Chris Petersen’s ‘dreaded’ return to Boise State a win wrapped in a loss

By Michael Collins | Sep 5, 2015

Former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen made a “dreaded” return to Albertsons Stadium and the scene of some of his greatest triumphs in week one of the 2015 college football season

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Chris Petersen received a luke warm welcome from the Boise State crowd when he made his way from the locker room to the field at Albertsons Stadium on Saturday night, and he and longtime friend, new Broncos head coach, and now opposing coach Bryan Harsin didn’t even exchange pleasantries or a handshake before the opening kickoff.

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It was the trip back to the Smurf Turf (sorry, Lyle Smith field) that Petersen said he had been dreading…and it showed, right from the pregame through the final whistle.

Petersen was bringing a Washington Huskies squad that contained 50 freshmen and redshirt freshman — including true freshman quarterback Jake Browning — to face a 23rd ranked Boise State team that contained over 40 players which he had recruited while he was still running the show there. It couldn’t have made for a more uncomfortable night, and things started off with the Broncos giving Petersen and even colder reception than the fans, jumping out to a 16-0 lead.

But Browning, who started off the evening looking like a true freshman in his first big game, seemed to mature as the night went on, and when the young Huskies defense decided to make a ball game of it, suddenly Petersen’s underdogs were right back in it with 13 unanswered points – courtesy of a couple of Cameron Van Winkle field goals and a Dante Pettis punt return for a touchdown.

Sep 4, 2015; Boise, ID, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen during the first half verses the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

How, you might ask?

Quite simply, the things many have been pointing to on the Boise sideline this offseason. Simply too many key players gone, some very predictable offensive play calling, and some sloppy play against an opponent that they may have underestimated.

And then it happened. A few Boise missed tackles, a couple of mental mistakes and penalties, and young Jake Browning running the 2-minute offense with all the moxie of a old Peyton Manning, and the Huskies were with in a 46-yard field goal attempt of tying the game with just 21 seconds left.

But the usually reliable Van Winkle was wide right, barely by the width of the ball.

Boise survived, but they should have done much more than survive against an opponent that they greatly overmatched. Most experts have the Huskies figured for 4-5 wins this season, and look at the Broncos as a New Year’s Six bowl contender.

For Petersen, the 16-13 loss was a victory. He took his fleet of freshman on the road into hostile territory and nearly eeked out a win. This is something for the Huskies to build upon.

But for Boise…there has to be concern. And rightfully so.

We’re used to seeing the Broncos mix it up, play with speed and some almost expected trickeration. We saw little to none of that in week one. Its a sure thing the rest of the Mountain West Conference was watching and taking notes.

You can’t tell a lot from the first game….

But sometimes, you can.

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