Varying views by Lanning, Cignetti

Oregon and Indiana coaches stem from Saban coaching tree, but diverge on style.

- MICHAEL MAROT AND ANNE M. PETERSON

COACH Curt Cignetti, left, will lead Indiana against coach Dan Lanning and Oregon in the Peach Bowl.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti look like opposites.

Lanning is the flashy budding star who wins by defying conventional wisdom. The blunt-spoken Cignetti takes a decidedly old-school approach.

The two former Alabama assistants will soon find themselves back in SEC country, sharing mutual admiration for their very different styles, as they chase one goal— reaching the national championship game.

"[He’s] one of the young superstars in the coaching profession," Cignetti said of his Peach Bowl opponent in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday night.

When he was introduced as Oregon’s new coach in December 2021, Lanning was asked about his lack of head coaching experience. The former defensive coordinator at Georgia responded with a wisecrack.

"Well, I hate to cut you off, but I've been a head coach before,” Lanning said. “When I was in high school, I coached the third-grade basketball team, and we were damn good. I mean, we were good.”