It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Riley County Historical Museum in Riley, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Riley, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Riley Park Splash Pad in Riley, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Eddie Merlot's or visit Goodnow House State Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Riley, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Riley, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Riley, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC hasn’t seen the success that many had hoped for. After a 5-1 start to this season and a sketchy run through the Big Ten schedule to this point, Riley is trending up on Kalshi’s college football coaches fired market. Riley is up to a 67% chance that USC fires himRiley came into the season with a murky 21% chance and has risen to 46% following USC’s start to the season. Kalshi settles the market on whether he’s with the team or not by February 1, 2027. A $10 trade on Riley bein...
Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC hasn’t seen the success that many had hoped for. After a 5-1 start to this season and a sketchy run through the Big Ten schedule to this point, Riley is trending up on Kalshi’s college football coaches fired market. Riley is up to a 67% chance that USC fires him
Riley came into the season with a murky 21% chance and has risen to 46% following USC’s start to the season. Kalshi settles the market on whether he’s with the team or not by February 1, 2027. A $10 trade on Riley being out by then profits $4.54.
If you're looking for a , — you only need a $10 deposit and $25 in trades to unlock a $60 bonus.
This is a make-or-break season for Lincoln Riley at USC, as he has not had the success that many were expecting when USC hired him in 2022. In four full seasons with the Trojans, Riley has gone 35-18 and has failed to make it to the College Football Playoff. On top of that, he has a 2-2 bowl game record. He’s also found himself ranked as a top-15 team three times and finished the season unranked in those seasons.
Looking at this season, Riley is off to a 5-1 start, however, three wins over non-Power opponents inflate the record. USC has also looked shaky in conference play so far.
It started the Big Ten schedule with a 42-35 win on the road against Rutgers as massive 21-point favorites. They lost their first game of the year in blowout fashion to Oregon 41-27. In Week 5, USC defeated Washington 25-21, however, it trailed for most of the game before taking the lead late in the third quarter.
The Trojans' struggles do not stem from the offense, as they’re putting up 37.3 points per game this season and 31.3 in Big Ten play. Defensively, USC has allowed 25.5 points per game, and 32 in Big Ten play.
Looking at the rest of the season, USC’s schedule is not forgiving, with road games against Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana, and UCLA remaining, as well as a home game against Ohio State.
Trading is risky, always trade responsibly. If your activity is becoming a problem, support is available by calling 1-800-522-4700.
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Published Oct 7, 2026 | Modified 7 hours ago
The USC football game at Penn State contains so many rich plot points and storylines. One is that Penn State's defensive coordinator spent the past two seasons at USC under Lincoln Riley. Now, D'Anton Lynn will go up against Riley in a fascinating chess match. We talked to Nittany Lions Wire lead writer Kevin McGuire about D'Anton Lynn so far at Penn State this season:"I'm not ready to say the scheme of D'Anton Lynn is to blame yet, because it played so well in the first few weeks of the season in tuning up for Big...
The USC football game at Penn State contains so many rich plot points and storylines. One is that Penn State's defensive coordinator spent the past two seasons at USC under Lincoln Riley. Now, D'Anton Lynn will go up against Riley in a fascinating chess match. We talked to Nittany Lions Wire lead writer Kevin McGuire about D'Anton Lynn so far at Penn State this season:
"I'm not ready to say the scheme of D'Anton Lynn is to blame yet, because it played so well in the first few weeks of the season in tuning up for Big Ten play," McGuire told us. "And it was pretty goo against Wisconsin and forced three turnovers against the Badgers before just running out of gas on an ineffective night from the offense. But last week was jarring as it looked like Penn State's defense just didn't know how or want to tackle the way we have come to expect from Penn State defenses of the past. Of course, it is worth noting Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was well aware of Lynn's defensive styling too, and that didn't help. That actually concerns me this week too."
McGuire brings up a very interesting point. D'Anton Lynn coached under Chip Kelly at UCLA before moving to USC. Lincoln Riley will know what D'Anton Lynn likes to do on defense, but Lynn knows what Riley likes to do on offense. Which man's understanding of the other's habits and tendencies will prove to be superior in this game? It's amazing that Riley's USC tenure hangs in the balance and could hinge upon whether he can solve his former assistant coach's defensive game plan. What a subplot to the larger battle between the Trojans and Nittany Lions.
USC 42, Rutgers 35: Trojans win but embarrass themselves Lincoln Riley squanders USC advantage over Oregon, is in big trouble Oregon might lack key receiver for USC game Dan Lanning talks about lack of leadership on 2026 Oregon team Oregon offensive line gets extremely low grade for Oklahoma State gameContact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
USC fans who watched a pair of defenders play two-hand touch on Washington’s final touchdown Saturday weren’t the only incredulous observers.Count Trojans coach Lincoln Riley in that same group.“It was just, I think, two really just poor attempts at a tackle,” Riley said Tuesday evening after having several days to digest the indignity.It started when Huskies tight end Decker DeGraaf caught a short pass from Demond Williams Jr. early n in the third quarter and turned upfield.USC safety Bria...
USC fans who watched a pair of defenders play two-hand touch on Washington’s final touchdown Saturday weren’t the only incredulous observers.
Count Trojans coach Lincoln Riley in that same group.
“It was just, I think, two really just poor attempts at a tackle,” Riley said Tuesday evening after having several days to digest the indignity.
It started when Huskies tight end Decker DeGraaf caught a short pass from Demond Williams Jr. early n in the third quarter and turned upfield.
USC safety Brian Urlacher had a chance to stop DeGraaf around the 30-yard line, but his two-handed shove attempting to move the receiver out of bounds had zero impact as DeGraaf continued to run up the sideline.
Cornerback Elbert “Rock” Hill IV had one last chance inside the 20, but his two-handed push had the same negligible effect as his teammate’s.
“He got face masked like crazy,” Riley said of Hill, “but it’s still zero excuse to not get the guy out of bounds. I mean just, it really wasn’t representative of the way we played the entire game. It was kind of weird that our two worst attempts at a tackle happened on the same exact play.
“You can’t play for us and play like that.”
Did Riley speak with Urlacher and Hill afterward?
“Oh, yeah,” Riley said. “Message received loud and clear and it was a bad play by our standards. Those guys have been two pretty good football players for us. That hasn’t been representative of how KU and Rock have played this year, how they’ve tackled or hit or competed. So out of character for both of them and I bet we won’t see it again.”
On the plus side, DeGraaf’s touchdown represented Washington’s final score before the Trojans rallied for a 25-21 victory while allowing their fewest points in a month.
Students who chanted “Fire Riley!” after USC fell behind 21-10 were silenced by what happened the rest of the game.
USC’s defense was bolstered in part by the strong play of linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson, subbing for Desman Stephens II after Stephens was suspended for celebrating his big hit on Oregon’s Dante Moore the previous week.
Might that impact the team’s linebacker rotation against Penn State (3-2 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) on Saturday given it received some of its best play of the season at the position?
“It’s gonna create more opportunities for some of those guys, there’s no question about it,” said Riley, whose No. 19 Trojans (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) will face a Nittany Lions offense averaging 32 points per game. “Des is a good player and an important part of this football team.
“I think what we learned this week is we’ve got a handful of guys in there that can go out there and play really, really well. [So] whether it’s somebody else getting more reps or it’s just the ability to just simply rotate guys to keep them fresh, we’re using guys different from a package standpoint. We certainly look at it as a positive and feel like we know a little bit more, have developed some more depth in that room than maybe we felt 10 days ago.”
After 72 particularly miserable hours for his football program, Lincoln Riley took his place behind a lectern Tuesday and tried to assure everyone that things at USC weren’t as bad as they looked.“There’s a lot of things to be proud of in this football program right now,” Riley said. “Those that really look into it and look at what’s happening here will see that and understand that. There’s people on the outside that just don’t.”But the optics at USC, since Saturday’s ...
After 72 particularly miserable hours for his football program, Lincoln Riley took his place behind a lectern Tuesday and tried to assure everyone that things at USC weren’t as bad as they looked.
“There’s a lot of things to be proud of in this football program right now,” Riley said. “Those that really look into it and look at what’s happening here will see that and understand that. There’s people on the outside that just don’t.”
But the optics at USC, since Saturday’s 41-27 home loss to Oregon, certainly couldn’t have been much worse for Riley. Because it wasn’t just that his Trojans lost a critical game to a bitter rival, one framed for weeks — months, even — as a must-win. Or that in its wake, Ducks coach Dan Lanning had savaged him and his program multiple times.
It was what happened in the midst of that loss, as well as the reactions after, that made matters much worse for USC.
The days since have prompted questions across the country about Riley’s future at USC, where he’s midway through his fifth season as coach. One person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Times that “all options are on the table” with Riley after the loss and the events of last weekend.
The chain of regrettable decisions began the moment Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II lowered his shoulder into the helmet of sliding Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in the second quarter. Moore’s head slammed hard into the ground, and he laid motionless for several minutes surrounded by medical personnel, until he was lifted onto a backboard and loaded into an ambulance that had driven onto the field.
The whole unsettling scene was made far worse by Stephens’ reaction in the immediate aftermath of the hit. After jawing with Oregon players, the junior linebacker was seen taunting the Oregon sideline and celebrating on his way back to USC’s side of the field. He continued high-fiving teammates while the Ducks surrounded their quarterback, who was diagnosed with a concussion but no other serious injuries.
The next morning, Stephens and his coach said in a statement that his actions were “unacceptable,” “inexcusable” and “completely inappropriate.” But immediately after the game, Riley first said he didn’t see Stephens celebrate the hit. And when asked why Stephens was allowed to stay on the sideline for the second half, the coach responded, incredulously, “‘Cause he’s on our football team.” He wished Moore well but said nothing further about Stephens or his vicious hit.
“It’s an easy answer,” said Petros Papadakis, a local radio host and former USC captain. “I understand you can’t have eyes everywhere as a head coach. But even if you didn’t see it, by the end of the game you know most of college football has turned against you in the last hour.
“The story didn’t go away because Lincoln didn’t get in front of it.”
It was clear that night, among USC’s leadership, that the immediate response wasn’t adequate. So the next morning, athletic director Jen Cohen met with Riley to discuss a suspension for Stephens. They settled on one game.
On Tuesday, Riley took a different tone. He said he was “disappointed with how [Stephens] handled it” and that he “needs to have more awareness.”
Riley also asked for understanding from those who have been critical of Stephens, whom he described as “a young person who made a mistake.”
“Consider if that was your son,” he said, “how would you want it handled?”
But three days later, the college football world still was litigating Stephens’ hit. The story still was alive, in part, because of a short documentary from the game, published by Oregon on Tuesday morning. In it was a clip that unexpectedly would make things even worse at USC.
The clip is of USC’s radio booth, where Pete Arbogast has been the Trojans’ play-by-play guy for the last-quarter century. From his perch in the Coliseum press box, Arbogast is painting the scene of the play when Moore was injured. Except, in this case, listeners heard a different account of his slide and Stephens’ hit than what happened on the field.
“He did not try to slide feet-first!” Arbogast said in the moment.
Arbogast went on to say that Moore “ducked into that hit. I did not see him put his feet out first. I saw him dive forward.”
When confronted with the replay moments later, Arbogast stood by what he said, claiming that Moore’s slide was “more of a knee-first slide.” Even Arbogast’s radio partner, former Trojans defensive tackle Shaun Cody, raised his eyebrows at the suggestion.
Both Arbogast and the university declined to comment when reached by The Times.
Papadakis, who previously worked on the broadcast with Arbogast, called it “a bad look,” but explained that Arbogast was “usually defending USC or trying to spin something positive.”
That job was left to Riley and his players on Tuesday. Though, some were more convincing than others.
“This is a time of adversity, the best time to come together as one,” left tackle Elijah Paige said.
“Times like these you tend to see teams fall apart,” quarterback Jayden Maiava added, “but this team is such a tight team and we’re all bought into each other.”
Riley, meanwhile, pointed for the second day in a row to a stretch early in Saturday’s fourth quarter against Oregon, when the Coliseum had reached a fevered pitch and momentum seemed to be swinging in the Trojans’ favor.
Except, it never did. USC gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns after that. Riley still tried to find the silver lining.
“We didn’t get run out of the stadium,” Riley said. “There’s a lot of good on that tape. You don’t have a chance to win a game like that if you don’t do some things pretty well.”
This was never supposed to be the standard at USC. Lincoln Riley arrived with championship expectations, went 11-3 with Caleb Williams in Year 1, and made everyone believe the Trojans were finally relevant again. Cute. Five seasons later, USC still has no College Football Playoff appearance, no conference championship under Riley, and a growing collection of high-profile losses whenever the stakes actually rise. The 41-27 home embarrassment against Oregon was bad enough, but needing a late escape just to beat Washington 25-21 only made the w...
This was never supposed to be the standard at USC. Lincoln Riley arrived with championship expectations, went 11-3 with Caleb Williams in Year 1, and made everyone believe the Trojans were finally relevant again. Cute. Five seasons later, USC still has no College Football Playoff appearance, no conference championship under Riley, and a growing collection of high-profile losses whenever the stakes actually rise. The 41-27 home embarrassment against Oregon was bad enough, but needing a late escape just to beat Washington 25-21 only made the whole thing look worse.
And then came the part Riley really could not ignore.
USC's own student section started chanting "Fire Lincoln!" during a game the Trojans eventually won. That is not exactly a ringing endorsement of the rebuild.
The Trojans trailed Washington 21-10 after Decker DeGraaf ripped off a 42-yard touchdown, and for a while, it looked like Riley was heading toward another ugly home loss just one week after getting handled by Oregon.
USC finally responded with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, but even that only cut the deficit to 21-16. Then the game flipped on one play. Washington quarterback Demond Williams fumbled; Jahkeem Stewart scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown, suddenly giving USC a 22-21 lead.
The Trojans added only a field goal in the fourth quarter and still had to survive Washington's final push. That is how thin the margin was. USC did not take control so much as take advantage of Washington's mistakes and hold on.
And remember, Washington entered the night still searching for its first Big Ten win. Riley was hired to make USC a championship program, not to need a defensive touchdown and a late stand just to escape 25-21 at home.
The frustration goes beyond the scoreboard, too. During the Oregon game, a USC player was ejected for a hit on Dante Moore and then celebrated on the sideline afterward. Against Washington, the defensive issues showed up again, with missed tackles and breakdowns allowing DeGraaf to rumble 42 yards down the sideline almost untouched.
Even after USC took the lead, it still could not put Washington away cleanly. The Huskies marched into the USC red zone in the final minute and set up a 4th-and-goal from the 12-yard line with only seconds remaining. The desperation pass into the corner of the end zone fell incomplete, allowing USC to escape.
Winning ugly happens in college football, but this one did little to suggest Riley has fixed the problems that have frustrated fans for years. The team still looks inconsistent, undisciplined, and far too vulnerable against opponents USC is supposed to handle.
Riley spent the summer talking up this roster as one of his best and most physical yet, but the product on the field has not matched that confidence. Surviving Washington because of a defensive touchdown and a late stand is hardly the kind of performance that quiets questions about whether USC can compete with the true heavyweights of the Big Ten.
At the end of the day, the 25-21 win bought Riley a little breathing room, but it did not calm the storm around his future. His massive buyout makes an immediate firing complicated, but the fanbase has clearly reached a point where simply winning is no longer enough. The comeback saved the result. It did not erase the frustration.
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