ShareThisBy BRYANT-JON ANTEOLA
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Idaho quarterback Steve Wichman doesn't mind admitting it: If not for coach Dennis Erickson, few - if any - would know or care about Vandals football.
"Everyone in America knows him," Wichman said. "USA Today is coming to do reports on Dennis Erickson, not the University of Idaho football team. I'm pretty sure everyone knows why we're excited to have him here."
Erickson is two games - perhaps three, if Idaho (4-6 overall, 3-3 Western Athletic Conference) reaches a bowl - from concluding the first season of his second stint at Idaho.
His obvious goal is to turn around a doormat program that hasn't had a winning season in seven years. But Erickson also wants to make Idaho football about the Vandals' results - not him.
Erickson said believes he has Idaho on the right path as the Vandals head into Saturday's game against Fresno State (2-7, 2-3) still in position to finish with a break-even record.
Idaho already has doubled its win total from last season. The Vandals also have more wins this season than any of the previous five.
"I wouldn't say we've turned it around," Erickson said. "In all honesty, we're better than we were a year ago. We're continuing to improve.
"We have a plan to try to get things turned around, and the things we're asking them to do both on and off the field, they're buying into that."
Erickson's return to Idaho, where in 1982 he received his first head-coaching job, was about timing.
Erickson was fired by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2004 season (he's getting paid $4.6 million total this year and next by the NFL team), but he wanted to keep coaching.
Idaho had an opening and an athletic director (Rob Spear) who knew Erickson.
Players say it's easy to believe and follow Erickson because of his resume.
He won two national championships at Miami. He has coached in the NFL twice, first with the Seattle Seahawks then the 49ers.
There have been numerous bowls throughout Erickson's college coaching career, which also has included head-coaching stops at Oregon State and Washington State.
Erickson even coached at Fresno State, serving as offensive coordinator under Jim Sweeney from 1976-78.
"When Coach (Erickson) talks, you listen and you believe in what he says," said Idaho defensive back Stanley Franks, who ranks second in the nation with eight interceptions. "You know he's going to put you in the right position to be successful."
Added Wichman, the quarterback: "With coach Erickson being here, it's skyrocketed as far as experience, and the knowledge I've taken from him.
"You feed off his energy and enthusiasm, and his knowledge and experience."
And Idaho is doing it with mostly non-Erickson recruits.
Erickson replaced former coach Nick Holt a week after National Signing Day.
Fresno State coach Pat Hill and other WAC coaches also are curious to see how quickly Erickson can restore Idaho.
The WAC already has seen one restoration project take place with veteran coach Dick Tomey leading San Jose State to a 6-3 record.
"Dennis does a great job of bringing a lot of energy," Hill said. "He's a very good coach. There's a lot of excitement. Anytime there's something new, there's a lot of excitement.
"He's got them playing at a very high level. If you look at his track record, he's won everywhere he's been (in college).
What's Erickson timetable for the turnaround?
"We've still got a long ways to go," Erickson said. "We want to end (the season) on a positive note, which would be a big boost for our program."
