When the Oregon Ducks were run off the field in Week 1 by the Georgia Bulldogs, expectations for the team were quickly humbled. But since then, the Ducks have been on fire. The team has averaged over 40 points per game in their ongoing eight-game win streak. Quarterback Bo Nix is playing at a Heisman level and sophomore wide receiver Troy Franklin is breaking out. Everything is going great for the Ducks and for first-year head coach Dan Lanning.
Lanning and his coaching abilities aren’t really being questioned. The way that Oregon has responded to that 49-3 drubbing in Week 1 has made many in Oregon happy. Of course, great results yield plenty of things. Whether it’s the good vibes or coaching rumors. Both have happened now recently. Auburn is currently seeking a new coach after dumping Bryan Harsin. Harsin’s tenure on the plains of Auburn did not go well at all, to say the least. So now they’re looking to fill that vacancy.
Auburn Daily recently reported that there was mutual interest between Lanning and the Auburn Tigers. “Our sources have confirmed that there is mutual interest between Auburn and Lanning,” reported the Auburn Daily. “Other reports have confirmed that Lanning and Auburn have been in contact” they went on to say.
In his media availability session on Monday, Lanning addressed the rumors.
“The reality is the grass is not always greener,” Lanning told reporters. “In fact, the grass is damn green in Eugene, and I want to be here in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me. This place has everything I could possibly ever want; that my family could ever want. I have an 11-year-old that has lived in eight different states. The last thing I ever want to do is leave.”
As far as rumor-denying goes, this was pretty on point. Even after cases like Mario Cristobal and Willie Taggart before Lanning, it’s hard to see anything other than a flat denial here. Auburn is looking around at many places for their new head coach. Eugene, Oregon likely won’t be one of them.
[Auburn Daily, Brandon Marcello, Erik Skopil]