Big Ten media days: Foster’s pause, Smith’s lessons and Riley’s brisket

INDIANAPOLIS — If Tuesday was about the Big Ten welcoming its four new members to the conference, Wednesday was the first chance for some of the former Pac-12 schools to introduce themselves to their new conference. 

It didn’t start particularly well. 

The — perhaps unenviable — job fell to new UCLA coach DeShaun Foster, who graced the stage at Lucas Oil Stadium just 24 hours after commissioner Tony Petitti officially welcomed Washington, UCLA, USC and Oregon to the Big Ten. 

Foster, the first-year coach who rose from dominant Bruins running back to taking over at the helm of his alma mater before a historic conference change, stumbled awkwardly through his opening statement, including a brutal 15-second pause between the third and fourth sentences. 

“We’re just excited,” Foster, wearing a crisp blue suit, said. “I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA, our football program, but we’re in L.A. It’s us and USC. I’m just basically excited, really. That’s it.”

Foster, of course, deserves some sympathy. It’s his first media day as a coach, in a new conference, in front of new media members, representing a program which clearly means a lot to him. He earned this opportunity, worked his way through the coaching ranks after initially being hired by UCLA as a graduate assistant in 2012. 

He recovered well enough, too, finishing his availability on a strong note when asked about the culture he’s trying to instill at a UCLA program which hasn’t won a conference championship since 1998. 

“I’m not really a car salesman,” he said. 

But Foster’s opening statement, which quickly spread through the college football world via social media, might’ve been a good allegory for this awkward partnership between the four West Coast schools and the Big Ten. 

How is any coach, even one as entrenched in their school’s lore as Foster — UCLA’s second-leading rushing touchdown leader — supposed to explain the history or the meaning of their program to the oldest conference in the country? One with its own legends and icons?

How can Dan Lanning describe the importance of Kenny Wheaton’s pick to a conference which has only seen the Ducks since they became synonymous with the swoosh? How does Jedd Fisch explain the Apple Cup, what it represents to Washingtonians on both sides of the Cascades, to media members who come from states where the highest point is a 700-foot hill? 

Foster likely paused in an unfortunate moment of poor public speaking, but he also said the truth. There is no looking back anymore. It’s a new world of college football, one epitomized by a school from Los Angeles trying to say it belongs in a conference known for playing in the snow. 

There’s only looking forward now, trying to make the best of this new situation.

Lessons from the past

Jonathan Smith, by his own admittance, hasn’t worn a lot of green until recently. 

The longtime Oregon State coach and former Washington offensive coordinator knew rival Oregon’s colors were off-limits for his wardrobe. However, after taking the job at Michigan State before the upcoming season, he’s getting used to the color again. 

“The community in East Lansing has been welcoming,” he said. “The pride and passion — I don’t think it’s different than the West Coast — but you feel it out this way.”

Smith, who played quarterback at Oregon State from 1998-2001, certainly has his work cut out for him in the Big Ten. 

Michigan State went 4-8 in 2023, including a 41-7 beatdown by Washington, during a tumultuous season which saw former coach Mel Tucker fired on Sept. 27 amid sexual harassment allegations. Smith’s revamp of the Spartans includes six former Beaver assistants — former Washington running backs coach Keith Bhonapha among them — and a few Oregon State standouts like quarterback Aidan Chiles. 

Smith praised his mentors, specifically former Washington coach Chris Petersen, for emphasizing the importance of continuity and alignment. Smith served as Petersen’s quarterbacks coach at Boise State from 2012-13, then joined him at Washington from 2013-17 before becoming the coach at Oregon State.  

“Continue to always find ways to approve, never staying the same,” Smith said, “I learned that from [Petersen].”

Extra points:

• Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the incoming executive director of the College Football Playoff, opened the second media day by speaking about the new, 12-team format. He said he’s especially glad all four of the power conferences will now get automatic bids and byes in the new model. Undefeated ACC champion Florida State was left out in favor of one-loss SEC champion Alabama during the 2023 CFP Playoff under its old four-team format.

“This format is going to, of course, create the access we need so we can determine that championship on the field, and not have to rely so much on a committee to do that.”

• USC coach Lincoln Riley doubled down on his cooking abilities after he was asked whether his barbecue had improved in Los Angeles. Back in 2021, he was severely critiqued for a photo of a brisket he posted on social media.

“I need to improve my photography skills, not by barbecue skills.”