Not a joyous homecoming
KIRKLAND, Wash. — If losing two close football games indeed rips out the heart, as San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson suggested Wednesday, what about losing a father and best friend?
Robert “Pink” Erickson was getting up there in years. But he remained, at age 79, a person Dennis Erickson leaned on right until the end.
Pink Erickson died April 30, two weeks after the NFL released its 2004 schedule — a schedule that pits his son’s 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Qwest Field.
The Ericksons’ family roots in Everett, coupled with Dennis’ past life as Seattle Seahawks coach, have made this matchup special. But some of the appeal died along with Pink.
“My dad was such a huge influence in my life, and to come up there and play this game without him being there will be hard,” Erickson said during a conference call.
Erickson, who coached the Seahawks from 1995-98, said he plans to meet with his mother, Mary, after the game.
Pink’s absence figures to be magnified at that time.
“We were so close,” Erickson said, “and football was such a big part of our lives together that to go through a football season without him …”
Erickson’s voice faded away. The interview ended after one more question.
“To (not) be able to pick up the phone or call him on Saturdays when college games are on, or call him on Mondays after games, it’s been very difficult for me,” Erickson said. “And I know it’s been very difficult for my mom.”
As for his successor in Seattle, nearly six years after Mike Holmgren replaced Erickson as Seahawks coach, any lingering awkwardness has apparently dissipated.
Erickson said the Seahawks should be favored to win the NFC West division after opening the season with two road victories.
Later in the day, Holmgren lathered up his predecessor by emphasizing how close the 49ers are to being 2-0 instead of 0-2. Holmgren even used an unrelated question about Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas to heap reverent praise upon Erickson.
“I will say this,” Holmgren said. “They mention that the 49ers have had some changes on offense, but they are well-coached.
“They are well-coached,” Holmgren repeated. “And they move the ball. We have our work cut out for us in this game. They should be 2-0. They could have been 2-0 easily. And I’m not just saying that.”
Erickson sounded similarly earnest in expressing just how nice it is to see his replacement succeeding.
“In one way, it’s great to see where it’s at, not in a way that I have to coach against them, but to see the new stadium and the kind of job that Mike has done there and developing that football team,” Erickson said. “I guess if I was a fan and living in Seattle, it would be a heck of a deal.”
Notes
Former Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg is scheduled to enter the team’s Ring of Honor during halftime of the game Sunday. Former Seahawks coach Chuck Knox will accompany Krieg’s former Milton College coach, Rudy Gaddini, for the ceremony. … Asked about the play of Orlando Huff, coach Mike Holmgren said the middle linebacker has been solid and shown improvement. The coach was also quick to note that rookie Niko Koutouvides is “really pushing” Huff for the starting job. … A handful of tickets remain for the home opener.