If Dan Lanning ends up being held responsible for the actions of more than 50,000 people at Autzen Stadium, Oregon’s coach would ask fans to be on their best behavior.
Under House bill 2472, Lanning and other college sports head coaches and athletic directors at public universities in Oregon could face one-week suspensions if fans “engage in the use of derogatory or inappropriate names, insults, verbal assaults, profanity or ridicule in violation of equity focused policies.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, also states public universities could lose state grants, scholarship money and support from the Oregon State Police if they fail to enact and enforce policies that address such language that occurs at school events, including sporting events.
“I’ll tell them to be behaved I guess; you guys (media) can help me out there,” Lanning said. “Control what you can control right?”
The suspension of coaches and athletic directors outlined in the bill does not state if it would be with or without pay. Lanning’s contract states he must comply with all laws and “regulations relating to the conduct and administration of the football program.” Based on his $4.7 million salary this year a one-week suspension without pay would result in a loss of more than $90,000, along with his absence from the program.
HB 2472 also would require public universities to maintain a “transparent complaint process” with a reporting system to “make complaints about student, coach or spectator behavior.” Schools would have to respond to complaints within 48 hours, attempt to resolve them within 30 days, develop and implement a “system of sanctions against students, coaches and spectators” if a complaint is verified and conduct an annual survey of students “to understand and respond to potential violations of equity focused policies,” according to the bill. Additionally, all athletic department employees would be required to receive training related to these policies.
A University of Oregon spokeswoman said the university has no comment on HB 2472 at this time.
Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said the bill includes “elements that are either unnecessary or impractical.”
A work session for the bill has been called for March 28 at 3 p.m.
