The Oregon Ducks have been involved, to some extent, in the ongoing Nico Iamaleava saga unfolding in Knoxville. In fact, if it weren’t for head coach Dan Lanning, Iamaleava’s camp might still be making calls behind the back of Josh Heupel and the Tennessee program. Misled by bad advice, Iamaleava now may be facing a one-way ticket out of the NCAA.
Lanning has received praise from many for not allowing Iamaleava’s representatives to abuse their influence in a backdoor effort to secure more money.
“If Lanning did what they say he did… Good for Dan Lanning because I can tell you that's not the only program that Nico’s folks had engaged behind the scenes,” Josh Pate said.
The situation escalated after Lanning made a personal phone call to Heupel—but ultimately, it may have saved Tennessee from a major headache. Without Lanning's intervention, Tennessee might still be backing a quarterback looking for an exit strategy, or Iamaleava could’ve disappeared like a thief in the night once the money came calling. That said, Lanning has made it clear he doesn’t want to discuss the matter any further.
“Dan Lanning asked about whether or not he contacted Josh Heupel and Tennessee about the Nico Iamaleava situation. Said he was not interested in talking about anything other than Oregon football,” Zachary Neel wrote.
Meanwhile, the Ducks are having solid spring practices—an encouraging sign following their heartbreaking playoff loss. Lanning admitted that the defeat to Ohio State is something that still weighs on him daily.
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“Dan Lanning went on Bussin with the Boys and said he wakes up every morning thinking about getting blown out by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl,” JBook wrote.
It was a brutal loss for Oregon, especially considering they entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. But truthfully, no one was going to stop the Buckeyes this time around. Lanning is determined to make sure his team doesn’t exit the postseason like that again.