Beau Baldwin and Dennis Erickson's single-back offense

[EWURanger]

A great read if you have the time.

Baldwin learned under Greg Olson as a quarterback at CWU. Olson, a disciple of former Montana State quarterback Dennis Erickson, went on to be the offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. Baldwin, who backed up future NFL quarterback Jon Kitna during CWU’s 1995 NAIA national title run, took Olson and Erickson’s single-back philosophies and built an offense that has been one of the FCS’ most fearsome.

“It goes back to the one-back offense that I grew up in before the gun spread, the true one-back offense and that’s where it starts,” Baldwin said. “Dennis Erickson and Greg Olson, who was my quarterbacks coach and coordinator influenced me. We’ve build off of that. It’s hard for me to put a name on the offense, but I’m not really worried about putting a name on it. I just want to score points and keep teams off balance.”

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[GoldenEagle]

Strange the paths that people’s lives take. In 1982, I was a teammate of Greg Olson at Spokane Falls Community College. Greg started at quarterback and I was a freshman backup quarterback behind him that year. Our coach was Bob Everson who was from Cheney WA, and played college football at the University of Montana in the late 50's. The next year in 1983, I threw to a receiver named Leon Rice, now the head basketball coach at Boise State University. As I remember Spokane Falls back in the day put a lot of players into the BSC.

 

[kalm]

Go you Sasquatch!

 

[FormerSwoop]

Too bad no more football.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

GolldenEagle,
You brought back memories, because my son Vic Jr. was drafted by Calgary Stampedes in 1983, after he signed, New England, Dallas, Bengals all kept calling wanting to sign him, it was a little bit late. He also played at SFCC when Late Coach John Buck, and Everson. He got a scholarship from University Of Idaho in Track, and ended also playing Football at that time of which Dennis Erickson was the Coach, Kenny Hobart was the QB, Curtis Johnson (now Tulane Coach) was the other WR with Vic. I could go on, but I am a little tired, did 6 slabs of Ribs today for my family and friends Sunday and Monday. Have a great three day Weekend. And to all who served our Country, Thanks for your Services, I am presently " patting myself on my back back" for my 20+years in the Air Force . Vic Wallace

 

[GoldenEagle]

Vic,
First, thank you for serving our country. I was wondering if you were Vic Sr. I went to Rogers High School and played football against your son when he was at North Central High School. In addition to football, I met him several times during North Central/Rogers extra curricular activities (keggers). Yes, this brings back many memories. He was two years older than me and had already transferred to Idaho before my first year at SFCC. Your son was a great athlete.

 

[EWURanger]

Wow, it's a small world.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

GoldenEagle,
Will let Vic Jr. know what you said. He is on his way to Tacoma for State next week. I can see him now going long for the reception from Ryan Sandberg at Joe Albi while at North Central High. Those were some fun times, especially when we would follow the buses to Joe Albi Stadium for games, pulling cans behind our cars. We used to enjoy going to University Of Idaho, Kibbie Dome, for some great games. Vic is coming up on July 10th his 54 BD, and he is still into lifting and coaching Track at West Valley High. Since he left Professional Football, he stuck with weight lifting. I remember years ago, there was the "European Health Spa on West Indiana, about 1 blocks west of Division St, we were all trying to lose our "Don Lap Decease", that is when our stomach done lap over our belts", can't see anything downward , I asked him to help me loose my stomach, shit, I had to let him know I was just trying to get rid of some weight, wasn't getting ready to go for Mr. World, he worked the hell out of me, had to go back to my slow routine. :lol: :lol: :lol:. Have a great weekend. Vic Wallace

 

[DefendtheRed]

Interestingly enough, Erickson doesn't even run the single back spread offense anymore.

 

[eaglesfootball]

Interestingly enough, Erickson doesn't even run the single back spread offense anymore.

I'm not sure he's really running much of anything anymore since he got demoted to rb's coach at Utah. Also, "erickson's single back offense" might be kind of a bold claim. Jack Elway had as much to do with it as erickson did when he was running it San Jose State.

 

[EWURanger]

Interestingly enough, Erickson doesn't even run the single back spread offense anymore.

I'm not sure he's really running much of anything anymore since he got demoted to rb's coach at Utah. Also, "erickson's single back offense" might be kind of a bold claim. Jack Elway had as much to do with it as erickson did when he was running it San Jose State.

Well if you want to get down to the gnat's ass some HS coach in Cali supposedly came up with it. Erickson is widely recognized as the guy who popularized it at the collegiate level at Idaho, WSU, and Miami. IE, why it is commonly referred to as "Erickson's" single-back offense. Notable, because at the time most schools were still using a power running game with a Fullback in the backfield.

 

[Seattle Eagle]

It seems most teams in the Big Sky in the late 80's and 90's were running some variation of the Erickson offense. I wonder why EWU's versions have been so prolific while others haven't been on the same level?