Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Share this post

Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano
Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano
Canzano: Mailbag includes 'pissed off' coach, hot seat, Blazers sale and Pac-12 fiasco
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Canzano: Mailbag includes 'pissed off' coach, hot seat, Blazers sale and Pac-12 fiasco

Your questions, my answers.

John Canzano's avatar
John Canzano
Jan 28, 2023
∙ Paid
44

Share this post

Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano
Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano
Canzano: Mailbag includes 'pissed off' coach, hot seat, Blazers sale and Pac-12 fiasco
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
83
Share
Dennis Erickson with Jonathan Smith at Oregon State in 2001.

Dennis Erickson was pissed off at me. This was early 2003 and the Oregon State football coach summoned me to his office in Corvallis.

I’d written a column speculating it was probably time for Erickson to leave. It wasn’t an “Erickson must go!!” rant. Rather, I’d examined his coaching resume and determined that the football coach had probably done all he could do at OSU.

He left Washington State after winning nine games. He ditched Miami after winning two national titles. It felt like Erickson had reached the ceiling at Oregon State and if his past behavior was a good indicator, I argued, he was about to bolt.

I walked into Erickson’s office. He stood up from his desk and said: “What did I do? Steal a girlfriend from you?!?!”

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 John Canzano
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More