Dan Lanning describes the moment when false reports broke he was in Tuscaloosa

Oregon coach Dan Lanning was very briefly considered a candidate to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, before he promptly closed the door on any such notion on Thursday with a statement that he is staying put in Eugene, Ore.

But the peace of mind that came with that announcement didn’t come in time to save a family movie night on Wednesday evening. Especially not after a report emerged that he was currently in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“It was a distraction last night,” Lanning said on the Pat McAfee Show. “My 13-year-old son Caden, we just started watching the Jason Bourne movie. My phone starts blowing up, it’s like, ‘Dad, it says you’re in Tuscaloosa right now.’ We’re watching Jason Bourne… ‘focus on the movie. Put the phone on Do Not Disturb.’ So it interrupted what we were in on last night.”

When it comes to smooth operators, though, it doesn’t get much better than Jason Bourne. Or Dan Lanning, for that matter.

Within 24 hours not only had Lanning shut down any rumors that he might be interested in the Alabama job, he had done it in a way that could be pitched to recruits.

That seemed to be his primary focus after the news broke.

“We’ve got great players that we’re looking to sign,” Lanning said. “All that became a distraction for sure. We’ve got players on our team reaching out. They know where I’m at. Ten toes down.”

When Lanning came out on Thursday and reiterated that he was staying in Oregon, he did it with a catchy video that captured what he said to his team in a team meeting. Essentially, he reiterated that he’s in it for the long haul at Oregon.

“All right, who has goals and aspirations, raise your hand up,” Lanning said. “All right, everybody’s got goals and aspirations. You know how you get those? You be the best at where you’re at. That’s how you reach goals and aspirations. That’s how great things happen. It’s not about worrying about the next thing, it’s about worrying what’s right in front of you, six inches right in front of your face.

“I want to remind you guys what that means. You guys that just got here don’t know, but it means something to be an Oregon Duck. Everybody makes what, they all make commitments to things that they’re going to do. A lot of starters. The world doesn’t have a lot of finishers. We’re finishers.”

As the video continued to Lanning directly announcing that he would be staying in Oregon, a few words flashed over the video.

“If you’re scared your coach is leaving… Then come play for us… The Ducks aren’t going anywhere… And I’m not leaving…”

Pretty smooth operator indeed.