"Never in Tuscaloosa": When Dan Lanning caused a stir at Alabama following Nick Saban's exit

After Nick Saban announced his unexpected retirement in January, Dan Lanning was high on Alabama’s list to replace him. The Crimson Tide reportedly made contact with the Oregon coach on the possibility of taking the job, but he turned down the opportunity to remain in Eugene.

There were a lot of rumors about Lanning returning to Alabama for 24 hours after Saban’s exit. He was rumored to have made a trip to Tuscaloosa to discuss the possibility of taking the job. However, Josh Pate confirmed on his “Josh Pate’s College Football Show” in January that the rumors were false.

“This time last night, there were reports that he (Dan Lanning) was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,” Pate said. “They were never true. That's why we didn't discuss them. He was silent last night, which led to more speculation that there has to be something to it.

“People who actually did their jobs. People who actually did what we call worthwhile due diligence sought out legit sources and found out you cannot confirm that Lanning is in Tuscaloosa, and there's a good reason for that. He was never in Tuscaloosa.” (0:25)

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Josh Pate was astonished at the way Dan Lanning announced his stay at Oregon

Turning down the opportunity to coach Alabama is undoubtedly a big deal. However, it was the way he announced his stay at Oregon that amazed analyst Josh Pate, who discussed the event on “Josh Pate’s College Football Show” in January.

“Lanning didn't climb to the first or second rope. He climbed to the top rope and dropped the elbow on everyone,” Pate said. “He released a video for the ages, and it was a video of him meeting with his team.

“It was a video of him talking about commitment and talking about how bought-in he is to Oregon, and there was the text on the screen, just an iconic moment, that said ‘If you're scared of your head coach leaving, come play for us.’” (1:01)

Dan Lanning not only rejected the lucrative Alabama job in an iconic way but also turned it into a recruiting pitch. It was a brief period of uncertainty for fans, but the coach's decision reignited their excitement and restored their confidence in his leadership.

Oregon is well-positioned to win its first national championship and become a strong contender in the Big Ten for years under Dan Lanning. The performance of the Ducks this season, being the only undefeated team in college football, has made that evident.