Dan Lanning has no regrets about previous comments about Colorado
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning did not hold back when giving his take on Colorado at the Duck’s media day this summer. He was asked about the Buffaloes’ move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 Conference slated for 2024, and clearly showed he didn’t care too much about the change.
“Not a big reaction,” Lanning said in July. “I’m trying to remember what they won to affect this conference and I don’t remember. Do you remember them winning anything? I don’t remember them winning anything.”
Lanning’s comments were harsh, but not too inaccurate, as Colorado only boasts two winning seasons in their 12 years in the Pac-12. But things have changed in Boulder with new head coach Deion Sanders revamping the team’s roster and changing their culture, putting a newfound spotlight on the program in the midst of their 3-0 start to the season.
Oregon and Colorado square off this weekend, and early in the season it’s clear the Buffaloes will use comments from opponents as bulletin board material and motivation for their games. And with that in mind, Lanning was asked if he regrets his previous comments regarding Colorado’s program.
“No. I don’t regret anything that I’ve said for this program,” Lanning said. “At the end of the day, obviously I wasn’t talking about Deion’s team, I’m talking about the past and the future for our team.”
Hopefully, the Buffaloes take Lanning’s word and believe his comments weren’t directed at their current team, but there are no guarantees.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was not a fan of comments Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule allegedly made before their game deemed disrespectful towards the program and head coach, but Rhule afterward said he never made disrespectful comments and asked Sanders to join in on prayer.
It’s hard to anticipate how Colorado will process Lanning’s previous comments, but he’s confident that it won’t impact the game on Saturday regardless.
“But if that serves as material for them great, right? I don’t think it’s gonna have any bearing on the game and the success of the game,” Lanning said.
Both teams enter the matchup undefeated and ranked, but the Ducks are currently 21-point home favorites over Colorado.
The Buffaloes proved in Week 1 that they can overcome the odds of being a significant underdog, and it will be interesting to see how both teams perform in their first Pac-12 game of the season this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.