Sorry if someone has already posted this. But, I've read a number of people minimizing Coach Riley's winning record at Oregon State and attempt to spin away Oregon State's lack of success prior to his arrival. So, just to put the actual numbers out there:
Oregon State's overall winning percentage all-time is .484. That's pretty low for most major conference programs. Riley's winning percentage is .537 - a significant improvement over their history. But that doesn't really tell the whole story.
Prior to the 70's OSU was certainly not a good program. They were a mediocre middling program. Then the floor dropped out. In the 25 years prior to Riley taking over the first time, they had won 52 total games from 1972-1996. That's an overall winning percentage of .188 - absolutely dreadful by any standard. The most games they won in any season during that two and a half decade span was four. Within his first two years, Riley had already won five games in a season for the first time since 1971. Then Dennis E improved upon what he did and had their best season during his four years. But Riley has posted eight winning seasons during his tenure there, something that had not been done once in the 25 years prior to his hiring. He has six seasons of at least eight wins, four seasons of at least nine wins, and one 10 win season. It took Coach Riley less than eight full seasons to win more games than had been won in the previous 25 years prior to his arrival. And that doesn't take in to account DE's four years that built off of what Riley had started.
Also, since the 9 win mark has been a major topic here (and I am one that doesn't easily dismiss Bo's 9 or 10 win streak. It's a significant accomplishment IMO) OSU only has seven seasons in their entire history of winning nine or more games. Riley has four of those seasons, though in fairness, in some of their early years they had good winning percentages but played less games and weren't able to win nine. But it demonstrates the futility of modern OSU football prior to his arrival.
Oregon State's overall winning percentage all-time is .484. That's pretty low for most major conference programs. Riley's winning percentage is .537 - a significant improvement over their history. But that doesn't really tell the whole story.
Prior to the 70's OSU was certainly not a good program. They were a mediocre middling program. Then the floor dropped out. In the 25 years prior to Riley taking over the first time, they had won 52 total games from 1972-1996. That's an overall winning percentage of .188 - absolutely dreadful by any standard. The most games they won in any season during that two and a half decade span was four. Within his first two years, Riley had already won five games in a season for the first time since 1971. Then Dennis E improved upon what he did and had their best season during his four years. But Riley has posted eight winning seasons during his tenure there, something that had not been done once in the 25 years prior to his hiring. He has six seasons of at least eight wins, four seasons of at least nine wins, and one 10 win season. It took Coach Riley less than eight full seasons to win more games than had been won in the previous 25 years prior to his arrival. And that doesn't take in to account DE's four years that built off of what Riley had started.
Also, since the 9 win mark has been a major topic here (and I am one that doesn't easily dismiss Bo's 9 or 10 win streak. It's a significant accomplishment IMO) OSU only has seven seasons in their entire history of winning nine or more games. Riley has four of those seasons, though in fairness, in some of their early years they had good winning percentages but played less games and weren't able to win nine. But it demonstrates the futility of modern OSU football prior to his arrival.
