Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Taunts USC Crowd and Culture After Victory
Following a hard-fought win, Dan Lanning questioned USC's fan base and overall football culture in a post-game press conference.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning took aim at USC's home crowd and football culture following his team's 41-27 victory over the Trojans on Saturday night. Lanning, who improved to 3-0 in matchups against USC counterpart Lincoln Riley, made the remarks unprompted in his post-game press conference.
"Three wins against these guys," Lanning stated. "I guess if you’re interested in winning football games, you’re from this area, you should go to Oregon. If you want to go to a Chris Brown concert, you should go here."
Lanning's reference to Chris Brown performing at a nearby venue the previous night was seen as a jab at USC's priorities. The rivalry between Oregon and USC has intensified, particularly in recruiting, with USC securing top-ranked classes in recent years.
Lanning also commented on the sellout crowd of 75,500 at the Coliseum, which marked a season high for USC. This came after the Trojans had faced criticism for lower attendance numbers in earlier games.
"I’ve watched three of their TV games," Lanning said. "I haven’t seen a game packed yet, but we were here. It was packed tonight. So I guess when the Ducks show up, right, that’s how you fill up the Coliseum."
The game was marked by a controversial play in the second quarter when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was injured after a hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II. Stephens was ejected for targeting following the play, which involved a forearm to Moore's head as he was sliding. The incident led to a near-brawl between players and coaches on the field.
"It’s a disgusting play," Lanning said of the hit on Moore. "You don’t want to see it happen. It’s disappointing that it happened out there." Moore was taken to the hospital via ambulance before halftime. Lanning noted that Moore had regained some movement but deferred questions about further punishment for Stephens to the conference and USC.
Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola played in Moore's place, contributing to Oregon's win. The victory further solidified Lanning's successful record against Riley and the Trojans.