Oregon State Football: Facing a Familiar Foe, Erickson's Time Post-Corvallis

Oregon State Beavers vs. No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils

Kickoff time: 7:30 PM PST

Tempe, AZ

It seems like it was just yesterday that Dennis Erickson was patrolling the Beaver sidelines. In reality it has been nine seasons since Erickson left Oregon State for greener pastures, but fans still remember the excitement and success Erickson brought to university.

In Erickson’s first season he led the team to a 7-5 record, the first above .500 season in 29 years for the historically bad program. The very next year, Erickson took the team to a whole new level going 11-1 and earning a share as conference champions.

The 2000 Oregon State squad missed out on an opportunity to play in the national championship game, and instead went on to the Fiesta Bowl for 41-9 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (one of largest margin of defeats in Notre Dame history).

With expectations higher than ever in 2001, the Beavers entered the season ranked No. 1 by numerous preseason magazines, most notably Sports Illustrated. The Beavers offense was depleted with the losses of Chad Johnson (Ochocinco), Mitch White and T.J. Houshmandzadeh leaving the high-powered offense, plus key linebacker DeLawrence Grant also gone to the NFL.

The team finished a disappointing 5-6 while rival Oregon finished the season 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in the country. After a season that never lived up to expectations, rumors began to emerge that Erickson was interested in taking the head coaching vacancy at USC (eventually filled by Pete Carroll).

Erickson coached the Beavers for another season, finishing 8-4 but leaving for the NFL before his contract expired. Many Beaver fans have not forgiven Erickson for his quick and early departure.

Erickson returned to the NFL for the 2003 season, calling San Francisco his new home replacing former 49ers head coach, Steve Mariucci. Erickson’s first season ended in a surprising 7-9 record, far exceeding the level of skill of the team.

In 2004, Erickson and the 49ers went a pitiful 2-14 and eventually led to the two parting ways.

After a year off from coaching in 2005, Erickson returned to the sidelines, this time in Moscow, Idaho as head coach of the Idaho Vandals where he was offensive coordinator in 1974-75 and head coach from 1982-85. The season started off as expected, going 4-3 to start the season but finishing with five straight losses for a 4-8 record.

Erickson’s return to Moscow only lasted a season when Erickson was announced as the new head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Erickson’s first season in the desert has been his best since his departure from the Beavers in 2002. ASU finished the 2007 with a 10-3 finish that had the Sun Devils in or around the top 10 for a large part of the season.

The three seasons since have the Sun Devils at a dismal 15-21 record with no bowl appearances. Arizona State now finds itself 3-1 (1-0) and ranked No. 25 nationally in the AP Poll.

Erickson has a 1-3 record against his former Beavers and current Beaver head coach Mike Riley has a 5-3 record against the Sun Devils. Even though none of the Beaver players have ever played under Erickson or have any connection to the former Beaver coach, there’s no questioning that both of these teams would love a win against the other.