USC went into damage-control mode on Sunday.
The school suspended Desman Stephens II for one game for his actions in Saturday’s game against Oregon. Coach Lincoln Riley offered a carefully worded written statement on the matter, too. But there’s something dark and peculiar about the whole episode still gnawing at me.
Stephens leveled a brutal blow to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore on Saturday night. He careened in as Moore slid, lowering his shoulder pads. Stephens angled his body and helmet as if he was trying to make a divot out of Moore.
Targeting.
Ejection.
Then, Stephens paraded about the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His teammates celebrated him on the sideline. He smirked and laughed. He’s since been suspended and offered a written apology, but there was something about the way he was lauded by his team that doesn’t sit right with me.
It was as if he’d accomplished some kind of mission.
I can’t be the only one thinking that.