There is no doubt that Jonathan Smith’s hire of Mike Riley was a polarizing one. Though many in the media have been optimistic about his return, and what it means for Smith, fan reactions have run the emotional gamut. Those with an optimistic view of his return remember the zero- and one-win seasons under Joe Avezzano and Jerry Pettibone, while other fans are frustrated as they recall the dominance of Oregon in the Civil War in Riley’s last seven seasons.
When studying Riley’s history with OSU, it is easy to understand either point of view. Though he did have moderate success prior to the end of his second stint as the head coach, his approach on both sides of the ball felt stale in comparison to the modern, evolving styles being implemented by conference opponents.