Wednesday night into Thursday morning was tense in Eugene. Flight tracking software’s usage was at a high. A report on Eugene’s local CBS station, KVAL, claimed that Dan Lanning was already in Tuscaloosa.
That all subsided, though, when it emerged that Lanning would not be taking the role as head coach at Alabama. Rather, he’ll continue to helm the project that saw him gain acclaim and lead Oregon into the Big Ten. Lanning posted a short video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday morning, in which he revealed the team meeting he called followed by text stating, “If you’re scared your coach is leaving…then come play for us…the Ducks aren’t going anywhere…and I’m not leaving.”
The Ducks remain one of the fastest growing programs in the nation, and are a favorite to make the inaugural version of the expanded College Football Playoff. New quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a favorite for the Heisman. In a moment in time where the program teetered on the edge of collapse, it will have the strength it needs to explode into a new era of college football.
Lanning’s decision undoubtedly garners him respect and faith from his players and potential recruits — something vital as he continues to build respect on the West Coast. There’s no question that the potential is there for him to join the SEC and work at one of his former teams in the future, but Duck fans can breathe easy: it’s not today.
