Deion Sanders TO REPLACE Lincoln Riley?! Stephen A. REACTS to Finebaum’s HOT TAKE 🍿 | First Take

Summary

The discussion centers on USC coach Lincoln Riley's struggles, with Paul Finebaum criticizing Riley's defensive shortcomings and predicting his potential departure. Stephen A. Smith acknowledges Riley's achievements but agrees on the need for better defense. Finebaum suggests Deion Sanders as a future USC coach, arguing his charisma and fit for Los Angeles. The conversation touches on Riley's past successes and current challenges, with both commentators debating his future and the impact of a possible coaching change.

Takeaways

• 🏈 Lincoln Riley's tenure at USC has been disappointing with a 19-8 record and no Pac-12 titles or College Football Playoff appearances.
• 🚀 Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams has moved on to the NFL, leaving USC without a key player.
• 💥 Paul criticized Riley's coaching, suggesting he should have been fired for poor performance and lack of defensive strategy.
• 🔥 Stephen A. Smith acknowledges Riley's struggles but highlights his past successes, including coaching Heisman winners and high win percentages.
• 📉 USC's defense has been a significant issue, with the team surrendering a large number of points in several games.
• 🤔 Stephen A. suggests that Riley's trajectory is concerning, especially considering the high expectations in Los Angeles.
• 🌟 Paul proposes Deion Sanders as a potential solution for USC, believing his charisma and recruiting skills would be a great fit for the school.
• 🏆 Deion Sanders has had success at Colorado but might be looking for a bigger stage, and Paul thinks USC could be the perfect opportunity.
• 🤝 The idea of Sanders coaching at USC is presented as a potentially historic combination that could reinvigorate the program.
• 🔄 Despite Riley's defensive shortcomings, his overall coaching record is strong, with multiple playoff appearances.
• 🤔 The conversation raises the question of whether USC's administration would consider a coaching change to someone like Deion Sanders.

Q & A

What is the current record of Lincoln Riley at USC after two seasons?

Lincoln Riley's record at USC after two seasons is 19 wins and 8 losses.

Has Lincoln Riley won any Pac-12 titles or made any college football playoff appearances during his tenure at USC?

No, Lincoln Riley has not won any Pac-12 titles nor has he made any college football playoff appearances during his time at USC.

What is the main criticism of Lincoln Riley's coaching at USC according to Paul?

Paul criticizes Lincoln Riley for his poor coaching job, particularly his inability to handle defense, despite having been a head coach for many years.

What is the significance of Caleb Williams leaving USC for the NFL?

Caleb Williams is a Heisman-winning quarterback, and his departure to the NFL is a significant loss for USC's football team.

What is Paul's prediction for Lincoln Riley's future in coaching?

Paul predicts that Lincoln Riley might end up being an assistant coach in the NFL by next year if he is lucky.

How does Stephen A. respond to Paul's harsh criticism of Lincoln Riley?

Stephen A. acknowledges Paul's points but suggests that he is being a bit harsh and that Lincoln Riley has had notable successes in his coaching career.

What are some of the notable achievements of Lincoln Riley as a coach?

Lincoln Riley is the only coach to have coached three Heisman-winning quarterbacks and to have three players selected number one overall in the NFL draft.

What was the performance of USC's defense in the latter part of the season as mentioned in the script?

USC's defense surrendered 4834 points in the latter part of the season, indicating a significant weakness in their defense.

Who does Paul suggest as a potential replacement for Lincoln Riley at USC?

Paul suggests Deion Sanders as a potential replacement for Lincoln Riley at USC.

Why does Paul believe Deion Sanders would be a good fit for USC?

Paul believes Deion Sanders would be a good fit for USC because he exudes the qualities that the community is all about, and he can sustain the recruiting success that Lincoln Riley had and then lost.

What is the current situation with Deion Sanders at Colorado according to the script?

Deion Sanders is currently coaching at Colorado, but Paul suggests that he might be tired of being there because it's not a prime time location and his success there might be limited.