So, here we go again another possible job lurking in the shadows about to come and scoop up Chris Petersen. Boise State fans have heard it a million times, no way Chris Petersen would ever turn down this school, this pay jump, this competition increase, this opportunity. Only to sit back knowing that no way Chris Petersen would ever take the job being thrown at him. However, if the Oregon job does come calling expect a different level of anxiety from the fan-base. I know I personally have always looked at Oregon as the biggest threat to steal Coach Pete. They are after all in many ways like Boise State with just a ton more financial backing. Oregon is Nike University; the football program has a unlimited bank account funded by Phil Knight. Whatever the coaches need, the coaches get. They are located in Eugene Oregon, a small city with limited media coverage and rabid fan-base. Two things Chris Petersen loves. Oh yeah then there is that little fact that Chris Petersen has also coached at Oregon. No, this is not Penn State or an east coast job that would “feel like Mars”, to Coach Pete this is a just a drive down the road from Boise, to a place all to familiar to our coach. It is a job that if offered he will have real ties to, offered by a man who is really in charge at Oregon no, not the AD but Phil Knight. So, are you worried yet? The media will tell you, you should be, but I will give you reasons to perhaps breathe a little easier.
History: First, lets start with recent history, and the 2 game series between Oregon and Boise State. The games were played in 2009 and 2010, and the results were the same. Whether the game was played in Oregon or in Boise, it didn’t matter both times Boise State walked away with the win. Some might say this doesn’t matter in fact, talk to any Duck fan and they will still say that 8 out of 10 times they win the game (Just not 2 out of 2 times). The media will tout how a move to Eugene is a huge upgrade for Coach Pete, but how big of a jump is it really? When you play a school and win both times in recent history it is hard to perceive the jump is really that much. In fact, it just shows that it is not the money or uniform combinations that make a team. It is also the pedigree, tradition, and recruiting that he has already established in Boise.
Job Security: In the world of coaching how many people can say they are safe in their position? Even Mack Brown at Texas has people wanting him to resign after a couple of average seasons. That being said, I can say with 100% confidence that Chris Petersen is secure in his job at Boise State unlike he could ever be at any other school. The fans of Boise respect Petersen for more than his coaching, its his commitment to the community as well. It’s his donations to hospitals, the school, and his time attending and orchestrating community events like “Beat Coach Pete”. The city of Boise is 100% behind Chris Petersen and winning is only a portion of the reason for it. If he takes a job at Oregon I am sure Eugene would love and appreciate these things, but if Chris Petersen goes and stumbles and has a GASP 7 or 8 win season, the calls for his job won’t be silent, they will be heard. When you are tempted with a unlimited back account you are expected to deliver unlimited expectations. Something that will never be a problem for Chris Petersen in Boise, everything earned in Boise will be by Pete’s doings. He is already a legend in Boise everything from here on out is just adding to his mystic.
Recruiting: No I am not talking about stars or the type of players you can get when at Oregon compared to Boise. I am talking about timetable. I am talking about promises made to players and families when on the recruiting trail. National letter of intent day is February 1st. That is days away, Chris Petersen has at this point all but wrapped up his incoming class. A class that already had questions about coaching and who would and would not be at Boise State when they arrived. What was said directly to these recruits I can’t say, but it has been reported that many directly asked if Coach Petersen would be their coach when they arrived, and the answer has been the same every time it was asked, that answer is yes. To some coaches this might not mean much, if Nick Saban said it, most would say it worthless. Chris Petersen on the other hand has never shown a reason to not take his word as law. He has always stayed true to his word and I for one find no reason to start questioning that now. I can’t imagine a scenario where he has a kid from Florida (QB Nick Patti), enroll in school early, who has offers to stay on the east coast and play football, tells that kid he is staying, and he turns around and leaves that kid hanging. It is just not Chris Petersen’s style.
Coaching Vacancies: Pease gone, Yates gone, Wilcox gone, Harsin gone. All men looking to move up in the coaching profession and seeing no chance at being a head-coach at Boise State anytime soon. The feel of these men who worked with Chris Petersen every day is he is going nowhere. If they felt there was a chance he was leaving they could stay and be in line for a head coaching interview in no time. The reality however is different, they saw no chance of moving up and had to seek outside employment for a chance to improve their chances at a head coaching job. Not only that, but with so many key loses to this coaching staff in the past two years, I can’t see Chris Petersen leaving Boise State with little to nothing to maintain its success once he leaves.
In the end, you never know what is going to happen with coaches. They come and go and nobody can blame them for doing so. The job is crazy, the money is outrageous, and the security in most cases is slim to none. Oregon is no doubt going to be enticing for Chris Petersen, but then again I am sure Stanford was as well, as was UCLA, Penn State, and every other job that has called and he has turned down. What he has in Boise though is not something that can be duplicated, no matter how much the media and other fans will scream it can, being a Boise State fan you know differently. Sure Oregon will have a lot to offer, and that is for the most part all you will hear from now until the job is filled (If Chip Kelly does in fact leave). You won’t hear a ton about the possible NCAA sanctions coming to the University of Oregon for possible recruiting violations. Nor will you hear much about the great things Boise State has to offer and has offered Chris Petersen. Chris Petersen signed a 5 year extension for a reason, he has new facilities on their way. A new conference in the Big East, and continued success staring him right in the face. Chris Petersen has “his kind of guys” here in Boise now, something it will take time to establish anywhere else. And considering some of the news regarding the recent behavior of some of the Oregon players, that might be something to consider all by itself. Only time will tell if Chris Petersen leaves, but considering everything, despite what you will hear, I think the chances of Coach Pete being a Bronco next year are pretty good.
