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It doesn’t really matter much to me, because there have been so many great ones (and a few clunkers too). Coach Lanning must juggle so many aspects the others before him never did. Being a head coach today is massively complicated. Lanning sets True North for the program (sic). He has assembled a large and qualified support staff. Together they have greater capabilities and skills than any staff before them at UO. Go Ducks.

There are statistics and opinions in this thread. The RB and OC coaches have all the same information plus they know at game time who is nicked up, distracted by outside life issues , along with which ones practiced and worked harder leading up to the game. They have studied the opposing defense and its tendencies. I’m very satisfied to watch who plays, and their workload as determined by the coaches.

I would say yes, except for two things. One is I do not carry the history of the program that some of you do, Bellotti is the first Oregon coach I remember. And two, it's going to take more than three years to say that. After five years, if Oregon is still on an upward trajectory as it is now (getting to/winning NC game maybe), consistent top 5 team... then yes he's the best ever. I have heard some commentators talking about whether he is the best coach in college football right now. That's another question. What Dan Lanning has done at Oregon is certainly impressive, but that may take a few more years to determine also.

Back here in the east we have become pretty sued to Appy beating some pretty good teams (ask Michigan), not that OSU is pretty good. Beavers are definitely having a rough time.

As it stands now, best coach in Oregon history is Chip Kelly. Once Lanning makes it to a CFP Championship, then I'll anoint him. Also waiting to see the Ducks' defense become consistently dominate. If he neutralizes Indiana's offense, that will go a long way to proving it.

Spartan, in your favor, MIA plays 8 home games this season. Here's what's left for Mario to conquer: Louisville, Stanford, at SMU, NC State, at VA Tech, and at Pitt. Perhaps there will be snow in Pittsburgh? ACC Champ Game - Against UVA? The Cavaliers are undefeated in the ACC. The loss at NC State was a non-conference loss. 🤬 Perhaps another shot to lose late to FSU? IMO, the opponent that should worry Mari-oh-oh the most is Georgia Tech and tough-as-nails QB, Haynes King.

Thanks for an awesome history of Oregon football and their coaches. I, too, go back to watching Cas's teams with Bob Berry. We'd listen to the games on a scratchy radio station in Eastern Washington when we couldn't get tv. It's been a fun ride.

The Browns receive the Bengals 8th-round draft pick and a used whirlpool bath. 🤪

Big Ten Basketball Media Days - Women - Wednesday 10/8/25 - Big Ten Network - 9 AM Men - Thursday 10/9/25 - Big Ten Network - 9 AM

Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle Two Oregon Ducks named to the preseason All-Big Ten team

Four commits make watchlist = Receivers Jalen Lott and Kendre Harrison, along with lineman Immanuel Iheanacho and safety Jett Washington Four Duck football commits make 2025 All-USA Football Team Watchlist

Bengals acquire QB Joe Flacco in trade with rival Browns - ESPN Bengals trade for Browns QB Joe Flacco in wake of Joe Burrow injury - Yahoo Sports Why Dillon Gabriel Is The Biggest Winner of Joe Flacco Trade

The Browns did DG no favors by also drafting Sanders. It’s a complete circus in Cleveland. There is a reason that they are always drafting in the top 5. Clown show.

I can’t recall if it was Jonathan Stewart or Kenjon Barner (both know a thing or two about the position), who said that Dierre Hill, Jr. was the best running back on the field after the Penn State game and he deserves more touches. I’m also really high on Davison. Some fans are focusing on his yards per carries, which are artificially lower because he is being used in short yardage and goaline situations. He is more than capable of gashing a defense all day long.

OBDF this is a great opportunity for Dillion to grow thru his rookie contract and prove himself. Hopefully, the Browns will put a few more pieces together for him to thrive. Like skill position players and continue to strengthen the O Line. Not many have thrived or survived as a Brown QB for a number of years. Dillion just needs to stay healthy and get to a 5th year deal($25 million) or the 2nd contract. (Generational money) Go Dillion........

Interesting question, Alex. I would answer : “Who is the best coach in Oregon football history?” with a lawyerly question of my own: “What yardstick is used for measuring?” If we google the list of Oregon football coaches we can readily find each coach with their percentage of wins. We discover that way back in 1894 Cal Young had a winning percentage of 1.000 %. By that measure, Cal is undoubtedly the best of all Oregon football coaches. However, he coached only one game. Going on down the list, Hugo Bezdek’s win rate was 0.721% from 1913-1917. Hugo was also a great player for the Webfoots (the former Duck mascot name). Chip Kelly tops the win percentage at 0.868%. Dan Lanning is close behind at 0.854%. Based on your projections of what Lanning will do in the future, he will surpass Kelly in this category. So, Lanning will top the list, at least for a while. Because of my extremely advanced age I have an advantage over most others in evaluating more recent history in that I actually watched the team coached by Jim Aiken in 1950 and every Duck team since. Aiken moved OBD from the single wing to the “T” formation. He also took an end named Norman Van Brocklin and made him his quarterback. For those who don’t know who Norm was, Google him. I would argue that those two decisions have probably more to do with where the Ducks are today than any other coaching decision. I knew the next coach, Len Casanova, personally. Len led the Ducks from 1951 through 1966 and brought what most think is the West Coast offense to Oregon. Yes, before Bill Walsh’s Stanford teams the Ducks were already playing the offense Walsh is given credit for. It was really fun to watch back when the Ducks were running plays out of formations other teams were not running. But Cas coached in Hayward field and did not have Phil Knight’s shoulders to elevate him above the rest of college football. However, Cas’ teams planted the seeds for Autzen stadium. Rich Brooks wins the endurance trophy, 1977-1994. He gets credit for having the courage to hire Mike Bellotti away from a head coaching position at Chico State, and then to step up to AD so that Bellotti could become head coach. Bellotti was an offensive genius for his time. Mike brought with him Nick Aliotti for defense. Together they produced some great teams. Interestingly they were player teammates at Cal Davis. Like Brooks before him, Bellotti had the courage and foresight to hire Chip Kelly and then step aside so that Chip could take over and do his magic with a style of football other teams did not play or know how to defend. So, with all this history I find it impossible to say who the “best” Oregon coach is, because, it depends on too many factors that have changed through the years. Undoubtedly, right today, Lanning is the best at navigating the player transfer portal. I say that not to be farcical, because, obviously, no previous coach had the advantage of picking players from a farm team up the valley, for example. I say it to make a point. You simply cannot compare Dan Lanning to Jim Aiken because the coaching environment of today is totally different for Lanning from what it was for Aiken from 1947-50. This I know for sure. Oregon has had some great football innovators leading their teams over the years. Many of them, like Lanning, knew how to hire and manage a staff, Bellotti in particular. But, Mike was not very good at firing staff members who didn’t work out. Many Duck coaches could see what a player could become with good coaching. None of them had the advantages Lanning had from day one in terms of program recognition, facilities and financial support. And, none of them had the broad experience Lanning brought to Oregon, along with his notebook of the people he wanted to have around him. A notebook that I suspect is adding names like Will Stein all the time. Nobody does it by themself. Lanning is the best at assembling all the pieces it takes to win college football games in the ever-changing scene coaches face today.

That's great to hear. Good job Dillon.

It was just reported by The Athletic that the Browns traded veteran QB Joe Flacco to the Bengals, who need someone better than former Husky Jake Browning. So that leaves Sanders and Dillon Gabriel left for the Browns at QB--what an opportunity for him!

CBS with a look ahead and a look back at B1G games. The B1Ggest, Hoosiers at OBD. The best W last week. UCLA is the obvious call, but how about UW's comeback at Maryland? And bless Jedd Fisch for blaming nothing on and having no complaints about coast-to-coast travel. The article notes that PSU most certainly misses Tyler Warren. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/b1g-time-indiana-meets-oregon-for-early-leg-up-in-cfp-race-obvious-missing-link-limiting-penn-state/

CBS - It's B1G Time for OBD and Indiana - https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/b1g-time-indiana-meets-oregon-for-early-leg-up-in-cfp-race-obvious-missing-link-limiting-penn-state/

Pat, is that ewe?

Be Our Guest, I Guess? Coach Corso will be missed. ☹️ https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/10/06/oregon-ducks-indiana-college-gameday-guest-pickers/86548111007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&

Well I guess you could say DL is OBD's "Diamond in the Rough". 😁

Without a doubt, Cignetti is playing games with DL. He is smart to not add bulletin board material or pour fuel on the fire. I just doubt his true sincerity! In one article he said that Oregon is a great team and that his Hoosiers are a very good team. I doubt DL, staff and players are buying that! Last season the Hoosiers struggled against elite opponents. Especially in the trenches. Cignetti worked to fix that during the off season. Those fixes will be put to the test against the Ducks. The Hoosiers are well coached and will bring their best effort this Saturday. However, no sugar coated talk will help them in the rain on Saturday. This Duck squad is bigger, stronger, faster and deeper. Extremely talented players working together to become elite. Cinderella's fantasy ball should land with a thud in Autzen. While i think PSU will rebound and return to the rankings by seasons end, the Hoosiers may be the last top ranked team the Ducks face until the title game. That fact is not lost on DL and this team. As UCLA proved that upsets can happen in any game, I just dont see that happening this Saturday Go Ducks!

Lanning is special, and could end up as best if he remains at Oregon long enough, and continues to find and recruit extraordinary assistants. Think of it....many feel Will Stein is one of the best OCs in the college game right now, he was coaching at UTSA, and at a high school before that? Talk about finding a-diamond-in-the-rough! Nice article Alex...