Was Coach Pete's 2009 a better coaching performance than 2006?
by Kevan Lee on Jan 15, 2010 7:37 AM PST
in Boise State football
46 comments
Boise State head coach Chris Petersen became the first two-time winner of the Bear Bryant coaching award last night, which got me thinking: Which Bear Bryant season was better? Did Coach Pete do a better job in the 2006 season or the 2009 season?
After the jump, take a look at the comparison between the two years, and share your thoughts on which season required the most out of Coach Pete.
The case for 2006
Reason #1: Coach Pete's first ever season as a head coach
To go 13-0, win the Fiesta Bowl, and be ranked No. 5 in the country in your first shot at coaching is an amazing feat. Kind of like how I got a hole-in-one playing Tiger Woods on the Wii my first time.
Reason #2: Hosting Oregon State and visiting Wyoming and Utah
The Broncos played a decent non-conference schedule with the only true pushover being a season opener against Sacramento State. Beating a BCS team was huge, and dominating Utah on the road may have been one of the season's biggest turning points.
Reason #3: Do you remember the final game of the Dan Hawkins' era?
I would give Coach Pete a coaching award, too, for following up that disaster.
Reason #4: Fixing the Jared Zabransky slump
Zabransky was great his sophomore year then laid a giant egg his junior year, culminating with a benching against Idaho. Petersen managed to fix Zabransky in time for a memorable run in 2006.
Reason #5: Beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl
It was one of the greatest college football games ever, and it was extremely well-coached by the Broncos from beginning to end.
Reasons against 2006: Boise State had one of its most talented teams in school history; the Broncos nearly lost to Wyoming and San Jose State; Ian Johnson was good.
The case for 2009
Reason #1: Boise State had the youngest team in college football
When all is said and done, the Broncos will only graduate two main contributors from their team, and only Kyle Wilson will be missing from the Fiesta Bowl roster. Young teams come with a lot of challenges, not the least of which are experience, toughness, and maturity. There is a reason why young teams do not typically succeed.
Reason #2: Injuries
Boise State's starting lineup resembled a MASH unit by the end of the season. And it's not just that the Broncos lost a lot of players, they lost a lot of players in very key areas like running back, wide receiver, and both lines. Injuries can doom good teams, which makes Coach Pete's coaching job that much tougher. Am I right, young Alan Alda?
"You are correct, sir." (via www.smh.com.au)
Reason #3: A dominating season-opening win against Oregon
This game would make or break the Broncos' season, and Coach Pete had the Broncos more prepared and had a better gameplan than the Ducks.
Reason #4: Maintaining Boise State's Top Ten ranking almost all season
The Broncos reached No. 4 during the regular season and wound up at No. 4 when all was said and done. How'd that work out for USC?
Reason #5: Beating TCU in the Fiesta Bowl
Conventional wisdom said that TCU would roll over the Broncos, but again Coach Pete and his staff outcoached the opponent.
Reasons against 2009: Justin Wilcox had a big role in wins over Oregon and TCU; the UC Davis game happened; no David Augusto to bug him.
What about 2008?
The 2006 and 2009 seasons were great coaching jobs by Coach Pete, but what about 2008? Petersen was a finalist for the Bear Bryant that year, too. His 2008 was marked by the preseason choice of Kellen Moore for QB (a decision that was not at all cut-and-dry when he made it) and the school's first big road win over a BCS team (at Oregon). Though the season did not end with a BCS bowl or an undefeated record, would 2008 challenge either 2006 or 2009 as the best Coach Pete coaching job of his career?
Your turn
What year do you think Coach Pete did a better coaching job? Did the 2006 team have too much going for it? Does 2009's youth and injuries put it over the top? Where would you put 2008? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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2006 may have seemed more improbable because it was Pete’s first go as HC, I have to give the nod to 2009. Guiding the youngest team in the country to a perfect record and a win in a BCS Bowl is ridiculous. Even if the majority of the schedule was filled with patsies, the fact that these sophomores and freshmen stayed focused enough to win every game is incredible.
by leadtrumpetdave on Jan 15, 2010 7:52 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
i voted for 2009
though arguments for 2006 are really good. i would have put wilcox in 2009 as a plus. is the argument that wilcox could leave at almost anytime and that, perhaps, the team leaned super-heavy on his abilities to scheme? seems that would just be a normal thing to do. what was the rest of the coaching staff to do? ignore what he wanted?
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 8:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
RE: Wilcox
Good question. I viewed it as a reason against simply because some people can discount a head coach’s talent due to some particularly savvy assistants. However, the flip side is that the head coach is the one who chose the assistant, built an environment where he could succeed, and approved his gameplans. It’s an interesting debate to say the least. How much credit would you give Wilcox for Boise State’s success this season? 10 percent? 25 percent?
"Islanders fan, huh? Team of the future, I'd say." - Roger Johnson
by Kevan Lee on Jan 15, 2010 8:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
As I reconsider I might choose 2006
You make a good point about the head coach being the one who chose the assistant. I think Coach Pete’s first few weeks as Coach in December 2005 and January 2006 were the foundation for 2006 and the folowing years’ success.
Pete showed wisdom early by taking his time hiring a staff. I remember at the time it was really odd that he took weeks to put the staff together. Then he hired two coordinators under the age of 30 that had no prior experience at that level. He showed his genius by brining in older coaches that were formerly coordinators to fill out as position coaches. Wilcox and Harsin are amazing, but I imagine they have been mentored greatly by Choate, Strausser, Pease and company.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Jan 15, 2010 8:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I've often wondered what exactly Brent Pease does
I know he’s WR coach and all, but “assistant head coach” never really made sense. When you put it in perspective like that, MKingery, I can see why he’s so valuable and why his name always comes up for coaching vacancies every offseason.
"Islanders fan, huh? Team of the future, I'd say." - Roger Johnson
by Kevan Lee on Jan 15, 2010 9:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Petersen understands everyone on a staff has different primary roles...
Pete, Wilcox and even Harsin get a lot of press for being brilliant football minds, but not every coach on the staff can focus on X’s and O’s.
Some coaches have greater strengths in scheme/strategy, motivation, recruiting, individual instruction or player management.
I would think that all on the staff have involvement in each part, but guys like Choate or Pease have the experience in player management allowing Wilcox and Harsin to focus on implementing their scheme.
It seems that there is not a lot of heirarchy among the coaches – regardless of title or salary, they seem to have equal input in team decisions.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Jan 15, 2010 9:40 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
wilcox
i am honestly not sure how much credit to give him. given weeks to prepare, wilcox has shown that he can scheme with the best and can get his players sold on the new ideas. but there were some weeks where the defense looked ragged. course, where do we draw the line between scheming and preparing and actual performance? part of the coach’s job is to assess the talent he has and find out ways to utilize said talent effectively, motivate and put the players in the best position to win. which they have obviouslyi done. but how do we explain brain farts in the tulsa game? or nevada game (i feel it shouldn’t have been as close as it was)? course, i suppose we also can’t discount the other team as well. good things to ponder.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 8:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The Plan for the BCS
Started games before the end of the season.
I hate to bring this up but, the fact is as has been stated by the coaches since the game.
They started putting parts of the defense scheme in games against weak WAC opponents.
This also might explain some of the scoring we seen down the stretch by those teams.
It would appear that the defense we saw against TCU was going to be used regardless to who the opponent was going to be.
Coach Pete is brilliant, I believe being able to show your future major opponent one thing and show up game day with something they never had seen ready to go is much more effective then planing against what your opponent is going to do..
The Goal of any coach is to get into the head of your opposing coach make him react to what your doing , making them do it on the fly during the game is even better, at this Coach Pete always seems to have the upper hand!
Thats how you win with lessor talent.. just whats going to happen as that lessor talent becomes on par with the rest of the bsc schools…. can you say Nebraska from the 70’s throu to 90’s???
It always blew me away why a state that has a smaller population than Idaho had such a football team…
by Prophet0fFF on Jan 15, 2010 12:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
wait...
so, are you saying:
the defense we saw during the season was a “half speed” version of what bsu is capable of? it didn’t need to go “all the way” because of competition (basically because there wasn’t a real need to do so)?
the defense we saw versus tcu wasn’t tailor made for tcu, but a defensive scheme that would have been employed even if that opponent was florida?
is that the correct interpretation of your post? i kind of got lost in what you were saying. sorry.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 3:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The only coach to win the award twice is a Boise State Coach!!
What an honor for Petersen, BSU, and the Treasure Valley in general. Look what Petersen has accomplished at little ol’ Boise State.
(once again) Cue Dan Hawkins slapping his forehead…haunted by his own words, “Bigger isn’t better…better is better”.
Let this stand as a warning to college football coaches that treat their current schools as stepping stones to big programs and big money teams…Koetter, Nutt, and Hawkins have either been fired or are about to run out of town (i.e. Hawkins). If Koetter and Hawkins could have a do-over, would they have stayed in Boise?
by csf68 on Jan 15, 2010 8:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
kind of glad they left
it seems that bsu has gotten progressively better as each coach leaves. but i’m totally fine with coach pete hanging around a few more years. if hawk had stayed, what would have happened? could coach pete have been hired by a different school? could cody have started for bsu instead of CU? could we have missed out on moore? more importantly, would we have won two fiesta bowls? world will never know.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 8:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If Petersen had left after the 2006 season...would he have been as successful at another program?
by csf68 on Jan 15, 2010 9:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
going out on a limb here
and say no. but obviously that means nothing.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 9:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that Petersen was the brains behind the operation
…but it is still funny to examine the irony of Dan leaving to the Big 12 conference so that he could pursue his goals of a national title…(mean while) 4 years later BSU is now a preseason favorite to play for the national title. How many BCS games has Hawkins played in?
by csf68 on Jan 15, 2010 11:11 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
the irony is delicious
i work with a guy who went to CU and bust his chops about it all the time. people are none too happy with hawks performance the last four years. and he gets a fifth one. mainly because it would cost too much to buy him out.
lucky for him.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Can I vote for 2008?
I voted for 2009 in the poll, although his handling of Zabransky in 2006 deserves mention as well.
I think his best coaching job was in 2008. The team was very young, he had a freshman quarterback, he was able to get Ian Johnson to embrace a reduced role, they won at Autzen and he was one point away from being perfect.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Jan 15, 2010 8:22 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
I'm okay with that
When you think about it, it’s not Pete’s fault that the Broncos didn’t make the BCS that year. If he wins a BCS game, could we be talking about 2008 as the greatest Bronco team ever? A follow-up question: Should undefeated seasons and BCS wins be a requirement for “best of” lists or are we cheating ourselves in doing so?
I think I would put 2008 above 2009 in the Coach Pete pantheon. It’s so strange to think that he can win two Bear Bryant awards in four years and have another deserving performance in between.
"Islanders fan, huh? Team of the future, I'd say." - Roger Johnson
by Kevan Lee on Jan 15, 2010 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So, how long will it take the College Football World
to create a Chris Petersen Coach of the Year Award?
Catch me on the BroncoNation Podcast!
by OBNUG Intern on Jan 15, 2010 8:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
He’d have to win at least 3 times. That would tie Bear Bryant’s mark of winning 3 national coach of the years awards, which is why it was named for him. (’61, ’71 and ’73, if I recall.)
I’d say if he keeps winning it at a .500 clip, they might have to do something about it when he retires.
by Egnowit on Jan 15, 2010 12:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
30 years
he’s young and I believe he knows he building not only a long term major program, but a larger pay check in boise as it goes.
Coach Pete will be a Bronco his whole life.. and won’t retire for at least 25 more years it’ll be sometime after that .. ;)
by Prophet0fFF on Jan 15, 2010 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Coach Pete like JoPa...
"We do not take counsel of our fears, our naysayers, or the unknown" Coach Pete 1-1-07
by BroncoNavy on Jan 15, 2010 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds like a prophecy!
I like it!
Catch me on the BroncoNation Podcast!
by OBNUG Intern on Jan 15, 2010 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I would have voted for Kelly-ok crucify me OBNUG
After the debacle of his coaching debut, with the former head coach nailing him on the sidelines, players back talking, fans screaming for ouster, he gets first Rose in 15 years. I love Pete, and am glad for him, but its more than x and o and this year Kelly’s turn aorund and righting that ship gets my nod. About Pete though-had exactly one assistant leave, and him for his dream pro job, since 2006. Take that one off the grill it’s done.
tvmunson
by tmunson on Jan 15, 2010 8:58 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
kelly wouldn't have been a bad choice per se
but i don’t think the way he handled the blount situation very well. i didn’t think he should have been suspended for the entire year, i felt it was a knee-jerk reaction to the situation. that being said, i can’t really disagree with the early lifting BUT he loses credibility as a guy who keeps his word. i do respect him writing that fan a check for a “refund” for the money the fan was “out” for attending the game. he had time before the next game to suspend blount (and obviously some suspension was warranted). i suppose he gets extra credit for bringing back blount even though having gone wasn’t a detriment to the team. now, if they were getting murdered for the rest of the season then he’d really be in hot water.
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2010 9:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I would have had no problem with Kelly getting the award.
Since it is also based on the postseason, the Rose Bowl loss hurt his chances, but you can not underestimate what he did to turn the season around.
I thought he handled the Blount issue fairly well. More importantly he silenced the early cry for Belotti to return. Replacing an icon is tough enough, but when that icon does halftime interviews that seem to undermine the head coach, it would have been easy for things in Eugene to get very ugly.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Jan 15, 2010 9:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nah.
I applaud what Chip did this year, but I agree that he didn’t handle the Blount situation the best. I thought an indefinite suspension would have been more appropriate and that his decision was media-pressured.
Also, Oregon needed a defense. Chip Kelly seems to mostly all offense and leaves the defense all to someone else. I know that’s not really was Oregon is about, but something should have been done mid-season. Whether that blame goes to an assistant coach, Kelly takes the heat for it.
"Everyone counted us out. I don't know why they keep doing that." -- Kyle Wilson
by Loque on Jan 15, 2010 5:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I give 2009 the edge
In my opinion, there was more to overcome in 2009 rather than 2006.
Somehow, Petersen was able to lead the Broncos to an undefeated season, capped off with a Fiesta Bowl win with the youngest ranked team in the country.
Then there were the injuries, especially at key positions. Over the recent years the Broncos have been lucky with avoiding key injuries. They weren’t as fortunate this year with the injury bug but had a perfect season anyway. With a very young team mind you. You can really thank the depth of the team for being able to fill those positions.
That also says something about Coach Pete’s recruiting skills. To be able to fill a non-AQ team with that much depth is amazing.
"Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish."
by Dr. Jrig on Jan 15, 2010 10:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Lots of Love for 2009
I voted for 2006, and was surprised at how lopsidedly 2009 is winning.
I gave 2006 the egde mainly because it was his first year, first BCS bowl, first everything. Not only did he not look star-struck, he had the guts to let his backup qbs call the deciding play of the biggest stage he had ever seen. That doesn’t take ice water in the veins — that takes liquid nitrogen.
Maybe I’m just fooled by the halo that has settled around that season and that bowl in particular. Whatever the reason, it was apparent pretty soon that we had someone special coaching.
by casketbase on Jan 15, 2010 11:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Watson...
So today I sent a tweet to her that read. . So no congrats to Chris Petersen on his COtY award. But you couldn’t stop giving praise to Patterson.
She replied: pretty sure I did earlier today.
Looking back, she didnt. She is definitely pro MWC.
by summitkopp on Jan 15, 2010 11:54 AM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
it was reported on her blog, I think that's what she meant
No ‘congrats’ technically, but whatev.
by hummerofdoom on Jan 15, 2010 5:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
best ever?
how much more does coach pete need to do be considered BSU’s best coach ever? The reason i hesitate to say he already is, is that he has only been here in that capacity for 4 years.
by plainview88 on Jan 15, 2010 11:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Best ever is tough to say...
Lyle Smith:
20 years as HC, 5 Undefeated seasons, 1 national championship, won 85% of his games, and had a 37 game winning streak…
All this according to broncosports.com. Talk about getting a program started….
That is impressive stuff. Lets give Pete just a couple more years and then maybe we can throw that around? If he keeps this up though it seems like he could be the obviously option someday.
Old enough to know better, too young to care.
by BustersBFF on Jan 15, 2010 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess another thing to consider is recruiting...
… Coach Pete was playing with Dan Hawkins’s players in 2006. He was playing with (mostly) his own last year. Is that correct? Or am I getting my recruiting classes mixed up?
"Islanders fan, huh? Team of the future, I'd say." - Roger Johnson
by Kevan Lee on Jan 15, 2010 12:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
You are correct, sir!
Catch me on the BroncoNation Podcast!
by OBNUG Intern on Jan 15, 2010 12:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That's hard to say...
Coach Pete was the OC under Hawk, so at least some of those players would have been his players…but I do understand your point…it completely slipped my mind that most the kids the past few years were still Hawk’s guys…maybe that’s another reason we are getting so much better…we should take a moment to think about and praise Pete for his recruiting genius as well as his coaching genius!
Wasn't it Boise State's first game of the year, too???
by TheShrewdOne on Jan 15, 2010 12:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
You make compelling arguments for both
That being said I have to go with 06. First year the hang over from the Georgia game the year before which had to of destroyed the teams confidence int he big game…
I know you brought up Jared Zabransky slump, but least we forget where it started.
That game almost wrecked my confidence!
If he pulls it off next year and wins the NC game he will not only be the first 3 time winner but the first to win it back to back…
by Prophet0fFF on Jan 15, 2010 12:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The 2010 Season Award Will Blow These BOTH Away
In 2006 I was the only one in my household to see the ending of the FB. I was alone. I didn’t shout or scream. I just watched like I remember watching Secretariat winning the Belmont. Jaw dropped…
In 2009 we all watched in tense anticipation of a win from the opening KO. Much more difficult IMO, so I voted 2009.
I know, I know,… it’s early. But we’re already tense for our (incredible!!) shot at a 2010 NC. Can you IMAGINE?! Coach Pete deserves this and more!
Wyoming is a trap game. Toledo. SJSU. IU. Nevada. Oh yeah,… VT. OSU. Dang!
GO BRONCOS!!
by FirstDown on Jan 15, 2010 2:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Reason #6 for 2009
The were the youngest team in the country. Only two starting seniors? The symbiotic relationship between player and coach at Boise State was evident all throughout the season.
Pete has done a masterful job all around, but 2009 was, in my opinion, far better.
Boise State - The best in all the land (The "land" being Idaho, and large parts of California, Oregon, and Nevada.)
by Mikrino on Jan 15, 2010 7:24 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
2009
2006 had to feel an undefeated season would get them to the BCS, after the debacle that was the 2008 postseason, this team had to believe against history that what they did mattered. Plus, the injuries, and most of all to see the Broncos dominate good teams (who had mostly shut down our offenses) with D, all miraculous.
by Cougarflounder on Jan 16, 2010 7:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
debacle that was the 2008 season?
12-1 isn’t horrible let alone a debacle. just too bad that the 1 was the last game of the season vs tcu. but at least the loss has been avenged.
how many coaches out there would give anything for a record like that?
Grindhouse
by Grindhouse on Jan 16, 2010 7:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
'debacle' referring to BSU not getting a BCS bowl, maybe?
by hummerofdoom on Jan 18, 2010 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think
he meant the debacle of the bowl: having our red zone offense shut down for most of the game, getting field goals instead of touchdowns. Not sure I’d call that a debacle (Arizona getting shut out by Nebraska 33-0 — that’s a debacle), but it wasn’t a great day, either.
We want to build a university our football team can be proud of. -- Dr. George Lynn Cross
by marktgarten on Jan 18, 2010 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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