117 Comments
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Todd H.'s avatar

This is great. Tomorrow will be an empowering experience. It’s awesome to see the Lannings band together through this. We’ve all be touched by someone who’s either had (or has cancer). Mom passed in 2012 from Ovarian Cancer. These games always mean more now. GO DUCKS 🦆 #icecream

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David Gulickson's avatar

Lanning is all that is good about big-time college coaches

Husband

Father

Profession

Tremendous priority, to my mind

My wife is, as is Sauphia, a WarriorSurvivor in a cancer-filled world 💪🏼

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Brad Weekly's avatar

Mine too ✊

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Ben Johnson's avatar

Bless you :)

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Kevin Robinson's avatar

I don’t like what the UO did (ditch the Pac12) or several other aspects of their athletic program. **Note to anybody contemplating a response to this…don’t waste your time. I’ve probably been to more Ducks games than you; my wife, who I love dearly, is as die-hard a Ducks fan (and an alum) as there is; my kids are both Ducks fans, and I recognize change—even the shi##y stuff is inevitable.** Dan Lanning seems to be the real deal; a genuinely good dude. I’m rooting for his family and for people to appreciate what UO has right now in him as the leader of your program. Doing well and doing right is an increasingly rare combination in today’s world.

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John Canzano's avatar

Thanks for your perspective.

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Bev Zimel's avatar

My appreciation for this article, John, is multi-faceted as my daughter is a 30-year survivor of Ewing’s sarcoma, another rare bone cancer. She was 12-1/2 when diagnosed. During our cancer journey, we lived in the chemo and radiation trenches with many osteo families, so I know the challenge that the Lannings endured. Your article will bring hope

of survival to all on the journey. I’ll be keeping them in my prayers for Sauphia’s continued survivor celebration and peaceful hearts as they move on from the years of treatment.

Oh, and I LOVE the uniform design! Can’t wait to see it!

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John Canzano's avatar

Thank you for sharing that. Thinking of your daughter.

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Mere's avatar

Prayers for your daughter. I lost a good friend to ewings sarcoma in 2017.

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Bev Zimel's avatar

I’m so sorry for your loss. 💜

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Forrest Lamb's avatar

Great article, John. It just seems the more you get to know Dan Lanning and his family and his values, the more you love Dan Lanning his family and his values. Ducks are seriously blessed to have stumbled across this young man.

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John Canzano's avatar

Values...

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Bill Elder's avatar

From a Beav, The Ducks struck gold (or yellow) when they got Lanning and family. We love our coaches as well with the same great characters and desire to win on the field and in their family lives.

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Andy K's avatar

Same here. Lifelong Beav, but I started cheering for the Ducks last season (when appropriate :) because Lanning is so likeable. I've taken scorn among my Beav friends, and I always reply, "I like Lanning."

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jon joseph's avatar

Like his mentor who came 'this close' to beating DeBoer in an all-time comeback, I'm hoping Danno gets another shot at Coach D.

Thanks Andy for the kind comment.

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Monte Olsen's avatar

I agree!

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Sue Beck's avatar

As an alum of Oregon and cancer survivor (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), let me tell you there is nothing more important than family support. My husband, grown children, and terrific doctors in Bend and at OHSU kept me going and positive. Best wishes to the Lannings!

I’m 11 years cancer free!❤️

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John Canzano's avatar

Thanks Sue. Congratulations on 11 years!

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Andrew Manchester's avatar

Keep fighting!

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Roman Newell's avatar

As a long time Ducks fan, I love this article. I'm a huge fan of our coach and it's his values that make me a huge fan. The rest is just frosting. Thanks for this article, John.

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John Canzano's avatar

Thanks Roman.

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Dan Frank's avatar

Nice touch to a story about tomorrow’s uniforms, and a family’s facing a challenge and surviving. I wish them many years of good health and success at Oregon. They have come to a great place to live and thrive. Go Ducks and Lannings.

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John Canzano's avatar

My favorite uniforms yet.

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Debra Lorenzen's avatar

I usually don’t comment on Duck stories— a Beaver through and through— but your story about the Lanning family touched me. Lost my sis to bone cancer in 1962– before chemo and radiation was a real treatment choice. Just the idea that as a child I could have participated in an effort like the Lanning kids to cheer all cancer patients on would have been life changing for me. They are heroes❤️‍🩹

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John Canzano's avatar

Appreciate you weighing in Debra.

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Todd M's avatar

People tend to judge others based on how one handles adversity, illness and death. As well as how one treats others, and what one has to say about others. kudos to the Lanning family for navigating their journey so well, and offering a positive examples for others to follow.

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John Canzano's avatar

Thanks TT. Appreciate the comment.

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Ray Hacke's avatar

I'm not normally wild about Oregon's crazy uniform designs -- I very much like the traditional look and was thrilled that Oregon brought it back this season. But after reading this column, I'm looking at this particular uniform in a whole new light. Beautifully written. This one should get an award next year. Thanks for writing it, John.

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John Canzano's avatar

Like you... I've wondered about exhaustion on the combinations. But this one... is a winner.

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Mike Randall's avatar

My wife just finished reading today’s column that I forwarded to her. She just came out of her craft room and said to me “Wished you would have forwarded that to me BEFORE I put my makeup on”. Like Dan Lanning, she is a cancer survivor spouse. I am that survivor. Your column touched us both deeply as our whole experience dealing with cancer has changed both our lives. Thank you for writing so thoughtfully and allowing us to learn about and appreciate the Lanning family.

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John Canzano's avatar

Thank you for sharing that Mike. So many people touched by cancer in this comment section.

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Chris Davidson's avatar

Thank you John for another great human imterest story. And thanks to the Lanning family for being willing to share it with the the rest of us. It is good to remember we are all in this together.

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John Canzano's avatar

Appreciate this Chris. Thank you.

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Rick's avatar

Not sure why this article touched me like it did, but it did. We all pray that Sauphia continues to enjoy good health and wish the entire family the best. That said, it comes as no surprise so many young men want to play for Coach. Who wouldn't? There's more to life than football!!

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John Canzano's avatar

Thanks for sharing that.

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Jen GH's avatar

Another reminder that family first should be an important mantra in the football world. Thanks for shining the light on the Lanning family and what they endured during Sauphia’s cancer journey. It is so relatable on many levels to many people. Can’t wait to see the uni’s tomorrow night!

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John Canzano's avatar

So true.

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