Dan Lanning has made it clear that he has no intentions of leaving Oregon despite being linked to the Alabama head-coaching job. In a recent interview on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, Lanning emphatically stated that his decision to stay at Oregon was made long before the season even started.
Lanning expressed his gratitude to Oregon for taking a chance on him and believes that the program has the potential to become the best job in college football. He is committed to putting in the effort and hard work needed to make that vision a reality.
This isn’t the first time Lanning has been linked to coaching vacancies. In his two years at Oregon, he has been connected to three different SEC jobs, but he has consistently denied interest in each one. Unlike some coaches who give vague or lukewarm responses to these types of rumors, Lanning has been unwavering in his commitment to Oregon.
In fact, Oregon was so impressed with Lanning’s loyalty that they released officially licensed apparel featuring his quote, “grass is damn green in Eugene.” It’s clear that Lanning is fully invested in the program and wants to build a consistent force in the postseason.
While Lanning’s record at Oregon is impressive (22-5) and includes bowl victories, he recognizes that there is still work to be done. He has a 1-4 record against Washington and Oregon State, and he hopes to improve in those rivalry games moving forward.
Next season, Oregon will be moving into the Big Ten conference, and Lanning believes that the team is poised for another strong campaign. If they can win the big games, the Ducks have a real shot at making it to the expanded College Football Playoff.
Meanwhile, Alabama wasted no time in hiring Kalen DeBoer from Washington to fill their head-coaching vacancy. Although DeBoer has found success against Lanning’s Oregon teams in the past, he will face increased pressure at Alabama to perform.
Ultimately, Lanning’s commitment to Oregon and his belief in the program’s potential make it clear that he has no intentions of leaving. He is focused on building a powerhouse in Eugene and leading the Ducks to postseason success.