College Football | Erickson has blunt evaluation

TEMPE, Ariz. — Coach Dennis Erickson offered no false optimism as he wrapped up his first spring at Arizona State.

"We've got a long ways to go," said the former Washington State and Seahawks coach. "We really do. We're not even close to where we need to be to have a chance to be competitive in our league.

"I'm realistic. I've been there, I've done it, I know it. But we can get there. That's a good thing."

Erickson, 60, arrived at Arizona State after spending 10 months in his second stint as Idaho's coach. The Sun Devils are the third Pac-10 team he has coached, as he had previous stops at WSU and Oregon State.

This spring at Arizona State had a different feel than last year, when the major story was a competition between quarterbacks Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter that nearly tore the program apart.

Then-coach Dirk Koetter did not name a starter after spring drills. Koetter gave the job to Keller shortly before the season opener, but abruptly changed his mind and named Carpenter the starter amid speculation that Carpenter was planning to transfer.

Meanwhile, Keller transferred to Nebraska. Carpenter started all 13 games as Arizona State went 7-6, including a 41-24 loss to Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, and Koetter was fired.

This year, there is virtually no drama and that could be a good thing for the Sun Devils.

"I haven't worried about so much," Carpenter said. "Last year, I was worried about what Sam was doing, who was going to start, who was playing well, who wasn't playing well."

As for improving Arizona State's defense, Erickson said, "Now we've just got to get a mentality where we're good on defense, and I think it's a mentality more than anything."