Developing
USC radio broadcaster criticized for blaming Oregon QB after helmet-to-helmet hit
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 3 outlets, all right-leaning.
4 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
During USC's game against Oregon, USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit a sliding Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in the helmet, knocking him unconscious; Moore was taken to a hospital and later diagnosed with a concussion. Stephens was suspended for one game for the hit, and both Stephens and USC coach Lincoln Riley later apologized. During the live radio broadcast, longtime USC announcer Pete Arbogast said Moore had “ducked into” the hit rather than sliding feet-first, and argued it did not look like targeting. Video of Arbogast's comments went viral, drawing criticism from fans and reactions of apparent disbelief from his broadcast partner, Shaun Cody.
Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works
What happened
Key points
Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.
USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit a sliding Dante Moore in the helmet, knocking him unconscious.
Reported byRight
Moore was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a concussion.
Reported byRight
Stephens was suspended for one game over the hit.
Reported byRight
USC radio announcer Pete Arbogast said live on air that Moore had not slid feet-first and had 'ducked into' the hit.
Reported byRight
Video of Arbogast's comments went viral and drew criticism from fans.
Reported byRight
Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points
Both Stephens and USC coach Lincoln Riley apologized after the game.
Reported byRight
Arbogast's broadcast partner, Shaun Cody, appeared to react with visible disbelief during the call.
Reported byRight
What is contested
Where accounts differ
Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.
Whether the hit on Moore constituted targeting.
Arbogast argued on-air that it did not look like targeting because Moore 'ducked into' the hit rather than sliding feet-first; other coverage describes the hit as a clear, 'brutal' or 'malicious' targeting violation, noting Stephens was suspended for it.
How each side tells it
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the left
No coverage yet
No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the center
No coverage yet
No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the right
3 outlets · 1 opinion
All four right-leaning outlets frame the story around public backlash against Arbogast, with headlines using words like 'blasted,' 'cooked,' and 'embarrassing,' though Townhall's framing is more explicitly opinionated, opening with broader criticism of the USC program before addressing the broadcast.
USC radio announcer's description of the Dante Moore hit is Sensational language“one of the most embarrassing things ever”This superlative framing exaggerates the significance of the broadcaster's comments rather than describing them factually.More neutral: draws widespread criticismDisagree with this highlight?
Fox NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines
The words they chose
Language to notice
Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.
Left
Has not covered this story.
Center
Has not covered this story.
Right7
facing major backlashblasted for blamingmalicious hitThe USC Trojans are trash
In the outlets’ own words
Sensational language
facing major backlashMore neutral: facing criticism
‘Major’ amplifies the scale of criticism without specifying its extent.
USC broadcaster Pete Arbogast is facing major backlash after blaming Oregon QB Dante Moore for a controversial targeting hit by…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded verb
blasted for blamingMore neutral: criticized for blaming
‘Blasted’ characterizes the criticism dramatically rather than neutrally describing it as backlash or criticism.
USC radio broadcaster blasted for blaming Oregon QB Dante Moore after being knocked unconscious
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded modifier
malicious hitMore neutral: hard hit
‘Malicious’ presumes intent to harm rather than describing the hit factually.
If you thought the video of USC linebacker Desman Stephens II's malicious hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore was bad, wait until you hear at least one member of the…
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
The USC Trojans are trashMore neutral: The USC Trojans have struggled this season
This is a subjective, derogatory assessment of the team rather than a factual statement.
The USC Trojans are trash.
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer
Sensational language
getting cookedMore neutral: facing criticism
Informal slang dramatizes the criticism rather than describing it plainly.
USC's Radio Announcer Is Getting Cooked for His Reaction to a Nasty Hit on Oregon's QB
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Vague attribution
sparked disbelief across college footballMore neutral: drew criticism from viewers
Attributes a sweeping reaction to an unspecified, broad group without evidence of its extent.
…call of Desman Stephens' brutal hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore has sparked disbelief across college football.
Used byFox News (Far Right)
Sensational language
one of the most embarrassing things everMore neutral: draws widespread criticism
This superlative framing exaggerates the significance of the broadcaster's comments rather than describing them factually.
USC radio announcer's description of the Dante Moore hit is one of the most embarrassing things ever
Used byFox News (Far Right)
See for yourself
Side by side
What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.
From the left
0 outletsNo left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the center
0 outletsNo center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the right
3 outlets · 1 opinionLeads with
- Arbogast's specific on-air comments blaming Moore
- fan and viewer backlash
- the severity of the hit and Moore's injury
- reaction from Arbogast's broadcast partner
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- Fox NewsFar Right
USC radio announcer's description of the Dante Moore hit is Sensational language“one of the most embarrassing things ever”This superlative framing exaggerates the significance of the broadcaster's comments rather than describing them factually.More neutral: draws widespread criticismDisagree with this highlight?
USC radio announcer Pete Arbogast's real-time call of Desman Stephens' brutal hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore has Vague attribution“sparked disbelief across college football”Attributes a sweeping reaction to an unspecified, broad group without evidence of its extent.More neutral: drew criticism from viewersDisagree with this highlight?.
- Breitbart NewsFar Right
Fans Blast USC Radio Broadcast Team for 'Embarrassing' Call of Illegal Hit on Dante Moore
If you thought the video of USC linebacker Desman Stephens II's Loaded modifier“malicious hit”‘Malicious’ presumes intent to harm rather than describing the hit factually.More neutral: hard hitDisagree with this highlight? on Oregon QB Dante Moore was bad, wait until you hear at least one member of the USC radio broadcast team try to explain it away.
- New York PostRight
USC radio broadcaster Loaded verb“blasted for blaming”‘Blasted’ characterizes the criticism dramatically rather than neutrally describing it as backlash or criticism.More neutral: criticized for blamingDisagree with this highlight? Oregon QB Dante Moore after being knocked unconscious
USC broadcaster Pete Arbogast is Sensational language“facing major backlash”‘Major’ amplifies the scale of criticism without specifying its extent.More neutral: facing criticismDisagree with this highlight? after blaming Oregon QB Dante Moore for a controversial targeting hit by Desman Stephens II.
USC's Radio Announcer Is Sensational language“Getting Cooked”Informal slang dramatizes the criticism rather than describing it plainly.More neutral: facing criticismDisagree with this highlight? for His Reaction to a Nasty Hit on Oregon's QB
Loaded modifier“The USC Trojans are trash”This is a subjective, derogatory assessment of the team rather than a factual statement.More neutral: The USC Trojans have struggled this seasonDisagree with this highlight?. Their program is a joke. And it’s a good thing Lincoln Riley couldn’t beat another ranked opponent. He’s 5-15 in those matchups, by the way. …
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The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.
Who reported it when
How the coverage built up
Left
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Center
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Right
First to report
New York Post, Sep 29, 11:11 AM EDT
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- New York PostRightSep 29, 11:11 AM EDT
- Breitbart NewsFar RightSep 29, 11:55 AM EDT
- Fox NewsFar RightSep 30, 9:09 AM EDT
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.
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