"I still got voicemails saved in my phone": When Dan Lanning recalled his unique experience at Alabama coaching interview
Dan Lanning is having an incredible year as the coach of the No. 1 Oregon Ducks. The Ducks remained undefeated after a 16-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 12 on Nov. 16.
Earlier this year, the Oregon coach shared how being a graduate assistant for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2015 helped him be the leader he is today.
He appeared on Barstool Sports' "Bussin' With The Boys" in April to discuss his journey to becoming Oregon coach. Lanning recalled going for a job interview to be Alabama's graduate assistant and working with former coach Nick Saban, which helped his career.
"I got an opportunity to be a graduate assistant at Alabama, and if you go back and look at that staff now, it's an all-star staff. You know, coach Saban, coach Smart, Lane Kiffin, Mario Cristobal, Mel Tucker, Billy Napier, I mean, the list kind of just goes on and on of the guys on that staff, and I learned more in football that year in 2015 than I'd ever learned in my career," Lanning said.
Lanning added that he was surprised at how involved he was with the team.
"You got to meet with everybody in the organization, you know? From position coaches to administrative staff. I thought they did a really good job of being meticulous in that process. Getting feedback from everybody in the building," Lanning said.
The Ducks coach also shared that he still has Saban's voicemail telling him he earned the job.
"I still got the voicemails saved on my phone today of coach Saban calling and saying hey give me a call back. It was him offering me the job," Lanning said.
"We just had just enough at the end": Dan Lanning recaps Oregon's win over Wisconsin
Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) vs. Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4) went down to the wire until the final moments. Oregon was down 13-6 in the fourth quarter and on the verge of losing its first game.
Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel helped get his team to Wisconsin's endzone, and running back Jordan James ran the ball for 11 yards for Oregon's only touchdown in the contest. Lanning's defense stepped up and kept their opponents from gaining momentum. The Ducks won the game through kicker Atticus Sappington's field goal.
After the win, Lanning credited the Badgers and discussed how the game turned around in the fourth quarter.
"Our guys fought for this. It was a tough battle. Credit to Wisconsin for playing a hell of a game, but we just had just enough at the end, right, to make the difference," Lanning said.
Oregon's next game will be against the Washington Huskies (6-5, 4-4) in Week 14 on Nov. 30.