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Erickson instills optimism at OSU Photo from AP Quarterback Jonathan Smith, left, huddles with coach Dennis Erickson at recent practice. Beavs believe bowl game is in the works By KRIS HENRY CORVALLIS -- Oregon State has designs on a date, not a number, this season. Much has been said about the program's 28-season losing streak, but the Beavers don't seem too concerned with that fact heading into the 1999 campaign. "We don't really think about 28 or 29 or whatever it is. We want to be playing in December," says junior tight end Marty Maurer. As if gunning for their first winning season since 1970 isn't looming large enough over the Beavers, they haven't played after November since capping the 1964 season with a 34-7 loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Regardless, the Beavers sound confident of a turnaround under new coach Dennis Erickson. "There's added pressure for me personally and for this team," says returning quarterback Jonathan Smith. "Last year I don't think there were quite the expectations for both the team and myself. I think coach Erickson brings the confidence and expectation to us." Erickson will make his return to the collegiate ranks this season after four seasons in the NFL. Despite the Beavers' shoddy track record, Erickson isn't shy when discussing his expectations at Oregon State this season. "I really believe this football team has the chance to go to a bowl game," says Erickson, who ranks seventh among active Division I coaches in winning percentage. "That's what we're striving for." No stranger to success, Erickson brings a 13-year record of 113-40-1 and two national championships to Corvallis. He has had only one losing season during that stretch. When the Oregon State position opened after Mike Riley bolted to the NFL as coach of the San Diego Chargers, Erickson gladly grabbed the reins of the up-and-coming Beaver program. "I feel rejuvenated," says the coach. "I feel good that I have an opportunity to come to a situation like Oregon State that has a chance to do some great things. I'm looking forward to that opportunity." Helping ease the pressure for Oregon State will be a talented offense led by Smith and sophomore Ken Simonton. Smith replaced Terrance Bryant at quarterback late in the season and instantly sparked the aerial attack, shattering OSU's single-game passing record by amassing 469 yards in a 35-34 loss at Washington. Smith started the final three games, averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game. Although Bryant returns, Erickson has tabbed Smith the team's No. 1 quarterback this season. Bryant figures to be No. 2 once he serves a two-game suspension to open the season. Despite the glaring numbers, Smith isn't sold on the idea that the team is his to guide. "I never feel real secure about anything," he says. "Even when I started playing in the last couple games I started thinking maybe I'll get pulled and just tried to work as hard as I could." Eighteen pounds heavier and much stronger, Smith says he feels more confident heading into his sophomore campaign and believes Erickson's wide-open offensive scheme should open things up even more this season. Helping open up the passing game will be the constant threat of Simonton. The 5-foot-7, 183-pound tailback produced the school's first 1,000-yard freshman campaign last season. "We're going to use him as much as we can," Erickson says. Simonton will try to up his run production from third in the Pac-10 last season (1,028), and Erickson plans to use him much more in the passing game. "When you have a playmaker you have to get him the football, and he's a playmaker for us," says Erickson. Helping complement Smith and Simonton will be Maurer at tight end and a sturdy offensive line that returns three starters in left tackle Jason White, center Keith DiDomenico and right guard Aaron Koch. Junior returner Jared Cornell was penciled in as the starting left guard until suffering a knee injury in spring practice. Cornell underwent reconstructive surgery and may be able to return to action by midseason. Leading the cast of downfield targets will be receivers Roddy Tompkins, Robert Prescott and junior college transfer T.J. Houshmandzadeh. With the offense poised for bigger and better things this season, Erickson's biggest concerns reside on the defensive side of the ball. "There are a lot of question marks on defense, but we've got excellent athletes there to play well and mold our defense together," he says. "We have people to fill holes; it's just a matter of them coming through and playing well." Erickson is optimistic that junior college transfer DeLawrence Grant will be able to replace last year's top defensive player in Inoke Breckterfield on the defensive line. With the return of senior starting tackles Aaron Wells and Shawn Ball, the frontline defense should be the team's strength. Senior Jonathan Jackson returns at middle linebacker after finishing second in the Pac-10 last year in tackles. The Beavers return letter winners at the other linebacker slots, but only senior Micah Moore has been a starter. Junior strong safety Terrence Carroll will anchor the defensive backfield, with junior cornerback Keith Heyward-Johnson moving from right corner to left corner this season. Depth, especially on defense, is lean for Oregon State this season. Experience in the kicking game is also lacking, with true freshman Ryan Cesca set to handle the placekicking duties following the graduation of Jose Cortez. Despite the high expectations at Oregon State, Erickson says the pressure won't be anything he isn't used to as a coach. "The pressure is going to be there whether you're coaching high school or in the NFL," he says. "Pressure is what you make of it. I've always been very competitive and wanted to win football games whether it's the Seattle Seahawks or Billings (Mont.) Central High School where I started coaching." The Beavers open their season Saturday on the road against Nevada, then return to Corvallis for games against Fresno State and Georgia Southern. Erickson says he will put an added emphasis on those nonconference affairs. "Those first three games are real critical for us as far as where we go for the rest of the season," he says. Not shy, Erickson says he hopes that path will be the one leading to Oregon State's revival. "The fans of Oregon State, the Beaver believers, are unbelievable. They deserve a lot of good things, and hopefully we can deliver that for them," he says. Beavers at a glance COACH : Dennis Erickson (first year, career, 113-40-1 collegiate and 31-33 professional). ASSISTANTS : Gregg Smith (assistant head coach-offensive line), Tim Lappano (offensive coordinator-wide receivers), Willy Robinson (defensive coordinator-secondary), Michael Gray (defensive line), Michael Johnson (quarterbacks), Jim Michalczik (special teams-offensive line), Greg Newhouse (linebackers), Matt Lubick (secondary), Eric Yarber (running backs). 1998 LEAGUE RECORD : 2-6 (tie, eighth). 1998 OVERALL RECORD : 5-6. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR : Ninth. 1998 REGULAR SEASON SCORES Oregon State Opponents 48 Nevada 6 27 Baylor 17 20 USC 40 3 Arizona State 24 20 Utah State 16 30 Stanford 23 7 Arizona 28 34 Washington 35 19 California 20 34 UCLA 41 44 (2 OT) Oregon 41 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (8) : Split end Roddy Tompkins (6-0, 202, sr.), left tackle Jason White (6-5, 333, sr.), left guard Jared Cornell (6-2, 335, jr.), center Keith DiDomenico (6-5, 299, jr.), right guard Aaron Koch (6-3, 299, sr.), quarterback Terrance Bryant (6-2, 207, sr.), quarterback Jonathan Smith (5-10, 190, so.), tailback Ken Simonton (5-7, 175, so.). DEFENSE (6) : Left tackle Aaron Wells (6-0, 256, sr.), right tackle Shawn Ball (6-0, 275, sr.), middle linebacker Jonathan Jackson (6-2, 253, sr.), strong safety Terrence Carroll (6-0, 207, jr.), cornerback Keith Heyward-Johnson (5-11, 178, jr.), punter Mike Fessler (5-10, 215, jr). OTHER NOTABLES Slot receiver Robert Prescott (5-11, 175, jr.), offensive lineman Robert Sykes, (6-5, 326, jr.), tight end Marty Maurer (6-4, 232, jr), flanker T.J. Houshmandzadeh, (6-2, 200, jr.), kicker Ryan Cesca (5-7, 167, fr.), tailback Eric Mobley (5-10, 193, so.), defensive end DeLawrence Grant (6-3, 241, jr.), defensive end Toalei Talataina (6-2, 240, sr), linebacker Micah Moore (5-10, 202, sr.), cornerback Ricky Walker (5-11, 181, jr.). 1999 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 at Nevada, 1 p.m. Sept. 11 FRESNO STATE, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 GEORGIA SOUTHERN, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 25 Bye Oct. 2 at Southern California, tba Oct. 9 WASHINGTON, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Stanford, 2 p.m. Oct. 23 UCLA, 1 p.m. Oct. 30 at Washington State, 1 p.m. Nov. 6 CALIFORNIA, 1 p.m. Nov. 13 ARIZONA, 7:15 p.m. Nov. 20 at Oregon, 3:30 p.m. FOOTBALL 99 Index Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.