Lipstick was smeared on his uniform, but he did not care.
He and his teammates finally opened the world’s eyes to a new fighter in NCAA Division I football, while his soon-to-be significant other took joy in the life they would start together.
The year was 2007 and the man was none other than Boise State’s running back, Ian Johnson.
Coach Bob Stoops, who won a BCS national championship in 2000, was at the top of his profession heading into what would be the most memorable game during the 2006 season. A pair of efficient offenses and physical defenses collided onto University of Phoenix Stadium on Jan. 1, 2007, as Oklahoma met up with the Broncos.
For a school that’s known for blue field turf and potatoes, no one truly measured the heart of Boise State at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on the night in question. Though all the drinks and card games make it sound appealing to put all the money on David, looking at the power that Goliath wields sets one back to reality.
The price was high, yet through it all one man never waivered. He tested Stoops at every angle and on the final play, national media was brought to its knees. It’s unheard of when a program that is not from a power five conference finds a way to crash the party. In Boise State’s case, it did more than crashed it—it dominated it.
With cameras panned on Johnson proposing to his now wife and former Broncos’ cheerleader Chrissy Popadics, the voice behind a young face represents the reason as to why one should never underestimate a small school with much to prove. Chris Petersen was 42 years old when the Broncos beat Oklahoma, 43-42.
His tactics of hard work, execution and toughness led Boise State to a 92-12 record, seven 10-win seasons (2006-12) eight winning seasons and two BCS bowl wins during his tenure from 2006-13. In his attempt to pursue uncharted waters at University of Washington, Petersen was hit with doubt and skepticism.
The fear of not generating the same success crossed his mind a few times, but he saw the bigger picture.
Leaving Boise State meant showing critics that he could do damage with a program on the outside looking in and one that’s of a bigger name brand. After gathering his staff and implementing his strategy in 2014 and 2015, Petersen’s crafted a group that is an exact replica of what made him a star nearly 10 years ago.
This season, the Huskies have returned to being a high-powered team in the Pac-12. Washington won its first conference championship since 2000, and its first as outright champions since 1991. Aside from a loss to USC, Petersen has the Huskies in the College Football Playoff for the first time since the venue originated in 2014.
Behind one of the nation’s top scoring offenses (44.5 ppg), he’s molded a signal caller that is very similar to Jared Zabransky and Kellen Moore at Boise State. Regardless of being snubbed from this year’s Heisman Trophy presentation, sophomore Jake Browning is the real deal.
Like Zabransky and Moore, he’s both cerebral and highly accurate. Browning stands at 3,280 passing yards with 42 touchdowns to seven interceptions, while compiling a completion percentage of 63.2 in 13 games.
The combination of Ian Johnson, Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin kept Boise State’s run game in order.
For the Huskies, Peterson has Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman. Gaskin is the heart of Washington’s offense, leading the team with 1.339 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on 227 carries (103 ypg). Coleman, who brings more power in the backfield, chimes in with 836 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 107 attempts.
On a roster full of wide receivers, Petersen’s always found two trustworthy weapons.
Austin Pettis and Titus Young ran the show for the Broncos, but it’s the dynamic duo of John Ross and Dante Pettis that has things going with Browning for the Huskies. Ross’ 17 touchdown receptions tie him with Louisiana Tech’s Carlos Henderson for second nationally among NCAA Division I targets. The junior leads the group with 1,122 yards receiving on 76 catches. Pettis, a junior, has 796 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns.
It has taken him three years, however, Petersen now has a defense to match his offense.
Even with not having linebackers Joe Mathis and Azeem Victor against the Crimson Tide, this defense is still only allowing 17.2 points a game. Washington averages nearly three sacks a contest (2.85), and its secondary has forced 19 interceptions. He plays up being the underdog versus Alabama, but rest assured that Petersen is far more confident now than what he was in his eight seasons in the land of strongly pigmented grass.
Wins over Bob Stoops and Gary Patterson (TCU, 2010 Fiesta Bowl game) confirmed that he could hang with the big boys, yet Petersen knows that a victory over Nick Saban will catapult his tenure at Washington.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
