Bob Chesney has made a noticeable impact on UCLA’s football program in the last year, and now he’s expanding his influence into the Big Ten.
This past Saturday, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore had to leave a game against USC in an ambulance after a serious hit. Following this incident, Oregon’s head coach, Dan Lanning, shared during an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show” that Chesney had offered his assistance.
“He reached out while they were heading back to LA, saying, ‘If you need help with Dante or anything, and he’s still in LA, I can check on him. I’m giving the team a day off; just let me know,’” Lanning said. “I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s doing.”
Moore’s exit occurred after he took a tough hit from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II.
After the play, Stephens II controversially celebrated, which led to his ejection. However, he remained on the USC sideline. USC coach Lincoln Riley later stated that he wasn’t aware of the celebration but confirmed Stephens II is still part of the team.
Consequently, Stephens II is facing a one-game suspension and will miss the Trojans’ home game against Washington in Week 5.
On Monday, Moore took to Instagram, mentioning he’s “made progress” after the incident.
While Oregon has a bye week, it’s likely that Moore won’t play in their next game. Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola is expected to take the field, and he performed exceptionally well against USC, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Interestingly, Oregon’s next matchup is with UCLA.
Similar to the Ducks, the Bruins also enjoy a bye week this weekend.
Chesney has guided the Bruins to an impressive 4-0 record and a No. 23 national ranking. In their recent game, they had a dominant 54-3 victory over Maryland, racking up 266 rushing yards and having four running backs score touchdowns.
During his interview with Rome, Lanning noted that Chesney’s Bruins remind him of the strong program Curt Cignetti has built at Indiana.
This season, UCLA is leading the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 281.5 yards per game. A significant factor contributing to this success is running back Wayne Knight, who followed Chesney from James Madison to UCLA.
Knight currently leads the Big Ten with 445 rushing yards, averaging 9.1 yards per carry, along with nine touchdowns.
