Arizona State contacts Erickson

University of Idaho football coach Dennis Erickson has visited by telephone with Arizona State officials about their coaching vacancy, but he said Thursday night he wasn’t sure where he stands in the search.

“I don’t know, to be honest with you,” Erickson said. “They’re doing their search and what they have to do.”

Erickson is one of several names to surface as a possible candidate at ASU, which is replacing Dirk Koetter. Others who have been mentioned include former Washington State coach Mike Price, who is at UTEP; Oregon State coach Mike Riley; former college and NFL coach Steve Mariucci; Detroit Lions assistant coach Mike Martz; and Tennessee Titans assistant coach Norm Chow.

The Arizona Republic posted an article on its Web site Thursday night indicating that the field has apparently been narrowed to Price, Erickson and Riley, with Price possibly the leading candidate.

The newspaper said a selection could be made as early as today or Saturday.

Erickson said Tuesday he hadn’t been contacted by ASU officials, but that apparently changed within the last two days.

He said he didn’t consider the telephone discussions a formal interview.

Erickson returned to Moscow on Thursday night after several days of recruiting in California.

He said Idaho will host nine to 10 recruits on campus this weekend.

Asked if it will be business as usual, Erickson said, “That’s exactly what it is right now.”

Idaho athletic director Rob Spear reiterated that he hadn’t been contacted by ASU representatives.

Schools typically ask for permission before approaching a prospective coach.