Jobless in Seattle
Seahawks fire coach Erickson after disappointing 8-8 year
Posted: Monday December 28, 1998 08:00 PM
| |
The Seahawks did not make the playoffs despite lavish spending by their owner AP |
KIRKLAND, Washington (AP) -- Seattle Seahawks coach
Dennis Erickson was fired Monday after his team finished a disappointing
8-8 and out of the NFL playoffs, a source told The Associated Press.
Erickson became the fifth NFL coach to lose his job Monday, joining Dom
Capers of Carolina, Dave Wannstedt of Chicago, Ted Marchibroda of Baltimore
and Ray Rhodes of Philadelphia.
Erickson's dismissal came one day after the team ended its season with a
28-21 loss in Denver on Sunday.
The Seahawks called a news conference for early Monday afternoon. The team
would not immediately confirm word of Erickson's dismissal, which cam from
a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The fate of Erickson's coaching staff was not immeidately known.
Erickson, 51, was fired for the first time in his coaching career because
the Seahawks did not make the playoffs despite lavish spending by
second-year owner Paul Allen on free agents.
In four seasons as coach of the Seahawks, he compiled a 31-33 record.
The Seahawks missed making the playoffs for the 10th year in a row, which
is the longest drought among NFL teams, and have not had a winning season
since 1990.
| Erickson's Record
|
| Year | Team | W | L |
T | Pct. |
1995
1996
1997
1998
| Seattle
Seattle
Seattle
Seattle
Totals
| 8
7
8
8
31
| 8
9
8
8
33
| 0
0
0
0
0
|
.500
.438
.500
.500
.484
|
| | |
Erickson was let go with one season left on his five-year contract -- at $1
million -- that was given to him by former Seahawks owner Ken Behring to
lure him away from University of Miami in 1995.
Erickson's original contract was for four years, with the team having an
option for a fifth season. But the option year was guaranteed in 1996
during Behring's failed attempt to move the franchise to the Los Angeles
area.
Erickson, a state of Washington native from Everett, coached Washington
State in 1987 and 1988 before moving to Miami, where he coached two
national championship teams in six seasons. With the Hurricanes, his
coaching record was 63-9, including his 1989 and 1991 national title teams.
Erickson was fired after his second season under Allen, who also owns the
NBA Portland Trail Blazers.
Allen and team president Bob Whitsitt expected the Seahawks to make the
playoffs, but they missed them for the 10th year in a row.
After the Seahawks went 8-8 and missed the playoffs a year ago, Whitsitt
conducted an unsuccessful search for a general manager. So Erickson was
allowed to return as coach again this season.
But the pressure and the expectations were even higher this season after
Allen, a billionaire, opened his wallet wide for free agents for the second
year in a row.
Running back Ricky
Watters, linebacker Darrin Smith, guard Brian Habib, center Kevin Glover and punter Jeff Feagles were the
latest additions through free agency in Seattle.
Not since 1983, when the Seahawks made it to the AFC title game, and '84,
with a franchise-best 12-win season, had pro football optimism been higher
here. After the losing years under Behring, Seahawks fans were convinced
they would have a playoff contender again. It didn't happen.
Watters, Smith, Habib, Glover and Feagles cost Allen about $15 million in
signing bonuses. The Microsoft co-founder spent approximately $23 million
in signing bonuses last year to get free agents Chad Brown, Willie Williams, Warren Moon, Bennie Blades
and Dan Saleaumua and
first-round draft choices Shawn Springs and Walter Jones.
Moon set records for completions (313) and yards passing (3,678) in 1997,
but he lost his starting job to Jon Kitna and did not play
in the final five weeks of the season.
Moon, 42, suffered two cracked ribs in Week 5 in Kansas City and did not
look like the same player he was last season.
Under Behring, Erickson coached the Seahawks to 8-8 and 7-9 records.
Allen exercised his option to buy the Seahawks from Behring June 30, 1997,
after the state's voters approved Referendum 48 to build a new
football-only stadium on the site of the current Kingdome. The Kingdome
will be torn down after the 1999 football season.
In 13 seasons as a college head coach at Miami, Washington State, Wyoming
and Idaho, Erickson compiled a 113-40-1 record. He won coach of the year
honors in the Big Sky, Pac-10 and Big East.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
