Oregon HC Dan Lanning isn't afraid of a little rain, or a close game against Iowa

44º and raining aren't exactly the dream conditions for a football game, yet Oregon head coach Dan Lanning still refused to wear any proper gear for the weather as his team battled it out against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

At halftime, the No. 9 Oregon Ducks had eked out a 12-7 lead over the No. 20 Hawkeyes, and despite the close game and miserable weather, Lanning was having fun in Iowa City.

"We've gotta keep fighting, our guys are having a lot of fun out there... just keeping swinging," Lanning said. "It's fun to play in the rain, let's play in the rain."

Earlier in the week, Oregon beat reporter Zachary Neel had asked Lanning why he chose to always wear cotton crewneck sweatshirts instead of a rain jacket or heavier-duty coat. His response was one of the most Dan Lanning responses ever.

Dan Lanning is simply having fun in the rain

Lanning chooses to pass on the rain gear to "be in the fight" with his players, who don't get to wear any weather protection beyond leggings or long sleeves under their uniforms. Besides, just like play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and analyst Gary Danielson pointed out, the team is built for weather like this.

"Ducks love water," one of the CBS commentators said.

Now, the first half was far from flawless as Oregon quarterback Dante Moore earned just 65 passing yards for zero touchdowns and one interception through the air. However, veteran running back Noah Whittington blew past the Iowa D-Line to earn 87 yards in the first 30 minutes.

True freshman RB Dierre Hill Jr. earned the Ducks' only touchdown of the half on a 19-yard run, and kicker Atticus Sappington chipped in four more points, successfully converting his extra point and field goal attempts.

The first points on the board came from a safety against Iowa when the Hawkeyes' punter couldn't grab a snap, and it rolled through the back of the end zone after he (literally) kicked it out of reach of the oncoming Oregon rushers.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski had just 61 passing yards in the first half but earned the only passing touchdown on a three-yard connection with tight end DJ Vonnahme.