Rams Players, Coaches React To Earthquake

Los Angeles Rams players and coaches shared a wide range of reactions to the earthquake that struck California on Sunday

The Los Angeles Rams enjoyed a day off on Sunday after playing the day before, but it was not a typical rest day by any means.

On Sunday, Southern California experienced a day like very few before it. In addition to the arrival of Hurricane Hillary, which brought record-setting rainfall to the region, a 5.1 earthquake rocked the region. The earthquake hit Ojai, California, which is about 45 miles from the Rams' practice facility in Thousand Oaks and around 85 miles from SoFi Stadium.

While the Rams themselves are based in Southern California, many of their players aren't and thus aren't as familiar with the region's seismic activity. Rookie receiver Puka Nacua, who's originally from Utah, described the rush of emotions he felt during the earthquake.

“We’re like, ‘that’s not normal rain!’” Nacua said, per the L.A. times. “I was shocked, I was scared, and luckily there were other people around.”

Second-year cornerback Derion Kendrick, originally from South Carolina, expressed a similar sense of emotions, but with more confusion than fear.

“I’m like ‘Damn, what the hell is going on?,” Kendrick said. “I looked outside, and it was raining — but that don’t sound like no damn thunder.

“It shook me a little bit, because I’m not really used to that where I’m from.”

On the other hand, Rams coach Sean McVay, who is entering his seventh season in L.A., says he didn't even feel the tremors. He added that he only became aware of the quake when his wife ran in and asked if he felt it.

“You know what's funny is I get so enamored when I get involved in a conversation and I'm talking that I did not feel it, but my wife came running in and said, ‘Did you feel it?’ The dog knew something was going on, like, what the hell? And I got a bunch of texts from people that live in close proximity so it just shows you what an idiot I am. I did not notice it, but everybody else around me did so it shows you I'm in outer space and hopefully everybody’s all right.”

At the time, McVay was on the phone with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. LaFleur added that his kids were "scared s***less" after they felt the tremors.

After making it through the earthquakes unscathed, the Rams travel to face the Denver Broncos in Saturday's preseason finale.

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