FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick said he received a telephone call about the Oregon State head coaching vacancy but doesn't know if he's in the running.

"It was a casual thing. I don't know if I'm a candidate,'' Lubick told The Denver Post on Monday.

CSU athletic director Jeff Hathaway said his policy is not to comment on whether he has asked for permission to talk to any coach.

Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson left the Beavers last week to coach the San Francisco 49ers.

Former Oregon State coach Mike Riley has interviewed for the job along with offensive coordinator Tim Lappano, assistant head coach Gregg Smith and tight ends coach Dan Cozzetto. Cozzetto last week agreed to be assistant coach at the University of Washington.

Lubick's contract at CSU runs through 2006 and his annual salary package is $500,000. Erickson reportedly was drawing a $1 million package.

He already has some links to Oregon State. The school interviewed him in early 1999, before Erickson accepted the job as coach.

In 2001, Lubick hired his son, Matt, from Erickson's staff.