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As I've stated many times on USC boards over the past 3 years.....Riley is the definition of pure incompetence. Many agree with me......now. National media that defend him have no idea what they are talking about.

That's a great point. If true, and if they were interested in changing culture, then Riley would likely need to get rid many players that he recruited. Also, if Riley had manned up and made a public statement on Saturday night -- or even Sunday morning, that Stephens had been kicked off the team, that would have had some semi-decent positive PR impact for their program. But at this point, days later, and now that Riley's butt is the equivalent of a four to five alarm South Central LA fire, booting Stephens now would look like a sacrificial lamb move by Riley, designed almost exclusively to save his own butt. Nope... as of today, I don't think there is a PR move alive that gets this program out of this self-inflicted, horrendous, situation without some heavy-duty long-term damage. I sure luv these kind of 'feel good' Monday stories and situations.

USC vs Oregon.....reminds me of going to the Zoo vs the Opera.

A national championship may be at stake. I think the world of Dante Moore....he is a real gentleman......but.....as a QB.....Dylan is the better choice for the Ducks. IMHO How this plays out may determine Oregon's future this year. I'am glad I'am not making the decision....it's a tough call from a human point of view. It could be heart breaking either way.

Oregon football: Ducks react to Dante Moore's injury impact vs. USC On a sc podcast, one of the podcasters was on the sideline and talked about his distrain for the players and coaches re actions or lack thereof. Also, that he heard a player say 15 yards for taking out a QB was worth it.

Perhaps it's worth noting that USC does reside in the 'historic' area of South Central Los Angeles.

USC's Desman Stephens II has been suspended for one game after he and HC Lincoln Riley issued a written apology to Dante Moore. The move is not nearly enough. On today's episode of Locked On Ducks, Spencer McLaughlin breaks down the best things that Oregon did against the Trojans. OC Drew Mehringer tamped down the pressure he was facing from fans. The Ducks' slow start to the season feels like a long time ago after the big win on Saturday. How do their games against Oklahoma State and Boise State look right now?

A little more Dylan Raiola love this Monday morning. Raiola Fits This Oregon OffenseDylan Raiola is the type of quarterback needed to run Dan Lanning’s efficiency based offense.

Josh Pate said that USC could be this year’s Penn State: • Fans and media saying that this year’s team is a national championship contender • Coach is on the hot seat and there are questions of whether he can win the “big game” • Oregon comes in and beats them at home in front of a sell-out crowd on prime time national television • They have a tough schedule ahead starting with UW this weekend, at Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana

Yea, BSU and Okie State getting ranked changes perception. A ranked ucla next game would make it 4 of 5 opening games v. ranked opponents. but what gets focused on is how shameful it is to schedule Portland State.

The USC team rejection - from players through head coach - of taking responsibility at the time for what happened to Dante Moore clearly reveals the level of desperation they have now arrived at to win. They are willing to now celebrate (players) or ignore (coaches) endangering behavior by their own in order to maintain game time momentum, no matter the cost to an opposing player, or their own reputation. To acknowledge their egregious behavior a day later is just crocodile tears. That’s a program that has lost its way.

I hate the 1st down point.

In any given year I agree. However, it is natty or bust during Uncle's lifetime. Mine too I might add. Only I'm going to be greedy and ask for one during his and a 2nd while I'm hanging around since he has a little over a decade on me.

He makes many good points!

Seems like Josh Pate agrees with my take starting at 5 minutes in:

If we still lived in a society of manners this guy would be off the team. Just like I would have kicked Holden off the Oregon team for spitting if I was dictator of Oregon sports. Then again I would make the first down point by a player a 5 yard penalty and replay the down.

To be honest (aren't we all, mostly?) I don't like the idea of Natty or bust. Your season shouldn't be considered lost if you don't win it all. I mean, we've won 13 games the last 2 years in a row! Oh well, this is the age we live in. This system of voting on teams to make the playoffs is bogus. Head to head play seems meaningless. Unless you are in the SEC. They are ALWAYS overrated. Every year. We can only hope that 9 conference games eventually evens things out. But it's absolutely true, playing a decent team out of conference has no upside. OOC games will now be those affordable ticket games for the casual fan. And a chance for potential awards winners padding their stats. Bring on Eastern WA, Coastal Carolina and W. Kentucky. It's time OR matched up with the UM's of football.

We may get to the end of the season seeing that we had one of the toughest schedules in the country in terms of ranked teams and teams with a winning record.

Why go head first into ANY player that is already down?

Having 24 hours to ponder this whole situation, I feel I am struggling with my biases, and I can't shake the thought of not attributing to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence. It is possible Stephens, being a USC tackler is too slow mentally to realize that getting a lick in on the QB who likely is trying to give himself up isn't wise and will get him ejected. More didn't slide way too late, but he didn't slide early either. You could tell he didn't see the LB untill later than he should have, then began the process of giving himself up 4-5 yards away from the defender. I watched Stephens initial taunting and he never looked back at Moore once until he left the field completely, certainly not knowing the severity of his hit. Yes he dabbed it up with his teammates, still possibly not understanding the gravity of what he had done. Later sitting on the bench seeing the ambulance, but smiling and fist bumps could easily have been self soothing at that point, trying to get his teammates reassurance, and smiling trying to hide his true feelings. My son does that sometimes, and I've seen other players. Actions have consequences, he's going to pay for this socially worse than he will the game and a half he'll miss. I do believe Riley when he seems completely clueless as to the hit and celebrations and not even reading the room in his press conference, he's a dweeb of the highest order. I'm upset with NBC's halftime break immediately teeing up Simns to run interference for USC. It was no accident by NBC yet seeing Simns apologize online it's obvious it was again not reading the room properly blaming the victim who left in an ambulance minutes earlier. Lots of people online are saying the sliding rule needs to go, but I think the real fix is stiffer penalties such that defenders get trained to recognize signs of a slide and think more than twice before laying the wood, and QBs faking a slide should be a 15 yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage.

I don't think he needs to be kicked off the team. It was the culture that he was brought into. But more than 1 game is not sufficient. I always thought when you put someone out of commission, then the suspension should be as long as the victim is out.

I read several USC Football blogs today and the general consensus is that Desman Stephens should have been booted off the team and Lincoln Riley needs to go.

Astute observations, JJ... It is in abc/espn's best interest to promote and showcase the SEC teams. Their ratings depend on it. In the end, performance on the field, along with scoreboard are all that matters. With truly only 8 spots available(ND and 1-G6 are really gimmes and ACC and BIG12 get a spot) that leaves the SEC and BIG in play to split those spots. This year, i can see the SEC getting at least 1, maybe 2 teams with 9-3 records. Losses are not losses when an SEC team loses to another SEC team. It follows the narrative. The BIG will have 10-2 teams that may not make the CFP. A 10-2 Duck team may not climb high enough to make the CFP. There may not be enough time to overcome a November loss to tOSU. I am not saying that the Ducks will lose that game. But why risk it. Why put it in the hands of others. Experience tells me only tOSU and maybe IU can make the CFP if they miss the BIG Title game. Lots of football left to play but the voters are truly rewarding the SEC and no others. Go Ducks....a few unbeaten teams lie ahead on the schedule......

Even Trojans Wire wants him off the team. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2026/09/26/desman-stephens-attitude-shows-lincoln-riley-failed-usc/91969272007/ Riley is pathetic.

I think Stephens has elevated himself to our top So Cal recruiter.