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NJDuck
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Flock Talk: Family and Privilege
ScottRead - DuckSports Authority
Staff Writer
Sharing some excerpts from Scott Read. What's interesting to take note of is starting in the 5th paragraph below:
Wednesday night was different. It never felt like it did with Taggart or even Mario. Part of that is simple, Dan Lanning is – in my opinion – at his dream job. He has taken Oregon recruiting to unprecedented heights. And, you know what, if he has a year where the class is ‘only’ ranked number 15, the fans in Eugene probably will not have the kind of melt down they would in Tuscaloosa, or Athens, or Columbus, or Texas, or a few other places where there is no off switch; where there is no such thing as an acceptable down cycle; where expectations are to win a national championship within four years or be looking for a new job.
What a few coaches have not realized is that Oregon offers something that is sustainable long term: exceptional resources and much more reasonable expectations.
I know some local journalists are still torqued about how Oregon fans treated Mark Helfrich, but remember, his ouster was not about the record in 2016. That season was a symptom of a bigger disease. It was the result of apathy on the recruiting trail, an arrogance that Xs and Os could overcome a significant deficiency in talent, and a culture that had rotted from within based on the apathy. Had Helfrich not bought the trite belief that Oregon could not be an elite recruiting school and recruited like the last three coaches have, I think he would still have a job. But that kind of effort on the recruiting trail was not in the DNA of the former staff.
The announcement by Dan Lanning that he is returning should put to rest the yearly concerns about the ‘next big thing’ job that opens up. I know that many Alabama pundits are spouting off that Lanning was ‘never really a candidate’ but they are simply inaccurate. Athletic Directors never, ever want to let the world know how many guys they missed out on so they saying that ‘there is no offer until someone accepts’ has become dogma.
Lanning was asked about his interest very early in the process. He was absolutely the first guy that Greg Byrne wanted. Lanning was adamant that he was happy at Oregon. Byrne contacted Lanning’s agent on multiple occasions this season to continue feeling out the interest level. Is it true Lanning was not officially offered? Sure. But that is because Lanning said he was not interested in leaving long before the sides could even discuss potential terms.
Don’t buy the negative spin that Alabama did not want Lanning. They did. He said no. That sends a message loud and clear to the Oregon faithful, to recruits, to current staff members, to potential future staff members, and to families of recruits that Oregon is not going to be a stepping stone any longer. Rob Mullens took a chance on Lanning and Lanning is going to continue to pay dividends (and receive some as well!) with that opportunity.
He said no to Alabama. I don’t know that there is anything out there that will top what he could have had – because he feels he has all of that and more in Eugene.
Flock Talk: Family and Privilege
OREGON.RIVALS.COM
Today in Flock Talk, how Dan Lanning just reshaped college football, plus a look ahead to another Polynesian Bowl.-
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Alabama coaching candidates: Kalen DeBoer, Dabo Swinney among options to replace Nick Saban
One of the most coveted jobs in college football has opened after the greatest coach in history has called it quits
Oregon coach Dan Lanning was immediately pointed toward as the frontrunner to replace Saban, though the Ducks boss ultimately shot down any interest and announced his intentions to remain at Eugene, Oregon, within 24 hours of Saban stepping away. Texas coach and former Alabama assistant Steve Sarkisian was another popular name making the rounds, but on Friday, he was removed from the running after the Longhorns announced he will be staying in Austin likely under a new contract.
Alabama coaching candidates: Kalen DeBoer, Dabo Swinney among options to replace Nick Saban - CBSSports.com
WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM
One of the most coveted jobs in college football has opened after the greatest coach in history has called it quits -
On 1/12/2024 at 11:46 AM, Utki said:
Was he offered Bama? Otherwise I'm not sure the loyalty angle.
You are correct. We are not sure who's all on Alabama's short list. But, he did not wait in silence hoping to see if he made it on the short list. He made sure to put himself out of the equation. Especially with all the noise that was being put out there almost crowning him as Saban's successor (please read below the post titled "Flock Talk: Family and Privilege")
Listening to the video, even on Game Day, he told them he was not leaving Oregon which was before Saban's announcement. Great information in this video. Yes, Oregon is making sure Lanning is well compensated (they should). But I see Lanning is cut from a different cloth, old school loyalty, true to his words, faithful with a vision for Oregon. Alabama is considered THE pinnacle school in college football, but he wasn't fazed by that.
Bringing in the news for OBD I've read a lot on Dan Lanning, his story growing up, who he is as a coach, a family man, as a person. I believe Oregon has a rare jewel.
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"It's rare in sports, especially college football, to see a coach demonstrate as much loyalty to a team as Dan Lanning has shown to the Oregon Ducks. The benefit of that for Oregon football is a coach with an unclouded vision for the future, ready to take on the Big Ten and bring the best talent with him."
Yes, this is rare in today's college sports to have a coach like Lanning. We need to count our blessings and enjoy the ride! The future is bright for our Oregon Ducks!
This could have been a different story instead of a victory march heading into the Big Ten conference.
Oregon Football: Dan Lanning talks move to the Big 10 and Recruiting
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Dan Lanning appeared on the Pat McAfee Show where he talked about his excitement to join the Big Ten and his love of recruiting.-
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Which Alabama players could Oregon potentially pursue after Nick Saban's retirement?
Following Saban’s retirement, schools around the country will be clamoring to land Alabama players who don’t want to play for whoever the new Crimson Tide coach is. Alabama players will have a 30-day window into the NCAA transfer portal following Saban’s retirement.
"Below, I’ve compiled a list of the eight Crimson Tide players I think the Ducks are most likely to pursue if they decide to transfer. All of these situations are hypotheticals, and I’m thinking several steps ahead here. But there will inevitably be Crimson Tide players who decide to transfer after Saban’s retirement, and these eight players are who I think Oregon is most likely to pursue."
Oregon Football: Alabama players with ties to the Ducks
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
A look at some players for the Alabama Crimson Tide that have ties to the Oregon Ducks.-
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5 things to know about Evan Stewart, the Oregon Ducks newest elite WR addition
5 things to know about Evan Stewart, the Oregon Ducks new WR addition
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Some of the top things for Oregon Duck fans to know about Evan Stewart, their newest wide receiver addition from Texas A&M.Where WR Evan Stewart stands among the top-rated transfers in Dan Lanning era
Evan Stewart’s rank among the top-rated transfers in Dan Lanning era
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
A look at where Oregon Ducks’ new wide receiver transfer Evan Stewart ranks among top-rated transfers to come to Oregon under Dan Lanning. -
Dan Lanning talks about Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore in Ducks' 2024 QB room
Dan Lanning talks about Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore in Ducks’ QB room
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Dan Lanning went on the Pat McAfee Show and discussed Oregon’s unique QB situation for 2024. -
Bill Oram: What it means that Dan Lanning is staying at Oregon with Alabama circling
Bill Oram: What it means that Dan Lanning is staying at Oregon with Alabama circling
WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM
By repeatedly declaring Oregon his forever job, and backing it up, Lanning gives Ducks fans something they can hold on to. -
Dan Lanning details reasons to stay at Oregon following Alabama rumors
Great Full video if you weren't able to see it.
Dan Lanning details reasons to stay at Oregon following Alabama rumors
SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM
Dan Lanning will not be the head coach at Alabama with Oregon's coach diving into what keeps him with the Ducks.-
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Dan Lanning Is Really Good At This
Dan Lanning Is Really Good At This
WWW.THEBIGLEAD.COM
Nick Saban surprised a lot of people by retiring yesterday. It didn't take much time at all for the coaching carousel hamster wheel to get going and Oregon's Da -
PODCAST: Dan Lanning is staying at Oregon and won't go after Alabama
We break down the news of Dan Lanning staying at Oregon. Break down Lanning's announcement, what it means for Oregon going forward, and the impact it'll have on the program for years to come.
PODCAST: Dan Lanning is staying at Oregon and won't go after Alabama
247SPORTS.COM
We break down the news of Dan Lanning staying at Oregon -
What will the reintroduction of N'Faly Dante look like for Oregon?
Oregon Basketball: What the return of N’Faly Dante will look like?
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
What will the return of N’Faly Dante look like for the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team?N’Faly Dante was spotted back on the basketball court at Matt Knight Arena on Tuesday afternoon. The center has been out since November when he injured his knee and had to receive surgery.
Dante was wearing a brace when seen playing but signs are pointing to the senior being able to return to game action soon.
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Duck fans celebrate after Dan Lanning emphatically turns down Alabama job
Oregon Duck fans celebrate news that Dan Lanning is staying in Eugene
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Oregon Duck fans celebrated on social media at the news that head coach Dan Lanning would not be leaving to go to Alabama.7 reasons it made sense for Dan Lanning to stay at Oregon and pass on Alabama
7 reasons it made sense Dan Lanning stayed at Oregon
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
7 reasons it made sense Dan Lanning stayed at Oregon instead of going to Alabama.Oregon coach Dan Lanning announces he's staying despite Alabama speculation
Oregon coach Dan Lanning announces he's staying despite Alabama speculation
WWW.FOXSPORTS.COM
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced Thursday he is staying put amid widespread speculation he would be a top candidate to succeed Nick Saban at Alabama.-
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This reinforces what ABNMoose just put up
Dan Lanning announces that he won't be leaving Oregon for Alabama
The past 24 hours have been pretty hectic for Oregon Duck fans, as rumors about their head coach potentially leaving started to swirl once again.
With Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban announcing his retirement, the immediate thought was that Lanning, Oregon’s second-year coach, would be one of the top candidates to replace him. However, a new report from 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Thursday morning shows that Lanning intends to stay in Eugene for the immediate future, passing on the Alabama job.
Not long after, Lanning himself posted a video to social media confirming that he would stay in Eugene.
Dan Lanning announces that he won’t be leaving Oregon for Alabama
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning will not be leaving Eugene for the head coaching job at Alabama.Dan Lanning staying at Oregon, will not be Nick Saban's replacement at Alabama
Alabama's next head coach will not be Dan Lanning.
Lanning, who has been a popular name as a potential heir apparent to Nick Saban, is staying at Oregon, sources tell 247Sports.
Reports Wednesday night that Lanning was in Tuscaloosa were inaccurate.
At the time the reports were coming out about him being in Tuscaloosa, Lanning was in Eugene watching a Jason Bourne movie with his family, per sources.
Lanning just finished his second season at Oregon. He's posted a 22-5 record with the Ducks, including a 12-2 record this year.
Dan Lanning staying at Oregon, will not be Nick Saban's replacement at Alabama
247SPORTS.COM
Alabama's next head coach will not be Dan Lanning.PHEW!! Duck fans everywhere singing Happy Days! Future is bright moving forward! Thanks Coach Dan for being true to who you are!
Thank you Oregon and Phil Knight planning the future:
(Charles) - Last note...apparently there is more to Dan Lanning's contract than we realized. By winning 10 games, it is now automatically extended to 2029 and receiving 9.2 million that year. There is also deferred compensation of an undisclosed amount that would bump his annual current salary up from the seven million.
And it is rumored there is NIKE stock involved that becomes his when he stays a given amount of time?
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Oregon Football: Keeping the Talent in Eugene
Building a winning program means gathering all the talent you can.... and keeping it.
Dan Lanning has built something in Eugene. As many message boards today are swirling with rumors about the Alabama head coach slot being open, lets take a moment to talk about the culture at Oregon and how it has effected the roster.
Everyone has seen that Lanning and the staff he has built can go out and get top talent. But in the modern era of college athletics, being an elite recruiter is about more than just gathering great players. You have to continuously recruit your own players to stay in the program.
While Oregon certainly had its share of players enter the transfer portal in December, part of that was to make room for the top 5 class coming in. More impressive perhaps, than what is coming in, is how much Dan Lanning has convinced to stay.
There are 16 draft-eligible players from the 2023 roster currently expected back in college uniforms for 2024. That kind of commitment to the team is rare. But as we saw Bucky Irving and Bo Nix suit up for the Fiesta Bowl despite both heading for the draft this year, Dan Lanning has built a culture where people put the team ahead of themselves.
Here is some of the talent Oregon looks to have back:
Oregon Football: Keeping the Talent in Eugene
WWW.ADDICTEDTOQUACK.COM
Building a winning program means gathering all the talent you can.... and keeping it.-
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Zachary Neal confirms that Lanning was not in Alabama yesterday.
Who are the most likely candidates to replace Nick Saban at Alabama?
Much of the drama since his departure has been about who would end up replacing Saban down in Tuscaloosa. Fans of the Oregon Ducks are well aware of this, as head coach Dan Lanning has been considered one of the top candidates since the news broke. The ensuing hours saw the rumor mill go wild, with false reports on Wednesday showing that Lanning was in Tuscaloosa already, causing quite a stir in Eugene.
While I can confirm that Lanning was not in Alabama, that doesn’t mean he is 100% not taking the job, though I believe he will ultimately stay in Eugene.
Who will be the next head coach of the Crimson Tide, though? That’s a good question. Lets break down the top options, and assign hypothetical betting odds for how likely I think that candidate is to actually take over in Tuscaloosa.
Dan Lanning:Hypothetical Odds: +600
Current Job: Oregon Ducks HC
Analysis: Alright, let’s talk about Dan Lanning. My hypothetical odds for Oregon’s head coach to leave for Alabama are likely a lot lower than many people would project, but it’s because I feel confident based on who I’ve talked to in and around the Ducks’ program that he won’t be leaving Eugene for Tuscaloosa. With his ties to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide,it would make sense that he is considered the leading candidate for the job, but based on intel that I’ve received, I don’t expect Lanning to leave the Ducks and replace Saban.
Who are the most likely candidates to replace Nick Saban at Alabama?
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Dan Lanning and Kalen DeBoer lead a short list of top candidates to take over for Nick Saban with the Alabama Crimson Tide. -
5-star 2026 QB Brady Smigiel to visit Oregon Ducks later this month
The Oregon Ducks are ramping up their recruiting efforts for the future, and a potential major piece of that will be on campus in the coming weeks. According to a report from 247Sports, 2026 5-star quarterback Brady Smigiel will be in Eugene later this month for an unofficial visit.
5-star 2026 QB Brady Smigiel to visit Oregon Ducks later this month
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
The Oregon Ducks are expected to host 2026 5-star QB Brady Smigiel for an unofficial visit later this month, per 247Sports. -
5 key players returning for the Oregon football offense in 2024
Oregon’s first season under offensive coordinator Will Stein was a rousing statistical success for the Ducks.
Those 12 wins looked pretty good as well.
With NFL-bound upperclassmen like quarterback Bo Nix, running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Troy Franklin pacing the attack, Oregon led the nation in touchdowns (83), passing touchdowns (49), passing yards per game (346.9) and completion percentage (77.2%).
The Ducks were also second nationally in points per game (44.2), total offense per game (531.4 yards) and passing yards, both per game (343.5) and overall (4,857).
Despite that, the Oregon offense wasn’t perfect according to Stein, who said part of his offseason will be spent taking a hard look at how the team performed in 2023.
“We’ll obviously look at deficiencies in the offense and where that was," he said. "We’ll have wrinkles next year. What those are, I don’t know yet. I have to decompress from the season and then dive into the tape and our self-scout and really look and what we were good at.”
Stein will have a new quarterback in 2024, as Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel is the projected replacement for Nix, and will need to find a new starter at wide receiver and running back, as well as depth at each position.
“It's a players' game, and we have exceptional players that prepare like pros and who practice their tails off,” Stein said. "They're a joy to coach. They're a joy to be around.”
Here are five key players who are returning on offense for the Ducks in 2024.
5 key players returning for the Oregon football offense in 2024
WWW.REGISTERGUARD.COM
Oregon football had one of the best offenses in the nation in 2023. Despite several departures, the Ducks will return many key players next season. -
Way-too-early power rankings for new expanded Big Ten Conference in 2024
The 2023 college football season has officially come to an end, which means that the past several days have been spent prematurely looking ahead to the 2024 season and what it might bring.
What it will bring is a completely new era of college football, where conference realignment will see the death of the Power 5 conferences, and an expanded College Football Playoff will allow teams to compete for a championship when all is said and done. As the week has gone on, we’ve looked at ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings, and we also made some predictions of our own, projecting which 12 teams will ultimately make it into the first expanded playoff.
Now we want to look at the predictions, conference-specific. The Oregon Ducks, along with USC, UCLA, and Washington, will be joining the Big Ten Conference, where they will now compete with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State for a conference title.
With the transfer portal still churning, and recruiting classes yet to be completely finalized, it’s a bit too early to get a perfect look at roster construction for each school, but at this moment in time, here are our power rankings for the 2024 season in the Big Ten:
Way-too-early power rankings for expanded Big Ten Conference in 2024
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
An early look at what the power rankings should be for the new expanded Big Ten Conference at the start of the 2024 offseason. -
Rivals Info
Trajen Odom | Rivals.com
N.RIVALS.COM
Trajen Odom - 2025 3 Star Strongside defensive end for Panther Creek (Cary, NC) on Rivals.com -
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Reports: Oregon HC Dan Lanning a 'top target' for Alabama HC vacancy
Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported Dan Lanning is a 'top target' for the Alabama head coach opening.
Reports: Oregon HC Dan Lanning a 'top target' for Alabama HC vacancy
247SPORTS.COM
Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported Dan Lanning is a 'top target' for the Alabama head coach opening.Remember Dan Lanning said this last time:
"I'm not going anywhere. There's zero chance I would be coaching somewhere else. I've got unfinished business here. My No. 1 priority is being elite here at Oregon."
There will be no shortage of coaching rumors for the Alabama position, but Lanning, a young up-and-coming coach with a direct background to Saban, will be at the forefront.
I heard DeBoer and Dabo along with Sarkisian being on the short list.
I am going to be a firm believer in Dan Lanning being true to his word.
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Sources: Coach Nick Saban, who won 6 titles at Alabama, retiring
Video talking about Saban
Sources -- Coach Nick Saban, who won 6 titles at Alabama, retiring - ESPN
WWW.ESPN.COM
Nick Saban, considered among the greatest college football coaches of all time who won six national titles at Alabama, is retiring, sources told ESPN's Chris Low.
Alabama Slides to Their 5th or 6th HC Choice?
in Our Beloved Ducks
So, what Washington fans were hoping for an Oregon demise has quickly turned towards them.
FSU's Norvell, Texas' Sarkisian staying, new deals in works for both
Alabama's search for Nick Saban's replacement is now focussing on Washington's kale DeBoer, sources told ESPN. Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will also be interviewed, the sources said.