Bo Nix dishes on Dan Lanning and Kenny Dillingham at Pac-12 media day

In addition to Dan Lanning and Jeffery Bassa, Oregon Ducks QB Bo Nix took the stage for Pac-12 media day, on Friday afternoon. He answered the media’s questions about his relationships with other players and coaches, past and present, as well as questions about the upcoming season for the Oregon Ducks.

Nix had some good insights into how the Ducks will fare in 2023, as well as how things have changed since last season. One of the things Dan Lanning brought up in his time with the media was the introduction of a new focus for the whole team this offseason of going from “good to great” as a program, which was an idea that was echoed by both Nix and Bassa in their time with the media.

Below a Bo Nix’s most notable responses to questions from Pac-12 media day:

The team's focus this offseason

“We’ve been working hard on discipline and consistency. Ultimately as a team, we were so close last year. We want to go from good to great this year. We’ve talked about it a lot this offseason. We’ve had a lot of meetings about it and had a lot of time where we can connect and you know, fellowship and talk about what that it’s exactly going to look like. But it’s just going to take each individual being disciplined, being consistent, showing up doing the extra stuff, doing what they’re supposed to do being able to be you know, counted on and being accountable in important situations.”

Being able to critique yourself

“So at the end of the day you know these people are telling you what you should work on and you know even yourself you can be self-critical yourself and go back and look in the mirror and you know I gotta get better at this. I got to get better at going straight back in my drop, it’s making my eyes look bad, or look at the wrong things. I got to do this or I got to do that. Being critical of yourself, those are the little things that will take you from you know, reading to safety and knowing he stayed in the middle, but then knowing exactly where he was in the middle. You know, he was 15 yards deep. I still had that pass. So those little things that you can go from, you know, Good to Great.”

Losing Alex Forsyth at center

“Yeah, he was a great player. He was a great leader himself. He was an unbelievable player for the program. He did a lot for the program. Now he’s on to bigger and better things in the league. He’s gonna do a great job with whatever he does in life. But now somebody else has got to fill a void. And, you know, I’m excited to see who that person is going to be. Obviously, we have, you know, who we think is going to be but you never know. And, you know, at the end of the day, somebody’s gonna do it. Somebody’s gonna do it really well.”

Relationship with Kenny Dillingham

“He was one of the biggest reasons I came to Oregon to begin with. He taught me so much throughout the season. You know about life, about football, about coverages, about offense, about scheme, but as soon as the job was open, I knew he was gonna get the job. That’s just what kind of person he is, what kind of coach he is, you know, I knew his determination. He was gonna go out and get it. Because that’s his dream. And we always go after our dreams or our goals. And so I was thrilled when he told me. I couldn’t have been happier. Probably the same excitement he had for me that saved me this year is the same excitement I have for him. I can’t wait to beat his tail in November though, I’m excited for that. And, you know, I mean, great relationship we’ll have for the rest of our lives.”

Babysitting the Lanning boys

“I have had the privilege of you know, hanging out with coach Lannings boys. I’ve gotten to take them to basketball practice. We’ve hung out a few times. We’ve kept them over at the house when Coach Lanning and Miss Sophia are out of town. You know, that’s just part of the connection we talk about. Coach Lanning really puts an emphasis on that. We want to be the most connected team possible. And I mean, you know what’s better than babysitting? You know, his kids and making sure they’re, they’re good? Because at the end of the day, they’re part of the family. You know if they’re good and Coach Lanning is good, then he can make us good.”

Being good is easy, greatness is hard

“I think one thing that stuck out the most is just being vulnerable and being able to take criticism when it’s passed along to you. Because anybody can be good at something. you know, it takes skill to be good, it takes work to be good, but it’s hard to be great at it. Not many people are great at it.”

Story originally appeared on Ducks Wire