Watch: Dan Lanning discusses Oregon's Holiday Bowl selection, recent roster activity
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning met with reporters via Zoom Sunday evening and answered a plethora of questions regarding key subjects surrounding his program.
Lanning provided an update on the availability of both Bo Nix and DJ Johnson for the Dec. 28 Holiday Bowl, and also talked in-depth about Oregon’s offensive coordinator search.
Watch Lanning’s full interview below.
Key quotes
On the status of Oregon’s offensive coordinator search
“It’s going really well. I’d love to sit here and say I could tell you an announcement right now. I’m not ready to be in that position. But we are getting close.
“I feel that the interest in this job is, obviously, extreme. You get an opportunity to be thorough and diligent as you go through that process and look for opportunities to enhance your program. I’ll also tell you that we have some phenomenal coaches here on our staff that are certainly qualified to be the offensive coordinator here, and that’s something that we’ll definitely explore every opportunity here as we move forward and what that’ll look like.
“I’m not going to ask anybody to come in right now and call the bowl game. Different from what we’ve done in the past. I don’t think that’s fair to bring a brand new coach and ask them to call the bowl game when there is terminology and some differences there. With that being said, Drew Mehringer, Junior Adams, Adrian Klemm, Carlos Locklyn, our offensive staff will prep us. Jordan Somerville will prep us as we move into the bowl game and be ready to take on the bowl game and compete with some of that same terminology and things that we’ve attacked this season.”
On how Oregon will handle play-calling duties during the Holiday Bowl
“I don’t really worry about other people’s expectations. What you do is you hire the best people you possibly can for the job. I know 12 months ago, there were some hires that I made that people weren’t necessarily as excited about. I think the results speak for themselves. We did really well. So people are gonna write whatever they want.
Here’s what you have to know: I’m going to do anything and everything I can to make sure we get the best people in place for Oregon to be successful in football. Luckily here we have the ability to go attract the best of the best. Don’t really care what logo they have on, don’t care what team they’re associated with. I’m interested in getting the best people. When you get an opportunity to get the best people that’s when you have a chance to be successful in the field.
“You know what? Players know it the minute you put them in front of them in the room. The minute you go out there on the practice field; they realize what good coaching looks like. We’re going to make sure that we have good coaches in place to enhance our program.”
On if quarterback Bo Nix will play in the Holiday Bowl
“Yeah, Bo’s a competitor. He wants to get out there and play in this game, for sure.”
