Oregon football coach Dan Lanning on Monday, Sept. 26 said there's a difference between "leading" and "launching" for a quarterback as a defensive player, referencing Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens' hit on quarterback Dante Moore in Week 4.
Moore, who was stretchered off the field and hospitalized after suffering a concussion in the game, was attempting to slide during a scramble in the second quarter. Stephens was ejected for targeting and was later suspended for one game by USC.
"Targeting exists for a reason," Lanning said on "Wake Up Barstool." "Quarterbacks are protected for a reason, they don't really get to protect themselves.
... There's shoulder, head contact to the head area. Probably as much as anything that caused the concussion is (Moore's) head hitting the turf."
“Targeting exists for a reason. Quarterbacks are protected for a reason.”
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) September 28, 2026
-@CoachDanLanning on the hit that gave Dante Moore a concussion pic.twitter.com/31tXLRW6HC
Stephens also made headlines for his reaction after the play in which he hit Moore, as he was shown on the TV broadcast celebrating while Moore was down on the field. Lanning said he didn't really notice any celebrations, as he was more focused on tending to Moore, although he called the hit a "disgusting play" after the game.
"I didn't see a lot of the reaction," he said. "I saw the frustrations of our players, my eyes go to our players. I didn't see a lot of what they were doing. I don't think it was the whole group. I think you'll see there's a group of USC players afterwards that are on a knee and certainly concerned. ... To lump the whole group, I think that's unfair.
"But, was it a turning point for our guys in some ways where they played for a bigger purpose? Absolutely."
Moore, a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, isn't expected to be out for the season, Lanning confirmed Sunday, Sept. 27. Moore was replaced by Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola, who completed 19-of-25 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns in the 41-27 win.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Lanning didn't see USC celebrate Dante Moore hit, but says it was 'turning point'
