Within the 72-hour window Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne gave himself to replace Nick Saban, the most popular name being floated around to succeed the legendary head coach was Oregon’s Dan Lanning.
The 37-year-old was coming off a 12-2 season in his second year with the Ducks, resulting in a Fiesta Bowl win as well. But it was his ties to the Crimson Tide at the beginning of his career that made him a popular choice to be linked to the job.
Not even 24 hours had passed when rumors of Lanning already being in Tuscaloosa, Ala. began to be reported but were ultimately proven false. Shortly thereafter, Lanning made things clear with a post to social media that he was remaining at Oregon.
But was there ever any real consideration from him to replace Saban?
Lanning answered that very question during an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Show on Friday.
“No, the decision was made long before the season started, long before I took this job,” Lanning said. “Oregon took a chance on me. I truly believe that this is a job that we can make the best job in college football. When you feel that way, let’s put some blood, sweat, and tears and sweat equity into making that the job you think it can be.”
The details on whether Lanning was even offered the job were even muddled, to begin with. Reports made rounds of a hefty buyout of over $20 million and when cross-referencing with Byrne’s timeline of hiring Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer as Saban’s replacement doesn’t leave a great deal of room for a wide-spanning interview process.
But despite stating that he had no interest, Lanning still has a great deal of appreciation for his time at Alabama. Saban hired him as a graduate assistant back in 2015, giving him his big break in the coaching world which he still recalls today.
“I still have a voicemail saved on my phone from Coach Saban when he called,” Lanning said. “That’s one of those ones you don’t never delete. But called and had an opportunity to go be a (graduate assistant). You know I went and interviewed but to go be a G A at Alabama, for me, it was never about chasing the dollars it was about chasing the opportunity and it probably ended up being the best decision in my career of picking a place to go where I could learn. Be around great people be around great players.
“Got to be on staff with Kirby Smart, Mario Cristobal, Lane Kiffin, Billy Napier, Mel Tucker, it was just an elite group and then obviously Nick Saban. So getting to coach with some of those guys and being on a staff like that and we won a championship that year, it probably propelled my career more than anything I did.”
The Ducks were just one win away from making the College Football Playoff a year ago but fell to Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game and even with the loss, Lanning fully understands how close his program is to being in the championship race.
“It was never really a thought in our mind,” Lanning said. “I love Coach Saban and gosh, I can’t tell you how much he’s done for my career and where I’m at, but I think we can make Oregon the best job in college football and that happens with focus on where I’m at.”
The Crimson Tide has been the defining program in college football for almost 20 years under Saban, but Lanning believes that Oregon can rise through the ranks as it also prepares to join the Big Ten this upcoming season.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
