UCLA football and coach Bob Chesney have an important game against No. 15 Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 10, but that didn't stop the first-year coach from offering a hand to Ducks coach Dan Lanning.
Chesney, who has already turned around No. 23 UCLA with a 4-0 record to start the season, texted Lanning on Sept. 26 and offered help with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who was hospitalized after suffering a concussion against Southern California in Week 4.
Chesney offered to stop by the hospital and check in on Moore in Los Angeles, roughly 18 miles from UCLA's campus.
"He's also a great guy," Lanning said of Chesney on "The Jim Rome Show" on Wednesday, Sept.
30. "For example, he texted me as they were traveling back to (Los Angeles), 'Hey, if you need my help with Dante, we're still in (Los Angeles), I'll go check on this guy. I'm giving the team the day off tomorrow so just let me know.'
"It just speaks to what kind of person he is, as well. I've got a lot of respect for their team and their program. ... Pretty amazing, man. Credit to Bob. He didn't do it so he could hear me say it in an interview. It was genuine and certainly appreciated."
Last season, Chesney led James Madison to the College Football Playoff, where it fell to Lanning and Oregon 51-34 on the road. The Dukes put up a solid fight, though, with 28 second-half points and 509 total yards offense. It already appears Chesney has changed the culture at UCLA, too. The Bruins have won each of their four games by double-digits and are coming off a dominant 54-3 win over Maryland.
Lanning said what Chesney has done at UCLA has been impressive, comparing the Bruins to another program that emerged into a college football power in a short period of time.
"Coach Chesney is an outstanding coach," Lanning said. "He has won everywhere he has been. It reminds me so much of the Indiana team from last year, and I think a lot of people are maybe making those comparisons. ... He's obviously an outstanding coach."
While UCLA is certainly focused on making a statement by upsetting Oregon on Oct. 3, it's clear there's a level of respect between the two West Coast coaches.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Lanning says Bob Chesney offered to check on Dante Moore in hospital: 'Pretty amazing'
