Caveat Emptor Trojans and Tigers

 It was a scam worthy of a Hollywood movie., cloaked in secrecy, replete with mis-direction, and lies, and involving tens of millions of dollars. In this monumental con, however, the marks weren't amoral casino owners, or ruthless corporations, they were hundreds of thousands football fans in two different locales.

At the core to the plot were the agents representing Oklahoma coach, Lincoln Riley and Notre Dame head man, Brian Kelly--proving once and for all sports agents fall into the same ethical class as used car salesmen, politicians, and television evangelists. 

Also involved were two institutes of higher learning, the University of Southern California and Louisiana State University. They were two proud football programs which had fallen on hard times. They were and are also two places whose alumni have scads and scads of money they are willing to spend, not on, say, archeology departments, but their football teams.

On September 13th, 2021, after a loss to Stanford, USC fired head coach Clay Helton. Within three, or four weeks it became apparent to them their interim head coach, Donte Williams wasn't going to cut it. At about the same time, in the middle of October, LSU announced their coach, Ed Orgeron would be leaving at the end of the season. Orgeron's problems involved some felonious behavior by a player, plus his inability to repeat his previous success in 2019 when his team was undefeated and won the national championship.

Both schools obviously wanted experienced big time coaches, but they had a problem. NCAA rules prohibited them from calling up other teams coaches without asking for permission first. Once alerted the targeted school could then either say no, or make counter offers starting an expensive and lengthy bidding war. Enter Bob LaMonte and Trace Armstrong agents for Riley and Kelly. 

Because of them neither Riley, or Kelly had to speak directly to USC and LSU. They became the conduits through which both men could negotiate without technically breaking the rules , or alarming their schools, or fan bases. 

In late October, or early November someone, most likely LaMonte, leaked the rumor that LSU was actively pursuing Riley. It's unknown if LSU was working in collusion with LaMonte, or not. What we do know is LSU never denied it, because it provided them with the perfect cover as they negotiated with Armstrong. In addition it allowed Riley to deny he was interested in LSU while USC continued making a deal on the down low with LaMonte. 

In Norman, Riley's team had struggled all year against questionable competition. The crown prince of offensive minds had a unit which seemed to be falling apart and the defense which was supposed to be greatly improved looked suspiciously as leaky as it had been in past years. In retrospect it is now easy to think Riley and his defensive coordinator Alex Grinch had severe cases of short timer's disease. 

Indeed it is tough to concentrate, or give a shit when you are on the verge of a fabulous new contract worth $110 million and includes the purchase of not one, but three homes.

The insidious plot came to a head Saturday night after OU lost to Oklahoma State. In a post game interview Riley was asked point blank if he was going to LSU. He answered truthfully. He said, "I will not be the next head coach at LSU." 12 or so hours later, however, he would be the next coach at USC. One has to wonder what his response would have been if the question had been, "Will you be coaching at Oklahoma next year?"

Later, in an interview with ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, Riley swore the first and only time he had personally talked to USC  was Sunday morning after the OSU game. Knowing how oily the guy is now I believe him. He didn't have to, all he had to do was communicate his demands through his agent. 

Meanwhile in South Bend, IN, Brian Kelly informed his players he was leaving for LSU via Twitter before holding a 11 minute meeting with them. His contract is reportedly worth a mere $95 million. (It's probably a cost of living differential. After all, gas and food are cheaper in Baton Rouge than they are in LA.)

Both Oklahoma and Notre Dame have bowl games coming up. OU has dragged Bob Stoops out of retirement to be the interim coach. There isn't any word yet who Notre Dame will select. 

Lincoln Riley has recently tweeted, "We are going to make Southern California the Mecca of college football." In response Oklahoma defensive lineman, Isiah Thomas tweeted, "He told us the exact same thing a month ago."

Indeed, Lincoln Riley says many things, but, as Oklahoma now knows when it comes to believing him, you sometimes have to think about what he hasn't said to you, but what he says to Bob LaMonte.

Caveat Emptor, Trojans and Tigers.  If these two fuckers did it to Oklahoma and Notre Dame, they will do it to you just as soon as their agents sniff more money for themselves somewhere else.

  

12-1-21