Dennis Erickson's name floating back into the Oregon State coaching search this week happened by design.
Erickson came with a plan, per a source on campus in Corvallis.
The former Beavers coach is pitching himself to OSU, along with a line of assistant coaches who have deep ties to the university. Jonathan Smith, his former quarterback, now at Washington as a possible co-offensive coordinator. Former Beavers lineman Kyle DeVan, Ball State's offensive line coach, as a possible staff member. Some other former OSU players who are invested in seeing the Beavers rise from a dismal season into something more.