USC suspends access for local reporter

quote:

---

Why are college football coaches like this? It’s so fricking tired that CFB coaches feel compelled to be such paranoid control freaks

---

Cant speak to this story b/c i havent been following it.. but in re to ur question: I dont think it’s possible to be a successful head football coach at that level without being a control freak…. Honestly, im not sure if it’s possible to be ultra-successful in any industry without being a control freak.. in re to college ball, of course you’ll have flashes in the pan like Coach O who arent control freaks.. and youll have control freaks who are even worse than most like Saban- but generally speaking i think they are all control enthusiasts, if not outright freaks .

quote:

---

talked to players and coaches on campus outside of designated media availabilities

---

I mean, if he’s an official media member and they want you to stick to official availability, better follow the rules. He can use this as a learning opportunity.

I have no issue with this. Media members are parasites. There needs to be rules for them. Follow them or pay the consequences.

quote:

---

Why are college football coaches like this? It’s so fricking tired that CFB coaches feel compelled to be such paranoid control freaks.

---

I think USC has a reason to be paranoid.


This isn't some College town where the Best writers just kiss the team's arse.

Journos in LA have a shite ton of competition to be relevant. In the Bush reporting, they were trying to interview players when they were out on the town hoping for dirt.

quote:

---

have no issue with this. Media members are parasites. There needs to be rules for them. Follow them or pay the consequences.

---

Without the media they don’t have at least one national championship

I’ve never been one to side with the media, but if I was the OCR, I wouldn’t send anyone back out there to cover them. Most probably wouldn’t even notice. Believe me, those in LA that want to read about USC aren’t getting that info from the OCR.

College football beat reporters push boundaries more than pro reporters can get away with. The competition between all the extra fan sites and recruiting gurus makes it even weirder.

Coaches have to lay down the law on player contact.

I also think a decent sports reporter should be able to come up with analysis and research that doesn't rely on quotes from 18-22 year olds so the reporter can try to sound like a team insider hanging out with the boys.

Its not about just this story with LiaR Riley. He has established a history of lying and underhanded moves.

He lied about the timeline leaving OU, said he made decision overnight and was on a plane to USC next morning. We all know it was months in the works

Was going to leave without addressing his players. Bob Stoops found out and made him come in and do so. But then it was heartless and less than 5 minutes.

He lied about pilphering players, he not only took QB and WR, he and his coaches reached out to existing OU players like Ethan Downs (Downs Mom still has the texts and voice message) right after he left for Usc.

He lied about his house being broken into.

He lied about threats

He lied about making good brisket

He lied saying it was impossible to recruit any better at OU (Venables is kicking his butt in recruiting)

Last year he brought in a WR from another team under suspicious circumstances

Now he is banning a reporter who did an actual feel good story not a hit piece.

His track record is getting worse. The guy has issues and is a control freak. All coaches want control thats expected but this one goes overboard.

A local beat reporter had this to say:


Parker Thune
@ParkerThune
In 2017, during an outdoor practice session, I had a video camera out on the balcony (yes, the balcony that the OU Daily would make famous in October of ‘21) for a purpose completely unrelated to football. It wasn’t even pointing out toward the practice field.

LR noticed and decided to deploy his underlings.

A support staffer yelled up to me, “THAT CAMERA NEEDS TO GO AWAY.”

I gestured to indicate that it wasn’t oriented toward the field, and was met with another booming imperative.

“THAT CAMERA NEEDS TO GO AWAY!”

I threw my hands up in confusion and annoyance.

“IT NEEDS TO GO AWAY. COMPLETELY. TAKE IT INSIDE.”

It would have been a pretty pointless battle to fight, so I just went ahead and complied.

What followed on a regular basis over the next four years has been pretty well documented. The frosting of the windows at the residence hall adjacent to the practice field remains one of the most comically neurotic measures I’ve ever seen.

—-

Another local beat writer:



George Stoia III
@GeorgeStoia
·
2h
I wish I could tell you how many times I received a phone call about contacting a player’s parents for a feature story without asking permission during the Riley era. It was a weekly occurrence. Just so, so dumb.

And I will never forget asking about a certain play during press conferences — like a game-winning touchdown — and always getting a “I’m not going to comment on that” when it was clear no one was asking for a complete film breakdown of the play. Ridiculous.

Just totally stupid to suspend a reporter for any of this. He’s doing his job. But as someone who covered the guy, it’s not surprising. That’s the last I’ll say on it. Just dumb, dumb, dumb.

quote:

---

What else can you expect from a man that makes brisket like this:

---

I need a glass of water just from looking at the picture