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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 10, 2003 Commentary Riley proves nice guys don’t always finish last By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune CORVALLIS — Regardless of how either football coach likes it, Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson will be forever linked in Oregon State lore. Just like Barney Rubble was to Fred Flintstone or Ed Norton was to Ralph Kramden, so, too, is Riley to Erickson. It’s difficult to think of one without the other, but comparing them is like apples and oranges. Advertisement It was Riley who came to Oregon State in 1997, providing instant hope to the beleaguered program before accepting a once-in-a-lifetime shot to coach the NFL’s San Diego Chargers following the 1998 campaign. It was Erickson who eventually took the Beavers to the promised land, guiding OSU in 1999 to its first winning campaign since 1970 and to a school-record 11-1 season in 2000. And, amazingly, it’s Riley back for another run with the Beavers as he replaces Erickson, who left for greener pastures as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. And although the similarities in their coaching schemes should make for an easy transition this season, talk of their differences in style has enveloped fall training camp thus far. Each coach in his own way has left an indelible imprint on the OSU program. Riley with a kind of soft-spoken, boy-next-door approach; Erickson full of fire and brimstone. "Coach Riley’s all smiles and so friendly that you don’t want to disrespect him or make him mad," OSU senior linebacker Richard Seigler says in comparing the two coaches, "where coach Erickson always had a chip on his shoulder and was ready to jump on somebody." Not that Erickson’s style didn’t produce results; it just didn’t make many friends. You could argue that even at the peak of Erickson’s success at OSU, Riley’s recruits were the backbone to the team since 17 of Erickson’s top 24 players in 2000 were brought in by his predecessor. That said, Erickson threw compliments Riley’s way like they were manhole covers during his four years at OSU. Not so for Riley, who’s as genuine as they come. "This is a good situation," Riley, 49, says of his second stint at OSU. "This is a vision we had when we came here the first time. Of course, we didn’t get to see it through, but Dennis and that group did a tremendous job." Such a good job, in fact, that even Riley can’t parallel his first run at OSU with this go-round. "It’s almost like entering into a different job than it was the first time," says the former Corvallis High standout QB. Back then, Riley says the expectations primarily involved survival. Thanks to the winning attitude instilled by Erickson, expectations are much greater these days. "There’s no doubt the perception of Oregon State out there in the world is different now," says Riley. "It used to be if a guy was on the cover of a magazine or top-50 recruit on the West Coast and he wasn’t from Oregon, it was hard to get a visit. We had to uncover rocks to find recruits. Right now, we can go in and talk to anybody about Oregon State and have them be excited about it." Credit Erickson and Riley for that. But, unlike Erickson, Riley is about more than just winning attitudes and winning over recruits. "There’s a big change around here," says All-American tailback Steven Jackson. "Not to take anything from coach Erickson, because I loved his staff, but the staff here really cares about your feelings. They want to get to know you as a person, not only as an athlete. You’re not just a number to them." To expand on that point, consider OSU’s postseason awards. Under Riley, and those who came before him, the conclusion of a season also meant the doling out of team awards like most improved, most valuable, most inspirational, etc. In Erickson’s four years, no team honors were handed out beyond the naming of captains. That’s a small item, but it certainly says a lot. But few things can say more about a coach than how he’s viewed by his players. "I just love the way they’re running this," Jackson says of Riley and his staff. "They’re treating us like total professionals." "You can just go up there to the coaches’ office and not even talk about football," Jackson adds on the family atmosphere. "You can just talk about what’s going on in your life in general and what you’re planning to do in the future. Last year, I’m not going to say it wasn’t offered, but it wasn’t as welcoming neither." For Riley, it all comes second-nature. "I really like this job, and one of the great things about this job is being around the players," he says. "I don’t want this to be a place where they’re afraid to come or don’t want to come. I think we’re on the wrong track if that’s the case." Many coaches say they’re concerned about the football player as a whole, but you tend to believe it when Riley pours his heart out on the subject. "We take on great responsibility and accountability when a young man comes to Oregon State," he says. "We’re looking not only at what he can do on the football field and what we can teach him in X’s and O’s and technique, we’re looking to help him graduate and develop into a young man who can enter out in the world and be successful. That’s a big, big part of our job here." And it’s going to be an equally big part of Oregon State’s continued success. "Coach Riley comes every day with a positive attitude and makes sure that spreads through the team," says junior quarterback Derek Anderson. "You want to win for someone like that." And the Beavers will, this year and for many years to come — on and off the playing field. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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