uzi

Even Saban isn't perfect. Back when he was HC at Michigan State, one of Washington's more mediocre coaches beat him twice.

I understand the reluctance, but realize Dennis Erickson is the best coach OSU ever had (way better than Mike Riley). And Smith is from the Erickson + Petersen branch of coaching, not the Riley branch. That pedigree can't really go wrong.

All of you guys salivating over Chris Petersen should check out Jonathan Smith, Petersen's OC. Smith followed Petersen from Boise State, and is the offensive mastermind behind Washington's success. He knows the Petersen system inside and out. Also, the dude is recruiting the best OL Washington has had since the Don James years. They will be road grading teams for years to come. He initially learned his craft as a QB at Oregon State playing under Dennis Erickson (yeah, the guy that won NCs at Miami). Ericsson and Smith took lowly Oregon State to the Fiesta Bowl where they fricken T H U M P E D Notre Dame. Smith has everything Petersen has, but is younger. He is basically the coach in waiting at UW when Petersen retires. You could probably lure him away for $1.5M a year. Hands off any of our defensive staff though.