The story of the offseason for the Oregon Ducks was the rumor mill swirling around coach Dan Lanning as the Alabama job opened up following Nick Saban’s retirement.

Lanning’s public reassurance that he remains committed to Oregon and wouldn’t be leaving produced shockwaves in Eugene and beyond, with many praising the 37-year-old coach for displaying a loyalty that can be rare among those participating in the college football coaching carousel. Lanning’s now famous words, “The grass is damn green in Eugene,” were inevitably applied to merchandise worn around campus by Lanning, staff, students and fans.

“It meant the world to me,” linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said after Oregon spring practice Tuesday. “Sitting in his office having those conversations with him during the season and, obviously, during the offseason, knowing those were real and authentic conversations. Loyalty is a big thing to me, and I’m so excited for the future with him and with this program.”

For veteran players like Bassa and tight end Terrance Ferguson, Lanning’s presence and commitment factored into their decision to stay another year.

“It’s huge, man,” Ferguson said. “He’s a great coach, and he’s had opportunities to go other places, and to come back here where we have a great team and are building something special, it just means a lot when a guy like that is coming back and is really committed to the team.”

Offensive lineman Marcus Harper II said he never got an inkling that Lanning might leave.

“When you get a guy with Coach Lanning’s caliber, you know people are going to be pulling and tugging at him for his coaching ability,” Harper said. “But for him to recommit and just be all in, it’s just a testament to him and to his character.”