No. 11 USC was upset by unranked Minnesota on Saturday. After the game, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t want his players to be asked about a controversial ruling on the Golden Gophers’ winning touchdown.
With less than a minute remaining Minnesota faced a fourth-and-goal from inside the one-yard line. The Gophers eschewed the short go-ahead field goal attempt and opted to go for it. It was a risk that ultimately paid off. Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer scored what ended up being the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
Initially, though, officials ruled that Brosmer was short before the play was reviewed. That many bodies in such a small area can often make it hard to get the “clear evidence” needed to overturn a call on the goal line. Still, the replay officials saw what they needed to see and ruled that Brosmer scored.
Gophers take over late 👀
After a scoring play, @GopherFootball leads No. 11 USC 24-17.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/TqpJrqANny
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 6, 2024
Following the game, Riley and defensive end Jamil Muhammad were in a press conference. Muhammad was asked if he thought Minnesota actually scored on the play. But before Muhammad could answer, Riley interjected.
“No, don’t ask him that,” the coach said, in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Luca Evans of The Orange County Register. “Who cares what he says on that? Like what, player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question.”
A reporter asked USC’s Jamil Muhammad postgame if he thought Minnesota got into the end zone on their final TD.
Lincoln Riley interjected. “Nah, don’t ask him that.”
“Who cares what he says on that? Like what, player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question.” pic.twitter.com/6lLaGioDfT
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 6, 2024
In a follow-up post, Evans noted, “Muhammad clearly is about to shrug this off. Wasn’t like Riley took the mic out of his mouth.”
That does appear to be the case, but even assuming Muhammad was going to shrug it off, so what? Why did Riley need to not only interject but also say that it wasn’t a professional question?
The coach was heavily criticized for his response.
So embarrassing. You don’t think it’s relevant what a player saw on the most important play of the game? https://t.co/4gBxKKuEcp
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 6, 2024
Why this dude ever thought the second largest media market in North America made sense for him I’ll never know https://t.co/UfY4UWSKcg
— Steven Godfrey (@38Godfrey) October 6, 2024
All coaches have the control-freak gene, but Riley is ridiculous w/the stuff he jumps in on.
Why commence hostilities over this innocuous question? Just let him answer.
Riley causes himself unnecessary headaches w/this weirdness. https://t.co/ycO71lDNUz
— Mark Schipper – 5th Down CFB (@5thDownCFB) October 6, 2024
Lecturing a reporter for asking a player about the decisive play?
Lincoln seems to be handling the loss well! https://t.co/y74t5muTiC
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) October 6, 2024
This reaction while lecturing people on acting professionally…is AMAZING. https://t.co/s30pihwniv
— Josh McCuistion (@Josh_Scoop) October 6, 2024
Lincoln Riley is better at embarrassing himself with the way he treats the media than he is at losing football games to deeply inferior talent, which is a real achievement. https://t.co/H5ZQuQnzsx
— David Eckert (@davideckert98) October 6, 2024
asking a player a question about the game in which he played in is so out of bounds! shame https://t.co/yXwpqV2WNK
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) October 6, 2024
Having my coach say “who cares what they think” About what I think, feels like that’s not quite the protecting line this guy thinks it is https://t.co/wnbVVVamQI
— Kevin Shockey (@KevinShockey) October 6, 2024
To be clear, if Muhammad had shrugged it off and said “no comment,” it would have been fine. It even would have been fine if Riley told his players to give a “no comment” response when asked about the call. But the way Riley did it — not giving his player a chance to answer a natural question and scolding the reporter for asking it — makes no sense.
[Luca Evans on X]
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