Different dynamic with Dan Lanning ahead of Georgia opener against Oregon

College Football season gets underway five weeks from today for the majority of the country, including Georgia. The Bulldogs are set to take on the Oregon Ducks on September 3rd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as a part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. It’s one of the most highly anticipated non-conference games of the year between two of the sport’s top programs and pits new Oregon coach Dan Lanning against the team he helped to a National Championship just a matter of months ago.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about our opening game. The Chick-Fil-A kickoff game for us, I get to open against Oregon, go against a longtime friend, a guy that meant so much in our program in Dan Lanning. We open against Oregon right here in Atlanta,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said on the opener against Oregon last week at SEC Media Days. “We’re excited for that opportunity. We get a chance to represent the SEC right off the jump. Our players are excited about that, and so am I.”

“I’m excited about this team because there’s a lot of opportunity,” he continued. “People say, ‘Do you have the talent? Do you have enough talent within your program?’ We have plenty of talent. What we lack right now is experience. That’s our job as coaches, to put those guys in a position to be successful and react in the calm manner and have the experience they need to play well against Oregon. That game will help set us up for the SEC gauntlet we have coming up after that.”

As for how much he’s communicated with Lanning, who spent four seasons in Athens under Smart – three as the defensive coordinator, Smart said that they’ve had plenty of conversations. Even though they’ll be competing against each other to open the season, Smart understands the struggles of being a first-time head coach. There are questions that come with that. And if he’s able to be a helping hand in any way without giving Lanning and the Ducks an advantage on September 3rd, he’s happy to help.

“I’ve had a lot of communication with Dan, and it’s more gratitude both ways. He’s had some questions as a first-time head coach. Same questions I would have had. And we shared ideas and philosophies, and will continue to. That never kept me from talking to somebody,” Smart said. “Will (Muschamp) was at South Carolina and we talked often, and used each other to bounce ideas off of. There’s not a lot that’s going to affect the scheme of the game. We’re not sitting there asking each other what plays we’re going to run. We’re talking about over 10,000 feet, overriding themes of how do you think it’s best to do this, or how do you approach this with your team. And I think all good coaches talk to other people.”

The players appreciate what Lanning did for them too. Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith spent three seasons being coached up every day by Lanning. There was the recruitment process before that too. During that time, the two developed a relationship that extends beyond the football field. And when Smith sees Lanning in September, it’s certainly going to be different.

“It’s going to be a little weird. I was with him for three years, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Smith said. “I know his family, I know Ms. Sophia and all his kids. They extremely love their father and just want to make sure that he’s happy. Ms. Lanning supports that to the fullest.”

“My fall camp my freshman year was 23 days, and I was a freshman so I had to stay late in meetings and I didn’t leave until about 11. Me and Coach Lanning, we learned. He taught me the whole playbook. I met with him and stuff like that,” he continued, remembered specifics about his time spent with Lanning. “Obviously I don’t know everything still. I’m still learning from Coach Smart every day. I just think Coach Lanning is a good guy and I spent a lot of time with him.”

As for how he thinks he’ll do, Smith said he’ll be rooting for him every step of the way. Just not on September 3rd. That day, he and the rest of the Georgia defense plan to make life as hard on Lanning as he can.

“I think he’s going to do well just because I know how he prepares, all his preparation, all the things he’s looking at on film. I just can’t wait to see the first five games, not the first game though.”