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Scratch a name from S.F. list

February 11, 2003

Neuheisel says he isn't interested; Oregon State's Erickson still in running?
By Roger Phillips STAFF WRITER
University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel released a statement Monday saying he is not a candidate for the San Francisco 49ers' coaching job, ending speculation he was in the running to replace the fired Steve Mariucci.
"I have not been contacted by anyone from the 49ers organization about the position," Neuheisel said. "I want to reiterate what I have said in the past. I am the football coach at the University of Washington, and I am very happy with my position, and I am not interested in coaching anywhere else."
Neuheisel said he'd hoped the 49ers would make a hire before Monday. That way, upon returning from what was said to be a skiing vacation in Idaho, he wouldn't have to respond to the speculation. A source close to the Huskies football program said it's believed, however, that Neuheisel played golf Sunday in the Bay Area.
In any event, nearly one month since Mariucci's ouster, the three known candidates remain pro defensive coordinators Jim Mora of the 49ers, Ted Cottrell of the New York Jets and Greg Blache of the Chicago Bears.
Silence emanated from the 49ers' facility Monday. General manager Terry Donahue, who continues to maintain a fugitive-like low profile, is said to be weighing whether to include a college coach in his search.
Among those besides Neuheisel whose names have recently been prominent are Oregon's Mike Bellotti, Ohio State's Jim Tressel and Oregon State's Dennis Erickson, who coached the University of Miami to national championships in 1989 and 1991.
According to one source close to the 49ers organization, Erickson is the college coach the team is considering. Of the college names being tossed around, he's the one with pro experience. Erickson posted a 31-33 record from 1995-98 with the Seattle Seahawks.
Asked last week if he was interested in the 49ers job, Erickson said, "How could I know if I'd be interested? I haven't been contacted."
An Oregon State source said the school had not been contacted about Erickson as of Monday. A reason to believe he'd be a bad fit with the 49ers is he has said in the past that if he ever returned to the NFL, he'd want more control over his personnel than he had in Seattle. The 49ers have made it clear they are strictly looking for a coach.
As for Bellotti, he agreed last week to a permanently renewing five-year contract at Oregon, though a source said he's yet to sign it. Additionally, Bellotti is looking forward to next season when his son, Luke, will walk on to the Oregon program as a kicker.
Tressel was the longtime coach at Youngstown State in Ohio. Youngstown is the hometown of 49ers owner John York. Tressel won a national championship in his second year at Ohio State but his price would be steep.
And so, the pro candidates continue to wait for a decision, which 49ers spokesmen said they expect late this week. Cottrell has been cited as the front-runner among the pro assistants, and is hoping this job quest will be different from his six previous attempts to get an NFL head-coaching position.
"He's really feeling it's his time," said Cottrell's agent, Joe Linta. "He's sitting on an egg and ready for the egg to become a chick.
"We're in labor right now. The kid is going to be born. We just don't know when."
NOTES: Cornerback Mike Rumph has rejected a plea agreement, deciding instead to go on trial on a drunken-driving charge in Miami. Rumph turned down an offer, usually made to first-time offenders, that would have kept him out of jail.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Beth Bloom told Rumph before jury selection that if convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in jail, followed by a year of probation. But Rumph has maintained his innocence.
A Miami Beach police officer testified Monday that he stopped Rumph's vehicle early July 6 after watching him roll through two stop signs. The officer said Rumph failed five field sobriety tests. Rumph's blood-alcohol level was .091 percent; the limit in Florida is .08 percent.
Rumph pleaded innocent to the charge last August. The trial was scheduled to resume today.

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Neuheisel says he isn't interested; Oregon State's Erickson still in running?

By Roger Phillips STAFF WRITER

University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel released a statement Monday saying he is not a candidate for the San Francisco 49ers' coaching job, ending speculation he was in the running to replace the fired Steve Mariucci.

"I have not been contacted by anyone from the 49ers organization about the position," Neuheisel said. "I want to reiterate what I have said in the past. I am the football coach at the University of Washington, and I am very happy with my position, and I am not interested in coaching anywhere else."

Neuheisel said he'd hoped the 49ers would make a hire before Monday. That way, upon returning from what was said to be a skiing vacation in Idaho, he wouldn't have to respond to the speculation. A source close to the Huskies football program said it's believed, however, that Neuheisel played golf Sunday in the Bay Area.

In any event, nearly one month since Mariucci's ouster, the three known candidates remain pro defensive coordinators Jim Mora of the 49ers, Ted Cottrell of the New York Jets and Greg Blache of the Chicago Bears.

Silence emanated from the 49ers' facility Monday. General manager Terry Donahue, who continues to maintain a fugitive-like low profile, is said to be weighing whether to include a college coach in his search.

Among those besides Neuheisel whose names have recently been prominent are Oregon's Mike Bellotti, Ohio State's Jim Tressel and Oregon State's Dennis Erickson, who coached the University of Miami to national championships in 1989 and 1991.

According to one source close to the 49ers organization, Erickson is the college coach the team is considering. Of the college names being tossed around, he's the one with pro experience. Erickson posted a 31-33 record from 1995-98 with the Seattle Seahawks.

Asked last week if he was interested in the 49ers job, Erickson said, "How could I know if I'd be interested? I haven't been contacted."

An Oregon State source said the school had not been contacted about Erickson as of Monday. A reason to believe he'd be a bad fit with the 49ers is he has said in the past that if he ever returned to the NFL, he'd want more control over his personnel than he had in Seattle. The 49ers have made it clear they are strictly looking for a coach.

As for Bellotti, he agreed last week to a permanently renewing five-year contract at Oregon, though a source said he's yet to sign it. Additionally, Bellotti is looking forward to next season when his son, Luke, will walk on to the Oregon program as a kicker.

Tressel was the longtime coach at Youngstown State in Ohio. Youngstown is the hometown of 49ers owner John York. Tressel won a national championship in his second year at Ohio State but his price would be steep.

And so, the pro candidates continue to wait for a decision, which 49ers spokesmen said they expect late this week. Cottrell has been cited as the front-runner among the pro assistants, and is hoping this job quest will be different from his six previous attempts to get an NFL head-coaching position.

"He's really feeling it's his time," said Cottrell's agent, Joe Linta. "He's sitting on an egg and ready for the egg to become a chick.

"We're in labor right now. The kid is going to be born. We just don't know when."

NOTES: Cornerback Mike Rumph has rejected a plea agreement, deciding instead to go on trial on a drunken-driving charge in Miami. Rumph turned down an offer, usually made to first-time offenders, that would have kept him out of jail.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Beth Bloom told Rumph before jury selection that if convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in jail, followed by a year of probation. But Rumph has maintained his innocence.

A Miami Beach police officer testified Monday that he stopped Rumph's vehicle early July 6 after watching him roll through two stop signs. The officer said Rumph failed five field sobriety tests. Rumph's blood-alcohol level was .091 percent; the limit in Florida is .08 percent.

Rumph pleaded innocent to the charge last August. The trial was scheduled to resume today.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.