Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has shared a positive statement with fans following a sickening hit during Saturday’s game.
Moore was rushed to hospital during the Ducks’ 41-27 victory over USC after a brutal tackle from linebacker Desman Stephens II left him motionless on the field.
However, the signal caller shared an encouraging update on Monday afternoon thanking his teammates and fans for their support in the wake of the terrifying incident.
‘To my team, the community, and to the World, thank you,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘These past 2 days have been very difficult, but through all of your prayers I have made progress. There’s times I question myself and the Lord and say Why now? but I quickly remember Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
‘I can only worry about today, and making sure I give today it’s full attention. I’ll be back soon. Go Ducks!’
The scary moment came during the second quarter of the game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum when Moore scrambled for an 11-yard gain before beginning a slide to protect himself near the USC 12-yard line.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has shared a positive statemen following a sickening hit
The signal caller was left motionless on the field following a tackle from Desman Stephens II
As he went down, USC linebacker Desman Stephens II launched forward and delivered a brutal shoulder strike directly to Moore’s head, snapping it backward before it slammed hard into the turf.
The senior quarterback lay motionless on the field for nearly 15 minutes as medical staff rushed out, placed him in a neck brace and loaded him onto a backboard.
Moore was then wheeled out of the Coliseum tunnel and transported directly to Los Angeles General Medical Center.
Speaking postgame, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning confirmed the signal-caller was in recovery and showing positive early signs of neurological responsiveness.
‘He’s in recovery, so I don’t want to speak too soon, but he is moving,’ Lanning told reporters. ‘He has the ability to move.’
‘We’ll continue to assess him, but I don’t want to make any speculation or further thoughts on that before we have further information on him,’ Lanning added.
Lanning also pulled no punches about Stephens’ hit in his post-game press conference, labeling the tackle a ‘disgusting play.’
USC announced on Sunday that it had officially disciplined Stephens with a one-game ban, ruling him out of this weekend’s matchup against Washington.
USC announced on Sunday that it had officially disciplined Stephens with a one-game ban
Moore was rushed to hospital following the sickening incident during Saturday’s game
Both USC head coach Lincoln Riley and Stephens issued statements addressing the incident, with the linebacker apologizing for the hit and his conduct on the sideline.
Footage from the broadcast showed Stephens smiling and dapping up teammates on the bench shortly after the violent collision, further fueling outrage.
The one-game penalty did little to placate fans and pundits online, who took to social media to brand the punishment a slap on the wrist.
‘Only one game? Disgusting,’ one outraged spectator fumed on X. ‘You can’t be celebrating injuring a player like that.’
‘Should be out for the season,’ another fan argued. ‘He knew what he did and was laughing about it afterwards. That should be completely unacceptable at every level.’
‘One game is an absolute joke,’ posted a third fan. ‘He should be out four games minimum after his antics following the late hit.’
Others called on the Big Ten conference to step in and supersede the school’s disciplinary action with a harsher penalty under its sportsmanship policy.
