Jamey Chadwell credits Dan Lanning for Oregon culture ahead of Fiesta Bowl

The Liberty Flames are just a few days away from one of the biggest games in school history on Monday, when they’ll take on the Oregon Ducks in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Nearly every team in the college football landscape has had to deal with opt outs in the 2023-2024 bowl season.

On Saturday, Flames head coach Jamey Chadwell was impressed with the culture that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has built in Eugene.

“This is the only bowl game in America where everybody is opting in. That’s a credit to coach Lanning and the culture they have that guys want to play,” Chadwell said via James Crepea of The Oregonian. Superstar players for the Ducks such as quarterback Bo Nix have decided to suit up for the Fiesta Bowl to send Oregon out on a high note.

Only four Oregon players have currently opted out of the game: receiver Troy Franklin, center Jackson Powers-Johnson, defensive lineman Popo Aumavae, and cornerback Khyree Jackson.

Oregon and Lanning are building something special

The Oregon Ducks and Dan Lanning are building something special in Eugene, but the coach won’t take all the credit.

The Ducks have been knocking the ball out of the park just about everywhere, from their on-field play to the transfer portal and their recruiting classes. Speaking with the media, Lanning put the emphasis on his assistants, believing their relentlessness has helped him build the Ducks into a well-oiled machine.

“It’s just an everyday approach,” Lanning said. “I think we’ve got a staff that’s been doing this for awhile. Realize it’s not just about the short-term. It’s about being able to do something every single day. Focus on the long-term goals. These guys that we’re going to get are guys that can really enhance what we’ve built and what we’ve established here.

“So having guys that are open to being at Oregon, and realize what Oregon could be, and then having a staff that’s willing to go get those guys.”

Alas, Oregon is once again a destination school under Lanning’s guidance. While they fell short of the College Football Playoff in 2023, it seems like a national title is on the horizon for the Ducks in the future.

Time will tell when they get there. Nevertheless, Dan Lanning has become one of college football’s young stars coaching-wise, and Oregon couldn’t be happier to have him leading their charge moving forward.

On3’s Steve Samra also contributed to this article.