Saturday night’s game between Oregon and USC included a hit from Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II that knocked out Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and sent him to the hospital. Beyond the play itself, the situation was riddled with horrible optics.
Stephens celebrated after the play. He was seen smiling on the sideline before his disqualification.
Then, in the second half, Stephens returned to the USC sideline.
Asked after the game why Stephens was back on the sideline, USC coach Lincoln Riley seemed to be confused by the question. “Because he’s on our football team,” Riley said.
Strangely, NCAA rules allow a “disqualified” player to remain on the sidelines. (An “ejected” player must leave.) It was nevertheless tone deaf for USC to allow him to return.
Stephens deserves a stiff suspension both for the hit and for his antics after it. And there’s no way USC will do that on its own. The NCAA needs to step in and send a clear message about its commitment to player health and safety. If it doesn’t, someone should suggest an amendment to the “Protect College Sports Act” that mandates the NCAA to take a harder line when something like this happens.
While the name of the bill is simply a slogan aimed at getting the NCAA the antitrust exemption it craves, the NCAA coined the term in order to make the bill seem more palatable. So they’re now stuck with it. And, given the chosen title of the bill, how can the NCAA and the federal government “protect college sports” if they don’t also protect college athletes?
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