Sports

Oregon Exposes USC Radio Team For Embarrassing Response To Dirty Hit

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iStockphoto / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

USC's radio crew blamed Dante Moore for his concussion.


Quarterback Dante Moore was carted off the field on Saturday night in Los Angeles during a game between Oregon and USC. The passer suffered a concussion after a vicious hit that Dan Lanning called “disgusting.”

The Ducks would wind up winning the game with backup signal caller Dylan Raiola leading the way. Oregon’s social media team has since posted scenes from the 41-27 victory online.

One of those recent clips exposed the USC radio crew for its embarrassing response to the hit on Moore. Pete Arbogast blamed the quarterback while completely ignoring the Trojans‘ disrespectful reaction.

USC radio call blames Dante Moore.

Oregon posts a weekly YouTube montage from every game showing sights and sounds from around the stadium. The series is titled, Ducks Vs. Them. The most recent episode was called, “For Your Brother.”

That video detailed the vicious hit taken by Moore on a 10-yard scamper in the first half. It also gathered a variety of broadcast reactions to the play.

Most viewers agreed the hit was outside the rules of the game. Targeting was called. Linebacker Desman Stephens has since been suspended for the collision, and his celebration that followed.

USC’s radio team did not deem the hit dirty. It placed all the blame on Moore by insinuating he didn’t slide.

“He did not try to slide feet first,” Arbogast said on the air. “Stephens went in helmet-first, but he kind of ran into Dante Moore, who ducked into that hit…

“I did not see him put his feet out first. I saw him dive forward.”

Arbogast has called USC football games for nearly four decades. He did not believe that Stephens did anything wrong.

Even after watching the replay, Arbogast doubled down. It was embarrassing. In USC’s defense, other members of the crew appeared to reject the announcer’s assertion.

Dan Lanning admitted the slide was late…

That did not make the hit any less disgusting in his eyes. Stephens led with the helmet and shoulder. He launched himself into Dante Moore’s head. He then celebrated while Moore lay motionless on the football field.

“There’s a difference in leading and launching for a quarterback,” the coach said. “You teach all these guys to be careful around quarterbacks at all times… Targeting exists for a reason. Quarterbacks are protected for a reason.”

Lanning was not happy with the hit. He saw what everyone else in America saw… Well, everyone but Pete Arbogast in the USC radio booth.

Oregon provided an update on its passer Sunday. Moore did not suffer any additional injuries outside of the concussion. The Ducks will monitor his progress as he looks to make a return to the field.