Erickson Congratulates Price On Getting WSU To Rose Bowl

Dennis Erickson believed he could get the Washington State Cougars to the Rose Bowl. Mike Price did him one better.

“Thinking you can do it and doing it are two different things,” Erickson said.

The Seattle Seahawks coach - who coached the Cougars in 1987 and 1988 before moving to Miami, where he coached two national championship teams - congratulated Price on Wednesday for coaching Washington State into the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1931.

Erickson said recruiting players to remote Pullman was the most difficult thing about being Washington State’s football coach.

“What Mike Price has accomplished is totally remarkable because it’s so different than all the other places,” Erickson said. “It’s an amazing accomplishment.

“I’m excited for them. I’m excited for all the Cougars who have gone 67 years” without going.

He thinks Washington State, which clinched its Rose Bowl trip with a victory over Washington in the Apple Cup last Saturday, could upset No. 1 Michigan in Pasadena.

“People forget they’re an awfully good team and Michigan may find that out,” Erickson said.

Erickson, whose Seahawks play Atlanta in the Kingdome on Sunday, said the fans in Pullman weren’t done celebrating yet.

“Knowing the Cougars, that thing could go on to Jan. 1,” he said.