Dan Lanning’s success is paying off big time. After leading the Ducks to a perfect 12-0 regular season and securing spots in both the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff, he’s set to rake in some impressive bonuses. Lanning earned a $200,000 bonus for the 12-0 record and stands to get an extra $150,000 if Oregon makes the playoff’s first round, or $200,000 if they defeat Penn State and claim a first-round bye.
Following a 49-21 win over Washington, Lanning reflected on his past losses to the Huskies, saying it felt great to finally get a victory. With a 34-5 record, he’s now the winningest Ducks coach by percentage, though Mike Bellotti still holds the title for most career wins. Lanning has his sights set on surpassing Bellotti’s record and winning Oregon’s first national championship.
In the world of college football, perfection is the ultimate goal perfect preparation, perfect execution, and the top recruiting class. Yesterday, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks achieved something only twice in school history: an undefeated regular season. Fans are familiar with the 2010 Ducks, led by stars like Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, and Casey Matthews, who went 12-1 and finished ranked #3 in the final AP Poll after a close loss to Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game.
Less known is Oregon’s 1916 team, which, coached by Hugo Bezdek, went 7-0-1, winning the Rose Bowl 14-0 over Penn. That team allowed only 17 points all season, shutting out six opponents. Bezdek, a multi-lingual coach, later made his mark as a baseball scout and coach, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. While surpassing Bezdek’s undefeated squad may not carry the same nostalgic weight as Oregon’s 49-21 win over Washington, it certainly carries greater rewards.
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