nor am I trying to speculate about contracts and the coaching carousel—two things that I have essentially zero inside information about.
The other path
Not being good enough to play or coach football for USC myself, unfortunately, I decided to take this job at Trojans Wire for two reasons. Number one, to be able to tell the stories of the USC players and coaches to fans. And number two, to hold them accountable to the fanbase when things are not going well.
Trying to be honest
I absolutely want to see the Trojans win football games. But when that does not happen, I am not going to be afraid to call out those running the program on their struggles—because USC fans deserve accountability.
Thought process
That was my reasoning for asking the question following Saturday’s loss. Having been around Eugene Friday and Saturday morning prior to the game, I was taken aback by just how confident Oregon fans were. It was clear that the vast majority of them did not respect USC, and were not at all worried about the game. They saw the Trojans as another relatively easy win on their path to another College Football Playoff. And unfortunately, they turned out to be right.
Inspiring the right reaction
Seeing that mindset made me embarrassed for the USC fan base. The Trojan Family deserves a football team not only that they can be proud of, but one that others fear. For opposing fans to view USC as an easy win on their schedule is unacceptable, and something that should never be the case.
Not the right way to do any of this
That was my intention in asking the question—not to try and troll or cause speculation—but to try and get some accountability regarding the fact that the USC football program is not feared by rivals right now. However, I recognize the question that I asked was a terrible way to try and do such. To ask the head coach at USC a question about a GameDay sign made by a random Oregon fan was dumb, and I fully own that.
Accountability starts with me — owning the mistake
It would be hypocritical of me to demand accountability from Lincoln Riley and USC while not also demanding it from myself. Hence, I take full responsibility for asking a stupid question on Saturday. I screwed up, and I will do everything that I can to be be better going forward.
At the end of the day, it serves me absolutely zero benefit to have a feud with the head football coach at my alma mater. Nor was I by any means trying to create one. I hope that Lincoln Riley and the people in charge at USC can forgive me for my mistake, and that we can all move forward.
Getting off the canvas and pledging to do better
I am looking forward to being back at the Coliseum on Saturday night for the Crosstown Showdown against UCLA. I hope to see a different result on the field this week, and to be able to ask Riley a question that he does not think is “the dumbest I’ve been asked.”
Fight On,
Adam
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: An open letter to USC football coach Lincoln Riley
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
