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Erickson's magic touch puts end to OSU streak Commentary By Randy Hammerickson Former Oregon State University head football coach Dee Andros couldn't restrain the tears of joy from flowing. Dennis Erickson, the current OSU coach and long-time fan and friend of Andros, sprinted off the turf at Reser Stadium Saturday night pumping his upraised fists in celebration. And in victory. Erickson, the man who coached the University of Miami to two national championships, had just won his sixth game in his first season as head coach of the Beavers. He said the feeling was just as memorable helping the Beavers end 28 straight seasons of losing. "This is a big deal," said Erickson. "It doesn't get much better than this." It was that kind of night around Corvallis -- home of the Beavers -- Saturday as the town celebrated the end of the losing streak. OSU (6-3) scissored the losing skid with a hard-fought 17-7 win over the California Golden Bears in a battle of perhaps the two best defenses in the Pac-10. Cal's defense held that distinction entering the game. But it was outplayed on a balmy fall afternoon. "If it (the losing streak) ends, it will be a great day for Oregon State," said Andros, the last head coach to produce a winning season, way back in 1970, at halftime of Saturday's game. "It's long overdue and too many people have suffered too long." Andros' 1970 team featured quarterback Steve Endicott of Grants Pass and a rock-solid defense, much like OSU's current one, that wouldn't say yes to an offense. The Beavers upset Andros' alma mater, Oklahoma, that season on their way to a 6-5 record. The winning season was capped with Antros' ninth win in 11 games against the hated Ducks in the Civil War game. Erickson's first matchup against Oregon is just two weeks away. That game certainly won't resemble many Civil Wars during the last 28 years, many of which were referred to as toilet bowls, especially by frustrated OSU fans. The 1999 Civil War will have bowl implications for the Beavers and Ducks. Oregon State became bowl-eligible with the win over California. The Beavers, who lead the Pac-10 in total offense and total defense entering next Saturday's game against Arizona at Reser Stadium, can enhance their bowl possibilities with a win over the Wildcats or Ducks. As optimistic as OSU fans were after the big win Saturday night, they expect to win both games. And they could. Many in the sellout crowd of 35,520 arrived early for the game. Reser Stadium was a maze of orange as the fans sat back and savored the moment. But then, the game started. The Beavers struggled offensively against Cal's pressuring defense. But Oregon State's defense matched Cal blow for blow in a defensive standoff for three quarters. Then, the Beavers' dam broke. And out poured 15 OSU points in the final 15 minutes. And victory, which triggered a wild rampage onto the new carpet at Reser Stadium by hundreds of OSU students and fans. It was reminiscent of the 1967 celebration, held in the mud in the same stadium, which was then known as Parker Stadium. OSU defeated USC and eventual Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson, 3-0, in the rain and mud in that game. It wasn't long after that game that all four Northwest Pac-10 schools were asked, and agreed, to install artificial turf in their stadiums. After all, it wasn't very nice to mess up O.J. and his Trojans in that horrible mud. Trailing Cal 7-2 at halftime, the Beavers used a safety when Cal was called for a holding penalty in its own end zone, and a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jonathan Smith to Roddy Tomkins to take a 10-7 lead. "I knew the way our defense was playing we would have a chance to win," said Erickson. "We made just enough plays on offense. Roddy made a great play." The Beavers sent the crowd into a frenzy when linebacker Tevila Moala picked up a Boller fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown to seal victory No. 6. At that point, the party was on. Beavers everywhere, with pent-up emotions and frustrations over 28 years, were celebrating and smiling. Randy Hammericksen is the Mail Tribune's sports columnist. He can be reached at 776-4499. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.