Riley vs. Erickson « Cliff Kirkpatrick

category: OSU Sports

Riley vs. Erickson 46CommentsRiley+vs.+Erickson2007-09-21+15%3A06%3A39Cliff+Kirkpatrick

Most of the talk about Mike Riley vs. Dennis Erickson died down this week. The media and fans made a big deal about it last year when Erickson brought Idaho to Corvallis in his first meeting against the Beavers since he left.

Fans love to compare them, saying one is better than the other. But now it’s the second time and the interest faded. None of the players on the OSU roster played for Erickson so the degrees of separation increase.

“It’s a lot more interesting to people on the outside that it is for Dennis and I,” Riley said. “He has a good job and I have a good job. The talk among the coaches is not about that, but it just makes good copy.”

Nice newspaper lingo from Riley there, calling the words written in a newspaper “copy.” Anyway, he’s not just downplaying the storyline. It’s just that Erickson has that storyline against Washington State and if ASU scheduled Idaho, Wyoming or Miami.

“I have a lot of respect for Dennis, and I like him,” Riley said. “I think he’ll do a very good job at Arizona State. Besides that, it has not thing to do with us. It should be just a good game.”

Even the fifth-year seniors such as Anthony Brown who I talked to about didn’t care about playing the guy who recruited them. New players such as Joey LaRocque don’t realize how deep Erickson’s presence touched OSU.

After typing that, I’m sure the Riley Haters will puff out their chests if Arizona State wins Saturday night. The Sun Devils are favored by 12 points. I really don’t care, but it’s amusing to hear about.
- Cliff

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46CommentsRiley+vs.+Erickson2007-09-21+15%3A06%3A39Cliff+Kirkpatrick

Kiro says:

September 21, 2007 at 8:17 am

It is the players that play the game isn’t it ? Beavers are on a roll. When they learn to roll out of training camp ready for the season, instead of taking three games to get ready for the season they will be even better. Bandwagon fans and armchair quarterbacks are funny. Go Beavers, we expect a good waxing of ASU.

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Calvon says:

September 21, 2007 at 9:30 am

One of the principal reasons Ralph Miller’s basketball teams were so successful is that he taught a simple system and then honed it to perfection. I see Erickson’s system as using similar principles and see Riley’s as perhaps being a bit too complicated. Riley’s best efforts come with three and four year players who have been around long enough to absorb his complicated system. Erickson gets results with first and second year players.

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Greg says:

September 21, 2007 at 9:44 am

Hey Cliff! Is there any truth to the rumor that Langsdorf called the plays for the ISU game? On one of the message boards someone noted that Gundy was standing about 20 yards away from Riley with a headset on signaling in the plays, rather than right next to him as he normaly is.

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Wagon says:

September 21, 2007 at 10:57 am

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf?/base/sports/1190345128178740.xml&coll=7

That’s all I got to say. For all you haters who keep patting Riley on the back, keep on doing it because it makes you feel all happy & fuzzy inside.

But the end result will be this: As long as Riley is coach, the Beavers will always be Almost Kinda Sorta Good. Never great.

Thank you Canzano!

I like you to Cliff! You make great arguments and I really enjoy reading your blogs!! Please don’t take my comment above as a slap in the face!!

I just had to let all those whiners and screamers know that there are others who know our program who have similar beliefs as I, and how the Beavs will continue to be “kinda sorta good” as long as Riley is holding that clipboard on our sidelines!!

GO BEAVS!!!

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Cliff Kirkpatrick says:

September 21, 2007 at 10:58 am

Greg,
I’ll look into it for you. But I doubt it, unless it was late in the game. Riley usually calls the plays with input from Langsdorf.

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Coach says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:30 pm

Here’s a couple of fun facts.

Erickson had ONE season over .500 in Pac10 Play (2000), Riley has had TWO (2004 and 2006)

Erickson won ONE bowl game whie he was at OSU. Riley is 3-0.

Erickson did some great things while he was at OSU. Riley has as well.

OSU was “kinda – sorta – good” Under Erickson w/ the exception of ONE year. Take out, Riley’s best year and Erickson’s best Year and Riley has a better Pac10 record then Dennis.

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Will Bullock says:

September 21, 2007 at 2:13 pm

Very well put Wagon. Supporting Riley makes you a “hater”, “whiner”, and “screamer”. Linking to an article by the least respected journalist in the history of the state only bolsters your argument. Nice effort.

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D.ERICKSON says:

September 21, 2007 at 3:31 pm

DE came at the right time and place for OSU. Good for the short term, which is only the amount he’ll stay at a program anyway.

For the long term, Riley is better for OSU. And as other’s have pointed out, save for that one season. DE’s record is no better than Riley’s.

Canzano? give me a break.
Dude has no credibility.

He ripped Belotti last year for uo’s slide, now it’s a uo love fest.

Save this……DE will not be taking ASU to a BCS game during his tenure.

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mike says:

September 21, 2007 at 4:05 pm

DErickson is a great college coach. I am and will always be grateful for what he did for OSU. After last year, I think Riley can be a great coach. What he did was pretty impressive. The argument about the beavs being “kinda sorta” good under Riley is fair, but you have to look at this defense and say there is some “great” possibility. Also, with Stroughter’s issues and Loomis late bailing, the other parts of this team have had to deal with some fairly significant stuff. Hopefully, this coaching staff can put the pieces together.
Go Beavers!

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BC says:

September 21, 2007 at 8:17 pm

I have to disagree with you Will Bullock only on the point of calling canacrappo a “journalist”. Dude should be working for the enquirer. And wagon, you sound like you went to high school with Riley and you hate him because he was better looking, stole your girlfriend, got better grades and was the quarterback while you were playing tuba in the marching band.

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TuscalooW says:

September 21, 2007 at 9:02 pm

Fun Facts ? More like Funny Facts. Bear Bryant had 54 seasons over 500. And you are talking about 1 and 2 seasons over 500 ?? Probably when you have some decent seasons you would be valid discussing coaching skills. Till then, you may as well compliment the players, who are actually playing the game instead of watching the game. Alabama here wishes you Minor Leaguers well.

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Voice of Reason says:

September 22, 2007 at 2:05 pm

Alabama telling others that they’re minor leaguers? Mike Price and Destiny…enough said.

Roll Tide! It’s rolling!!

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butch says:

September 22, 2007 at 2:07 pm

Did you Erickson lovers ever stop to ponder that most of the 2000 Fiesta Bowl team were recruited by Mike Riley? Do you also forget that the following year when OSU was picked to win the National Championship by Sports Illustrated Saint Dennis lead us to a 5-6 season?

Riley is a great fit for Corvallis. We don’t have the facilities or location to land every ***** recruit we put our eyes on. Riley is fantastic at making ** and *** recruits develope into *** and **** players.

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AZU120 says:

September 22, 2007 at 10:44 pm

great call phenixfan, you got it pretty close. 50 points and 5 interceptions. come again beavers, you are good for our win column. maybe you would like to play twice a year, and vault asu in to the bcs picture ? thanks a lot for the win.

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beachbeav73 says:

September 22, 2007 at 10:54 pm

ASU in the BCS? Don’t stop smoking the peace pipe.

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Cliff Kirkpatrick says:

September 23, 2007 at 5:02 pm

Greg,
Riley still calls the plays. Gunderson was either off doing something on his own, or was told a series of plays to send in.

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