In the brief time that the Alabama job was open following Nick Saban’s retirement, rumors ran wild in regard to which coaches the Crimson Tide might pursue. Oregon coach Dan Lanning was one coach mentioned, and a false report indicated he was in Alabama this week.
Brandon Kamerman, an anchorman for KVAL-TV in Eugene, Ore., claimed that Lanning was in Tuscaloosa as early as Wednesday night to discuss the job with the Crimson Tide brass. Lanning later debunked the report, revealing he actually was at home with his family watching a movie when Kamerman reported he was in Alabama.
Nevertheless, the report swirled through the college football world online.
KVAL (Eugene) news anchor Brandon Kamerman says Oregon HC Dan Lanning is currently in Tuscaloosa, just hours after Nick Saban retired.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 11, 2024
"I previously worked in Alabama, in Tuscaloosa... I do have some sources there, who did confirm that Lanning is in Tuscaloosa..." 🏈📺 pic.twitter.com/3HU4SSpKQn
Lanning announced that he was staying at Oregon on Thursday, definitively ending any speculation connecting him to Alabama. Then, later that day, Kamerman apologized to his audience for misleading them with a false report.
“That information was wrong, I take full responsibility for that,” Kamerman said on the air. “It wasn’t the KVAL sports team. It wasn’t the rest of the news team here. … That one was on me. I take it seriously, and I do want to apologize to our viewers and to my colleagues.”
Appreciate Brandon apologizing to myself and the sports department for his mistake. I also appreciate everyone who reached out last night and today and supported us. Proud of the work our sports team has done and will continue to do in 2024. pic.twitter.com/w2L81nhmN2
— Hayden Herrera (@haydenherrera) January 12, 2024
Lanning spent a year as a graduate assistant under Saban at Alabama before moving to Georgia with Kirby Smart. Alabama ultimately chose to hire Washington’s Kalen DeBoer to replace Saban.
