First there were four. Now a few weeks into spring practices, two starting candidates have emerged at the quarterback position. Redshirt freshman Chad Chalich and senior Taylor Davis have been splitting first team reps as the Vandals prepare for the annual spring game Friday afternoon.
Overseeing the competition is a name familiar to Vandal fans — Erickson.
Bryce Erickson, that is.
The son of Dennis Erickson, the former two-time Idaho coach, Bryce Erickson was one of the first coaches Paul Petrino tapped to be on his staff, and he couldn’t be any happier to be back in Moscow and back at the Division I level.
Formerly the running backs coach at Arizona State, Bryce Erickson spent the last few seasons as head coach of South Albany High School in Oregon.
“It’s awesome, it’s a great opportunity. I’m happy to be back in the Palouse. I grew up around here, and I remember here in the early ‘80s going to the Kibbie Dome and watching my father’s team,” Bryce Erickson said. “It brings chills to me every time I step through those doors to go to work.”
His father’s latest stint in Moscow was in 2006 and lasted all of 10 months before he bolted to Arizona State, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of some Idaho fans who had previously idolized him for returning.
It played little in Bryce’s decision to bring the family name back to the Palouse.
“I don’t know it played any into Bryce, because I’m the one who made the decision to leave. I probably regret leaving at that time but I did, nothing I can do about it,” Dennis Erickson said. “He’s his own man, it didn’t have anything to do with me, in terms of having the opportunity to go there to coach, he was excited about that.”
Bryce Erickson hasn’t let the mixed emotions of fans from his fathers’ departure tarnish his homecoming to Moscow. The reception from the community has been great, he said.
“I take a lot of pride in it. This is my home,” Bryce said. “The University of Idaho is going to have success, and we’re going to get it done, and we’re going to grind, and we’re going to grind and we’re going to get it done.”
So far he’s been a welcome presence for Petrino.
“He’s a good calming influence on them at times when I’m getting after them at practice, and he can be the good cop, and then when I’m not around then he can be the bad cop,” Petrino said. “He’s done a great job, I’m really glad that we have him here.”
Despite his youth, Petrino is comfortable with the experience and knowledge Bryce Erickson brings to his staff. Like Petrino, Erickson grew up around the game of football.
“If you’re a good coach you’re a good coach. He’s got more experience than most people that have been coaching forever… It’s a great advantage to us that he is with the quarterbacks,” Petrino said.
As for Bryce’s father, Dennis Erickson had originally planned on spending quite a bit of time in northern Idaho this fall to watch Bryce coach until the offensive coordinator position at Utah opened up for him. Still, Dennis thinks the Erickson name fits right at home in Moscow.
“Without question, he loves northern Idaho, (Bryce Erickson) enjoyed his time in Moscow when he was there. Of course we’ve spent some time in Coeur d’Alene, it’s kind of a perfect fit for him,” Dennis said. “…But more than anything he just wanted to come there to help get that program where it needs to be, do whatever he can to be successful there.”
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]