SEATTLE — Dan Lanning is the blackjack player who takes a card with 18 showing. Then he is astonished when he breaks his hand. Over and over again.
Aggressive coaching is in trend. Then there is reckless coaching. Lanning has crossed the line into irresponsibility.
The Oregon coach has become college football’s fourth-down dunce, routinely going for it when a kick—a field goal, a punt, just send out the kicking team, Dan—would be a better play. Last year against Washington, he blew a fourth-and-1 at his own 33-yard line in a tie game with 1:26 left, gift-wrapping field position for the Huskies’ winning field goal. Then, against Washington, he tripled down on foolish, making three fourth-down decisions that all failed.
Last year, the score was Washington 37, Oregon 34.
The score this year is Washington 36, Oregon 33.
The Lanning Factor in both scenarios is huge.At the end of the first half Saturday in a thunderous Husky Stadium, Oregon drove to Washington’s 3-yard line down 22-18. Having been given that final possession by the outstanding Michael Penix’s interception, and with the Ducks receiving the kickoff to begin the second half, common reason dictated that they kick the field goal on the last play of the half. Common sense yelled it. Screamed it. But that communication never reached Lanning’s headset.
Oregon attempted a sprint-out pass from Bo Nix to the boundary. It had been broken up. Washington ended the first half on a high note. That was Blown Call Number One.
On their second drive of the second half, behind 29-18, the Ducks drove to Washington’s 8-yard line.
