USC Football: Lincoln Riley Claims To Be "Even-Keeled" Ahead Of Meaningless UCLA Game, Uncertain Offseason

Big game on tap for the Trojans...

Your USC Trojans have a big game this weekend as they get ready to face off against the UCLA Bruins. It has been a frustrating season for the Trojans, but this is a chance to at least salvage it somewhat.

Entering the year, the Trojans were expecting this game to be the one that helped catapult them into the Pac-12 title game, but things haven’t gone their way. They have lost four of five entering this contest, and they just want to end the year on a high note now.

“With UCLA on tap during its regular-season finale Saturday, USC isn’t in danger of finishing below .500 as Riley did in 2011, but at 7-4, it has definitely fallen well short of expectations, a fact that might’ve sent a younger Riley down a dark path.”

Per Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times

Riley gave his thoughts on the upcoming game but said that he stays even-keeled prior to games now that he has more experience.

“I rode the emotional roller coaster as a [younger] coach,” Riley said. “Now, I stay a little more even-keeled. I know what the good is. I know what the bad is. I know what we’ve gotta do to fix it. I know what it’s going to take. I know we’re going to get it done, and you’ve gotta be able to take any situation that comes up, whether you win a close game, you make that play at the end or you don’t, there’s still a whole lot else that’s going to have to continue to improve to go where we need to go, and I know all that. I know we’re going to get there.”

Per

 

Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times

The Trojans understand this game against UCLA is a big one, even if it doesn’t count for anything standings-wide. They can get bragging rights over their cross-town rival for the second straight season, and Riley would start his USC tenure with two wins over them.

If the Trojans play their game, they should be able to take this game. They want to end the year strong and have a great chance on Saturday to do just that.

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Trojans!