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Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is firing back at Skip Bayless.
The “Undisputed” host insinuated during the FS1 show Monday that Lanning’s pregame comments ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Deion Sanders-led Colorado Buffaloes had racial undertones.
“I’ve tried to tell you guys for two weeks there is a deep-rooted, venomous vengeance that is starting to manifest itself against [Colorado head coach] Deion [Sanders] among white coaches,” Bayless said Monday on the show.
The comments did not sit well with Lanning, and he pointedly addressed Bayless’ assertion.
“I don’t know Skip at all. I’ve never had a conversation with him,” Lanning told reporters Monday. “I’ve watched him enough to know how often he gets it wrong, so that sounds about right. But, ultimately, here’s what I say. We’re playing to win the game. You saw a 15-second clip from a window outside the house of what happens in a locker room.
“I know our locker room. I’m in the house 100 percent of the time. I know how our players felt going into that game — and I know what it takes to motivate our players.”
The comments in question came in the Ducks’ locker room as Lanning prepared his team for a showdown with the upstart Buffaloes.
The Ducks handed the Buffaloes a 42-6 loss to end Colorado’s undefeated streak to start the year.
But Lanning’s pregame speech — which was captured by ESPN cameras — took not-so-subtle shots at Sanders.
“Rooted in substance. Not flash. Rooted in substance,” the Oregon coach said in the clip. “Today, we talk with our pads. You talk with your helmet! Right? Every moment! The Cinderella story is over, men! Right? They’re fighting for clicks. We’re fighting for wins. There’s a difference, right? There’s a difference.
“This game ain’t gonna be played in Hollywood. It’s gonna be played on the grass.”
Lanning called it his “job” to motivate his players and that’s what he was doing during his pregame speech, he said.
The coach also specifically said his team had feelings about Colorado stepping on the Oregon logo at midfield before the game.
“They felt a certain way about a group stomping on the O,” Lanning said. “They felt a certain way about guys talking to ’em in the pregame. I’m proud of those guys because what they decided to do is talk with their pads.”
The Ducks coach did praise Sanders for what he has done for college football since arriving at Colorado and acknowledged that the reason Saturday’s game was so hyped up was because of Sanders.
“If anybody can’t see what he’s done for college football and how he’s bringing excitement to college football, you’re crazy,” he said. “I said that last week as well. He’s done a lot for the game. He’s building something over there.
“I think that’s really, really clear.”
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