Oregon head coach Dan Lanning discussed what sets the program apart.
The Oregon Ducks football team is gearing up for their inaugural season in the Big Ten, one of the premier conferences in college football. Oregon joined the Big Ten along with former Pac-12 members Washington, USC, and UCLA, with their first games set to begin this fall. Head coach Dan Lanning has been focused on getting his team ready for this new chapter, and he discussed with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt how the diverse backgrounds of his players could aid in their transition.
"People come here to sign up for something that's different."@CoachDanLanning talks about why @oregonfootball is special 🤝 pic.twitter.com/h0arthSq11
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) July 29, 2024
Lanning remarked, “Each of these players was the standout athlete on their high school team and in their area. Now that they are all here together, there’s a lot of top talent, which naturally leads to intense competition. However, we also build a strong family connection within the team, which makes it special.” Oregon’s football program has established itself as a dominant force, and Lanning aims to maintain that success as they join the Big Ten.
Oregon Football, Dan Lanning embark on new Big Ten journey
The transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten is significant, and college football fans are eager to see how the four new west coast teams adapt to a conference centered in the Midwest. However, Lanning is expected to have his team well-prepared for the shift, and from his conversation with Klatt, it’s clear that his “special” group of players are motivated and eager to win.
With the inclusion of Oregon, Washington, and USC, the Big Ten now boasts at least six teams with the potential to compete for a national championship. Alongside these new West Coast additions, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan are established contenders, with Michigan recently securing the College Football Playoff national championship by defeating the Washington Huskies in the final.
Lanning’s coaching background shows drive and commitment
This year’s coaching carousel was highly active, with several major openings generating a lot of speculation and insider buzz. Michigan and Alabama, two premier college football programs, were on the lookout for new coaches. Jim Harbaugh departed from Michigan to join the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, and Nick Saban, widely considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, retired from leading the Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite the high-profile vacancies, Lanning chose to remain in Eugene.
This is noteworthy because Oregon has long been regarded as a top college sports program but was not typically seen as a long-term destination. By turning down other opportunities to stay and enhance the Oregon Ducks football program, Lanning is positioning the team for a promising future. It remains to be seen if they will secure a few College Football Playoff national titles at Autzen Stadium.
Be the first to comment