Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts says Oregon head coach Dan Lanning handled a frightening on-field injury to quarterback Dante Moore about as well as a coach could.
The incident occurred during the second quarter of Oregon’s 41-20 win over USC, when USC linebacker Desman Stephens delivered a late hit to the head of a sliding Moore. Stephens celebrated immediately afterward, while Moore was carted off the field in a scene that alarmed players and fans alike.
Fouts, who starred at Oregon for three seasons before a 15-year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, said Lanning’s response to the team in the moments after the hit stood out.
“I think the way that Lanning handled it was perfect. He brought the team together, calmed them all down, said a prayer for Dante. And it reminded them about focus, and reminded them about the importance of what they’re doing, why they practiced so hard, why they’re prepared, and got back into a football mindset. But the order in which he did that, I thought was absolutely perfect,” Fouts told OutKick.
Fouts said his first reaction to seeing the hit was concern for Moore’s health. “It’s a violent, violent game, and anybody who’s played the game has suffered injuries. That one obviously looked just terrible,” he said, speaking on behalf of “Miller Night Football.”
On Stephens’ celebration in the immediate aftermath of the hit, Fouts was more forgiving. “Kids are kids, and I think the player got caught up in the moment of something that I’m sure he regrets now, his actions, but in the heat of the moment, he made a mistake,” he said.
USC suspended Stephens for the team’s game against Washington following the incident. The junior linebacker issued an apology for what he called his “inappropriate” behavior.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during yesterday’s game. Seeing a player injured like that is incredibly serious, and my reaction in the moments afterward was completely inappropriate and inexcusable. Regardless of what was going through my mind at the time, there is no justification for smiling or celebrating while another player receives medical attention,” Stephens said. “I take full responsibility for my actions. That is not the person or teammate I want to be, and I will learn from this. I am deeply sorry to Dante, his family and everyone who saw my reaction. It is not representative of USC or our program. I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.”
Lanning, for his part, called the hit on his quarterback “disgusting.” Moore remains in the NCAA’s concussion protocol with no official timetable for his return.
