INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Michigan football saw Dan Lanning roaming the sideline, he was working as an ESPN analyst for the national championship game. The previous era, however, wasn’t very good if you’re a Wolverine.
Before he took over the Oregon program, Lanning was the defensive coordinator for the Georgia under Kirby Smart. But after the Bulldogs won the national championship that year, he was courted to lead the Ducks’ West Coast offense.
This year, Lanning will come to Ann Arbor as a visiting coach, who will face the Maize and Blue in November.
We spoke briefly with Lanning at Big Ten Media Days to ask him about his expectations for his first road game at The Big House.
“They’re a phenomenal program,” Lanning told WolverinesWire. “I know Sherrone did an unbelievable job. Obviously, they have built something over time that has sustaining power.
“I had the opportunity to compete against them in the Orange Bowl when I was at Georgia. And I haven’t actually been to Ann Arbor to see it. So it will be a fun experience, a fun place for us. Certainly a team worthy of competing.”
Oregon is widely regarded, not only as a Big Ten contender in its first year in the conference, but potentially as a national championship-caliber team. However, besides Michigan, Ohio State (who also plays against the Ducks this season) will have a say.
