UtahOregon.png

Utah beat Oregon 62-20 last season, the most points scored by a conference opponent at Autzen Stadium.

(Oregonian)

Two-time National Champion football coach Dennis Erickson joined me on the radio show to talk about coaching at Utah, leaving Oregon State for the NFL, why he failed with the 49ers. Also, what it was like to help call the game that put 62 points on the Ducks at Autzen Stadium last season.

"It was easy," Erickson said. "I can call those games all the time. It was one of those days where you have things going. Their quarterback got hurt so that really hurt them. On both sides of the football, and then, offensively, everything went right... It was fun to go to Autzen Stadium and win like that. I've been to Autzen Stadium a lot of times and not had near that fun."

On leaving Oregon State for the NFL:

"Dumbest mistake I ever made... not a very smart move by me."

On why he failed with the 49ers:

"We just didn't have the money to compete. My second year there were were $20-something-million over the cap. So we had to get rid of anybody who was a player... it goes to show you don't take a job unless you investigate all the things involved. John York wasn't a football guy at that time and Jed had his nose in it at the time, too."

On winning big at San Jose State in the late 1970s and early 1980s:

"That was unbelievable with Jack Elway as the head coach then. I was the offensive coordinator, but Jack was the brains of the outfit. We were doing things in those days they all invented it today. We were spreading them out and doing all that stuff a long time ago. We had great players. A lot of NFL players... it was fun. We beat Stanford about every time."

On the 1992 split national title between Erickson's Miami team and the Washington Huskies:

"We'll never know, will we? Oh my golly, but I do have a ring on my finger."

On why he loves coaching:

"I just love the game. I've been around it all my life... I was in locker rooms when I was five years old, four and five years old. All sports, I liked playing. But football was the game I was around... it's like anything, it gets in your blood."

On how Utah got better vs. Pac 12:

"We got better players and we became more athletic. One of the reasons Kyle Whittingham brought me there was the transition from the Mountain West ... he brought me in to look at the talent and see where we were at and make that change. There was quite a bit different in what we've done recruiting-wise. We've become much better in the skill areas and a lot faster... we still got to continue to get better. We're still not where we need to be to be competitive."

Listen to Erickson here: