Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning’s “disappointed” locker room speech is a stark contrast to how other college football coaches, like LSU Tigers Brian Kelly, approach their postgame reaction.
Although the Oregon Ducks’ statistics appeared impressive in their 2024 college football opener against the Idaho Vandals, coach Dan Lanning felt there was room for improvement. In a video shared by Oregon football, Lanning addresses his team in the locker room following their 24-14 victory on Saturday night.
“I’m disappointed in the process tonight, not the outcome—it’s the process I’m focused on,” coach Lanning told the Ducks. “The process wasn’t sharp enough. I’m not going to simply say ‘great win’; that’s not how I feel.”
“Idaho played well—credit to them. Don’t take away from what they accomplished. But we need to uphold our standard. Our expectations don’t change based on our opponent.”
“Who are we playing?” coach Lanning asked the Ducks.
“US!” the team responded in unison.
“We’re playing ourselves, we’re playing Oregon,” Lanning said, nodding. “So as we prepare for next week, how will you measure your performance? You need to reflect, identify how you can improve, and how you can help the team. Each of you should feel proud to wear that green. I promise you, I’m honored to coach you.”
Game 1: Learn from Wins.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/GqlqKbKkrK
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 3, 2024
Coach Lanning’s rally with the Ducks after their disappointing first game is motivating as Oregon gears up for the rest of the season. With aspirations for a Big Ten Title and the College Football Playoff, the Ducks benefit from a coach who effectively communicates how the team can improve.
Lanning’s approach stands in sharp contrast to that of other college football coaches. For instance, after the LSU Tigers lost to the USC Trojans on a national stage, LSU coach Brian Kelly pounded the table during the postgame press conference, expressing his “anger” towards his team.
Oregon coach Lanning is developing the team’s identity, even during challenging times. The Ducks have plenty to improve upon after week one, having allowed three sacks and scoring only 24 points against an FCS team.
“A great team learns from victories. Don’t let adversity be the sole reason for growth. Can you learn from tonight?”
The silver lining is that Oregon heads into its week two game against Boise State with a mostly healthy roster. Transfer quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender, Dillon Gabriel’s hand is fine, and coach Lanning confirmed that senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa is also set to play.
Although wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. and offensive lineman Matthew Bedford didn’t participate on Saturday, Lanning is hopeful they will be ready for week two.
Leave a Reply