Pro coaches say underclassmen still need schooling

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2004 | by Larry Weisman

Dennis Erickson coached the University of Miami to two national championships while running up a 63-9 record from 1989-94. The program, already a serious feeder for the NFL, continued to churn out professional stars, with defensive linemen Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp starring on Erickson's watch and becoming No. 1 picks.

Erickson's college coaching career began at Idaho and also took him to Wyoming, Washington State and Oregon State, covering 11 years. How many of the standouts he knew and tutored could have jumped easily into the NFL after two college seasons?

"None that I can remember," the San Francisco 49ers second-year coach says. "And I think I was at as good a school as you could be at (Miami). I mean just can't think of one. Even the...