Everything Dan Lanning said after the Oregon Ducks won the Big Ten Championship

The Oregon Ducks did it. They stormed into the Big Ten, went undefeated in the regular season, became the No. 1 team, and knocked down the Penn State Nittany Lions to win the conference championship – all during their first year in the conference.

After the Big Ten title game, emotions were apparent on the faces of every player, staff member, coach, and fan. During the postgame press conference, head coach Dan Lanning couldn't contain his pride or admiration for the team who surrounded him.

Dan Lanning's opening statement after the Big Ten Championship:

"I don't have a lot to say except for how proud I am of these guys. You know, we've talked about moments this year where guys had to put each other on their backs and I thought the offense tonight did an unbelievable job. I thought the defense made a critical stop when it mattered most. But I'll say this, the belief in our team throughout the game, it never wavered.

"We have a bunch of guys in there that love each other and worked their tails off tonight to come out on the other side of a victory so kudos to them. That offense is really hard to stop, you know, they do an unbelievable job over there and it was a battle, it was a battle until the very end.

"So, I'm really proud of our players, really proud of their resiliency, proud of this dude [Dillon Gabriel], 3rd & 1, making a play, 4th & 2, making a play for our team. Proud of these guys [Tez Johnson and Bryce Boettcher] on the stage with me and I promise you they'd be the first to tell you that they couldn't do it without their teammates, so, we can open up."

Dan Lanning on Oregon's achievements so far this season:

"I'm really proud of our players, they accomplished this, I didn't have anything to do with it. I just get to keep the train on the tracks and we have unbelievable leadership, an unbelievable coaching staff. You know, the Big Ten's tough and I think tonight's game is a great example of that, this is a tough league.

"It's hard to go out there and win and to be able to do what our guys did tonight, I'm really proud, you know, of their effort to be, to give just a little bit extra. I thought everybody gave a little bit extra tonight and that showed up."

Dan Lanning on getting emotional after the game:

"When you get to be a part of games like this, I think you start to think intrinsically about the journey that you've been on and being there. But, what brings me joy is the people that you love that get to enjoy the journey with you. Right? These guys up here, Phil [Knight], my parents. For them to get to be a part of a night like tonight, I know how much that means to them.

"That means a lot more to me than any success I ever have; them getting to be a part of that success."

Dan Lanning on Oregon's next steps toward the National Championship:

"I'll be honest, that's the furthest thing from my mind right now. I'm worried about tomorrow, I'm worried about the next day, the next play. I think that's how you get there. If you start putting the end goal in sight, I don't think it's any secret what this team wants to accomplish, but you don't get there by just looking at it.

"It takes work. I'm thinking right now, how can we improve, how can we get better? There's a lot that we can grow from from that game, in all phases. That's really where my focus is at and I think when you focus on the process, the rest takes care of itself."

Dan Lanning on what Phil Knight means to the program:

"I mean, he loves this university, he means the world to this university. I think, so often, Phil Gets acknowledged for what he does for the football program but you talk about a philanthropist and what he does, him and his wife Penny, what they do for the greater good of the world.

"What's college sports look like without Phil Knight and what's athletics in general look like without Phil Knight? What's cancer research look like without Phil Knight? I don't know that you could put that into words so we're grateful for his contributions and certainly a big part of us having success is making sure that we get the opportunity to acknowledge him."

Dan Lanning on Dillon Gabriel's Big Ten Championship game performance:

"This guy deserves every single thing that comes his way. I told him that earlier this week when he got Player of the Year in the Big Ten. I mean, if anybody can't watch that performance and recognize how special he is, maybe the most special play to me is the 3rd & 1 when he wanted it in his hands to get that tough yard.

"This team believes in him, they're grateful every day that they get to step onto the field with him. He's about connection and people first. But the poise that he shows in big games is unmeasured. I haven't been around players like Dillon, I'm really grateful that I get to share the field with him."

Dan Lanning on his sideline remaining level headed:

"I think our guys do an unbelievable job of understanding the reset, the reset button, the best play is the most important play. As emotional as the game of football is, they do an unbelievable job of knowing the job's not done until the job's done, being composed, being ready for the next moment. That's something we really pride ourself in."

Dan Lanning on his scheming before the Big Ten Championship:

"Well, I think they had moments that maybe they missed so we have to acknowledge that. You know, they have an unbelievable scheme, they do a really good job there. I will say, we wanted to make sure we always knew where No. 44 [Tyler Warren] was at and certainly always wanted to know where 11 was at.

"So, credit to our offensive line, credit to Coach Stein and the job that he did there. Credit to our guys on defense, knowing where he was at. There's a lot of room for improvement for us and that's what I'm really excited about; the opportunity to attack that growth."

Dan Lanning on becoming the 'keystone species of the Big Ten':

"That's something kind of for us. Something we started at the beginning of the season, talking about. You know, you get an opportunity to invade a new environment, and somewhere maybe you didn't belong, and get the opportunity to take over that environment. We said this was the last step for us to become that, so, I'm really proud of our guys for buying into that thought and building off of it.

"Again, motivation's overrated. These guys have to go out there and execute, they did that tonight."

Read more: