Bob Stoops: "Lincoln Riley didn't invent Oklahoma football"

Big Game Bob was honored by the Oklahoma legislature and shared his thoughts after Lincoln Riley's sudden departure.

Since the Oklahoma football program was thrown into sudden confusion by Lincoln Riley's departure, Bob Stoops has been busy reminding college football that OU is still a superpower in this sport.

Stoops took up the mantle after Riley left and coached the Sooners to a victory over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl, and now he's taking his message straight to the Oklahoma state legislature.

"Lincoln Riley didn't invent OU football," Stoops said while being honored by the legislature with a resolution celebrating "a career of service to the Oklahoma community and success with the OU Football program."

Stoops coached Oklahoma for 18 years, winning the school's most recent national championship in 2000, before handing the program to his offensive coordinator Riley. This offseason, OU turned to another Stoops assistant, Brent Venables.

Who did "invent" Oklahoma?

Stoops gave most of the credit for "inventing" Oklahoma football to Bud Wilkinson, who arrived at the school in 1947, and laid the foundation for the program's success, which includes the sport's best winning percentage since World War II.

"Bud Wilkinson created the monster that Coach [Barry] Switzer always referred to and I had to deal with it for 18 years," Stoops said. 

"And it's a monster. But I loved it. I am the fortunate one to have been able to be at Oklahoma for all these years — 18 as the head coach — and fortunately they've kept me on here for a while so that I could step in in moments like that. Hopefully we don't have any more."

"Moments like that" include when Stoops had to step in as Oklahoma's emergency coach after Riley left for USC, leading the Sooners to a 47-32 victory over the Ducks.

Stoops was happy to return in 2021

The coach said he was glad to return to the Oklahoma sideline, even on such short notice.

"My first mission was to remind everybody — players, community, everybody at the university — Lincoln Riley didn't invent OU football, okay?" Stoops told the Oklahoma legislators. "Everyone needed a wake-up call because they kind of slipped into thinking he did."

The legislature's resolution honored Stoops for his coaching career and his work with charities during his time at OU. 

Big Game Bob

Stoops coached Oklahoma to more victories than any other Power Five school during his career, going 191-48 overall, including a 101-9 home record, coaching 37 All-American players, 79 NFL Draft selections, and two Heisman Trophy winners.

Stoops is the only college football coach in the BCS era to win the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl.

"I promise you we are in great, great hands and I look forward to the future in a really positive way," he said. "Love the state of Oklahoma. Boomer," he said, as the legislators replied in unison, "Sooner!"

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