The legendary Oklahoma Sooners Football coach refuses to apologize for a controversial photo, prioritizing coaching fraternity bonds and personal loyalty over lingering fan resentment following Riley's polarizing departure
Bob Stoops isn’t losing any sleep over the picture he took with Lincoln Riley, and he made that crystal clear on KREF Radio with Chris Plank this week.
There was some serious uproar from parts of the Oklahoma fanbase after Stoops posted a photo with Riley and Michael Phelps.
Some folks acted like it was some kind of betrayal.
Bob addressed it head-on and didn’t hold back.
“I understand there was an uproar around here that I took a picture with Lincoln Riley, and Michael Phelps. So, I'm not gonna apologize about that. Lincoln worked hard for us here, for me, and I wish he would have stayed, but I love the fact that Brent Venables is here, and so be it.”
That’s vintage Bob Stoops. Straight to the point and zero apologies.
Look, he owes nobody an explanation or an apology for taking a picture. Lincoln Riley spent several years as his offensive coordinator in Norman. He rejuvenated the Sooner offense in Bob’s final years and helped keep the program at a high level.
Whether you like how Lincoln left or not, the man worked hard for OU and for Stoops while he was here.
Coaching is a fraternity. That’s just reality.
These guys spend years together grinding through practices, game plans, and long seasons. Bonds are formed that don’t just disappear because someone takes a different job.
Bob has always been loyal to his guys, and that includes Riley. That doesn’t mean he’s happy with how Lincoln’s departure went down, he openly said he wished he would’ve stayed, but it also doesn’t mean he has to treat him like an enemy for the rest of his life.
Yes, it still stings how Riley left Oklahoma. A lot of us felt disrespected by the way it all played out, especially going to a rival and taking key pieces with him. Those feelings are valid.
But that doesn’t erase the good years or mean Bob can’t be cordial with someone he worked closely with for a long time.
Stoops also made it a point to say how much he loves that Brent Venables is the head coach now. He’s fully behind the current program and has been supportive of Venables since day one.
This isn’t about choosing sides.
It’s about a grown man refusing to let fan outrage dictate who he can and can’t talk to.
At the end of the day, Bob Stoops coached at Oklahoma for 18 years, won a national championship, and built the standard we all expect. He’s earned the right to take a picture with whoever he wants without it turning into a full-blown controversy.
The idea that he should ignore or publicly shun someone he worked with for years just doesn’t make sense.
Sooner fans are passionate, and that passion is what makes this fanbase great. But this one feels overblown.
Bob isn’t turning his back on Oklahoma by being civil with Lincoln Riley. He’s simply being the same stand-up guy he’s always been.
If anything, this whole situation shows the kind of loyalty and perspective Bob has.
He can appreciate what Riley did while he was here without forgetting what’s best for Oklahoma moving forward, which is clearly Brent Venables leading the program.
Bob said what he said. He’s not apologizing, and he shouldn’t have to.
