Big Ten coaches and coaches around the college football world just keep refusing to learn from Scott Frost's mistakes. Dan Lanning is the latest coach new to the conference and has opened his mouth in a way that could come back to bite him.
Lanning’s Oregon Ducks haven’t officially joined the Big Ten, but his school will be a member by the time he coaches his next game this fall. With spring practices right around the corner, Lanning was recently asked his thoughts about how he will adapt the Ducks’ approach to their new conference.
Lanning appeared on the Ryan Rusillo podcast when he made his positively Frostian comments.
"I think at the end of the day, the Big Ten's gonna have to prepare for us and what we do different for that league," Lanning said.
On the one hand, you can’t fault Lanning for having plenty of confidence in his team or his approach. Oregon took the Washington Huskies to the limit twice this past season. That same Huskies team played in the national title game.
On the other, Nebraska football fans, above all others, know how dangerous comments talking about the Big Ten and how it’s the conference that will need to be the ones to adapt. It harkens back to Scott Frost’s introduction to the league when he was the brand-new Nebraska football coach.
Back in 2017, Frost was asked how he would modify his approach to the Big Ten. He responded, “I’m hoping the Big Ten has to modify their system for us.”
News flash: The Big Ten did not, it turns out, have to modify their system to Nebraska. Frost was fired five years later, having never had a winning season.
Dan Lanning is the latest Big Ten coach to have a Scott Frost moment
Obviously, there are some big differences between Dan Lanning and Scott Frost. Even if they both have the Oregon Ducks on their resume.
Lanning has had plenty of success in Eugene. He’s got one of the favorites to compete for a national title this year. But he’s never played in the Big Ten. Things can change quickly.