Dan Lanning ready to deliver on hype as Ducks invade new Big Ten

INDIANAPOLIS — Although there are four former Pac-12 schools joining the Big Ten on Friday, all of the hype appears to be surrounding the team from Eugene.

After all, Oregon has one of the game’s fastest-rising coaches in Dan Lanning, who’s coming off back-to-back double-digit win campaigns. Now Lanning is approaching season three with the Ducks, and could potentially be fielding his best team yet.

The Preseason Big Ten Media Poll that came out last week listed Lanning’s boys at No. 2, and they received five first-place votes. With that type of recognition Lanning knows his players are no longer the hunters as they enter the 18-team league.

Oregon isn’t backing down from the spotlight either, and Lanning plans on taking advantage of all the new opportunities the Big Ten will present.

“Obviously this is the premiere league in College Football, and getting to be part of some of those traditions, play some of the teams that are in our future, I’m really excited about,” Lanning said. “Going to some venues that we haven’t experienced, we’ve always been a team that recruited nationally, but it certainly has made our footprint stronger in the midwest.”

Lanning has recruited like a monster, and lured in All-Big 12 quarterback Dillon Gabriel to replace Bo Nix. The roster is full of talent, and now it’s up to Lanning and his staff to get the players to perform up to their potential. However, the hype can also be a team distraction, and Lanning wants to simmer down the outside noise.

During the offseason Lanning and his players studied two books, including Art of War by Sun Tzu, and Hidden Potential by Adam Grant. He believes both books will inspire his players and give them an edge.

The Ducks are going to need it, considering they’ll be playing in colder weather, visiting massive stadiums and dealing with thousands of passionate fans. Lanning is preparing to adjust on the fly though. He made it a priority to beef up, and add depth to both sides of the lines too.

“A lot of people have asked me what’s different about going to the Big Ten, they hear it’s more physical,” he said. “The reality of winning football when you’re a team like Oregon, and the position you want to put yourself in at the end of the year, you have to win in the trenches.”

The Ducks are rebuilding along the defensive line, and that’s an area the opposition will be looking to exploit. The Big Ten has massive offensive linemen that love to maul defenders at the point of attack, and Lanning is going to need his young players to grow up fast.

The schedule sets up nicely for Oregon, with Ohio State at home, and Michigan being the toughest road matchup. Several analysts are already projecting that the Ducks will make a big splash in the conference, but they’ll have a huge bullseye on their backs because of it. Lanning anticipates that he’ll be getting every opponent’s best, and the players can’t overlook nobody.

“Everyone sits around and has an expectation for what you should do, and what you should achieve, the reality is the games still have to be played,” the 38-year old coach said. “Am I excited and happy with where we’re at from a growth standpoint, absolutely, is the job done yet, absolutely not.”

The Ducks will likely enter the season as a top-five team, which hasn’t happened since 2014. Not to mention there hasn’t been this much hype about the program since Marcus Mariota was behind center, and Lanning knows what’s at stake this fall.

His recent contract extension shows the administration believes he’s the answer for the future. So if Oregon can contend for a Big Ten Title, and make the Playoffs this season, Lanning is worth every penny.

“I’m definitely excited about the direction that where we’re headed, feel good with our progress over the summer, we have some good leaders on the team, but it still has to come together, it’s a little early.”