Dan Lanning speaks to wife's inspiration for Oregon's 'Stomp Out Cancer' uniforms
Dan Lanning and his family have a special connection to Oregon’s unique Week 6 uniforms, and the head coach was asked about their help in designing those threads on Monday night.
Sauphia Lanning, Dan’s wife, is a cancer survivor, and Oregon asked for the assistance of Sauphia and the Lanning kids in designing the “Stomp Out Cancer” uniforms the Ducks will wear vs. Michigan State. The uniform features unique twists on Oregon staples such as the “O” logo and the integration of the colors representative of each form of cancer on the shoes.
There are also personal touches to the Lanning’s family story, such as ice cream cones sewn into the jerseys. The cones are a nod to the Lanning’s and their tradition of getting ice cream after every one of Sauphia’s chemotherapy sessions.
According to Dan, the idea for these jerseys began early upon his arrival in Eugene. He pointed to Sauphia’s input and inspiration in the process with a desire to honor those affected by all forms of cancer and the doctors and nurses who are involved.
“Really that kind of sparked as soon as we got here. It was kind of cool that Nike reached out as soon as we got here about maybe being able to create something. I know it was really important to my wife that it was something that really honored all forms of cancer and the people who are surrounded by it,” said Lanning. “I think we’ve all been affected by that, so they took a really cool idea and turned it into something neat. I think it will bring great awareness and some much-needed attention to a terrible disease.”
You can see the full uniform reveal below:
This will undoubtedly be a special night for the Lanning’s and all cancer fighters and survivors out there when the Ducks face Michigan State on Saturday night.