Q&A: Boise’s Chris Petersen has ‘put ‘05 Georgia game out of my mind’
Boise State coach Chris Petersen exults after the Broncos beat TCU in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl to finish the 2009 season 14-0. (AP photo)
Q&A WITH BOISE STATE COACH CHRIS PETERSEN
Boise State coach Chris Petersen visited with Georgia media via teleconference call on Monday. Following is most of the pertinent stuff he had to say. You’ll see some of these comments in a story I’m doing later today or tomorrow, but I wanted to go ahead and share with the loyal blog followers.
Meanwhile, Georgia coach Mark Richt will get a chance to put his spin on Saturday’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game later today. His weekly pregame press conference is scheduled for noon. I’ll share what he and selected Bulldogs players have to say shortly after that session wraps up early this afternoon. I’ll tweet out the really good stuff as soon as I hear it.
Now, from Petersen, 46, who was Boise State’s offensive coordinator when it visited Athens in 2005. He’s 61-5 since succeeding Dan Hawkins as the Bronco’s head coach in 2006:
Q: You guys seem to love opening with these big road games, beating Oregon and Virginia Tech most recently. What’s your philosophy as far as playing high-profile openers?
A: “On one hand they’re good, because you get associated with a program like Georgia, who we have so much respect for,” Petersen said. “On the other hand, they’re bad because you’ve got to play at an extremely high level. We will have had a bunch of kids who have never played in this type of thing. It’s a flip of the coin, a Catch-22 in some ways. I guess we feel the benefits outweigh the negatives as far as playing these types of games.”
Q: Do you think you can ever get a major opponent to come open at your place?
A: “I envision it. I don’t know if it will happen, but I envision it. I know our fans would love it,” he said. “I think it would be great for college football to get someone like a Georgia to come here. Oregon has come here and Oregon State has come here, so that’s been great. I think everybody enjoyed those games.”
Q: Having knocked off Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia Tech must give your team tremendous confidence for a game such as this.
A: “Those are some of the things that we’ve done in the past,” Petersen said. “Nobody really cares about that once this season starts. It’s all about what have you done for me lately. And we get that. So if we can play well and win some games this year, people will think highly of us. And if not, they’ll think we used to be good.”
Q: Kellen Moore is on track to become the winningest quarterback in college football history this season. Did you envision that for him when you signed him?
A: “Absolutely [sarcastically]. Kellen has been so great. He was one of those under-recruited guys so if anybody had any idea he would have this kind of ability. I don’t anybody predicted that. You hope for all those things. But he has a great feel for this team and he’s done a great job. I’d like to say we predicted it, but he’s put up the numbers. Like Aaron Murray, he played as a redshirt freshman for us and came into the game playing at a high level from the start.”
Q: What do you remember, or take from, the 2005 Georgia game (Bulldogs won 48-13)?
A: “First of all, I don’t remember the game. I put that out of my mind. So that takes care of that.”
Q: OK, you don’t remember the game … but what have been the keys to how the Boise State program has evolved since 2005?
A: “It’s such a slow process. Nothing happens fast. I think slowly but surely we have just continued to build. And we’ve had good continuity on our staff, and maybe the recruiting has upgraded a little bit. Nothing seems dramatic. It just seems like it’s been going on for a while, and each year we’ve maybe made a little bit of progress. And then it’s cyclical, too, because the last couple of years we just had a lot of guys who have played a lot, they had a lot of experience. Two years ago, we lost two starters; that was it. And last year, we had a lot of guys coming back as well. And we have a decent handful of guys coming back [this year], but we have a lot of guys who haven’t played that need to be factors for us. It’s just a slow process that you keep building on.”
Q: Is Boise State still a “Cinderella” team or is it beyond that?
A: “I think every year it’s a new ballgame. Those are some of the things we’ve done in the past, and nobody really cares about that. Once this season starts, it’s all about, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ We get that. And if we can play well and win some games this year, people will think highly of us. And if not, they will think, ‘They used to be good.’”
Q: Boise State is probably known for its great trick plays on offense as much as anything. Do you spend months researching and designing them?
A: “It’s really just an extremely small part of what we do. I know it gets people’s attention and people like to talk about it. We try to be creative around here a little bit, but really in the big picture it’s a pretty small piece of what we’re actually doing.”
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109 comments Add your comment
BoiseBronco
August 30th, 2011
11:42 am
“In the other big games Boise has played, VT, OK, and Oregan, Boise was a hugh underdog.”
I’m not sure about the other games but Boise St was favored against VT last year.
The Dude Abides
August 30th, 2011
11:42 am
How in the heII is Stephen Garcia still playing? Isn’t it his 6th year starting there?
Athens Dawg
August 30th, 2011
12:05 pm
I swear Garcia has been at SC for about 7 years. Damn when will he graduate? LOL
UGA_2001
August 30th, 2011
12:08 pm
Oregon and Oregon St aren’t major opponents? Who asked that question?
The Dude Abides
August 30th, 2011
12:11 pm
Play against a conference that has won 5 straight national titles, not second fiddle teams. Now they are.
DawginLex
August 30th, 2011
12:16 pm
Garcia-5 Years, 6 suspensions
Hard to tell the difference sometimes.
Spurrier desperate to win
3rd team DB does what Garcia did, kid is now playing for Furman.
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
12:19 pm
GET OVER THE TWEET THING ALREADY!!! That was hardly trash talking, that was gamesmanship at best. He didn’t talk disparagingly about BSU players or coaches and he didn’t say he was going to run all over them. He simply said, I dare you to kick it to me. If you think that’s the worst that will be said by either team, you live in a cave.
MarineDog
August 30th, 2011
12:29 pm
I’m having a difficult time believing that Brandin Boykin’s tweet is going to make Boise State play harder. They are already geared up for this game and a tweet is not going to gear them up any harder. Being a Marine, our enemies talk a boat load of crap when they know that we’re coming. It in no way impact our planning, preparation, and execution.
That is one of the oldest psychological warfare games known to mankind and I suspect that it happens all too often in sports. In this day and age of technology you’re just able to get the word out to the masses instantly. Boise doesn’t need any motivation to beat us. They have been readying for this game for quite awhile. The same applies to UGA.
Peterson is a class act and he hit the nail on the head when he said that last year is last year.
K Sel
August 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
Check out this link on Zabransky – LMAO – (Rumor has it he won’t be doing the coin toss) But could you imagine if he did.
http://www.jaredzabransky.com/Jared_Zabransky_Athletic_Training/News_%26_Events.html
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
12:33 pm
Agree Marine .. in two combat tours, we heard so much chatter coming through informants about what an enemy “wanted” to do to us. We did our job and they just kept on wanting after that.
DawginLex
August 30th, 2011
12:36 pm
CFN Scout has us winning 22-20
I’ll take it
MarineDog
August 30th, 2011
12:37 pm
Thanks TampaDawg! Glad to know that you made it back safely.
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
12:43 pm
You too buddy. Now let’s see a battle on the turf .. GO DAWGS!!!
Athens Dawg
August 30th, 2011
12:54 pm
Boise won’t know what hit em in about 4 days. I seriously will be enjoying every minute of it. All you trolls and haters won’t be here come Sunday morning. I vividly remember before the game vs. Hawaii, lots of people were like “Brennan is going to pass all over the sorry Dawgs!” and “Georgia doesn’t stand a chance, Hawaii 55-10.” All that bullcrap. Look what happened. All I’m saying to the haters and trolls is, IF we beat Boise, don’t come on here making excuses as to why we won. Just shut the freak up and roll in your crow.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
August 30th, 2011
12:55 pm
[...] Bacarri Rambo is suspended for the opener or not.6. Boise State’s Chris Peterson says he’s put a blowout loss at Georgia in ’05 out of his mind.More to [...]
anotherdawg
August 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
The last time UGA wore red pants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nc2XsimM90
I hope we have similar results with Crowell or Samuel
WDE
August 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
TampaDawg/MarineDog before we get even more caught up in the fever of game week I’d like to say Thanks for your and all the vets service..it makes college football and our way of life possible..for Dogs,Gators,Broncos and even Bugs..thanks
UGA Insider
August 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Just saw the depth chart and no Ray Drew… That one is a head scratcher for sure. I guess his injury is worse than appeared. Very bad news here.
dawgssux
August 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
Doesn’t Boise have orange and blue colors? Enough said………dawgs lose
They can’t beat any team with orange and blue!
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
1:35 pm
dawgssux – quite possibly the most nonsense post on here today
How about this then?
2005 BSU
2007 UF
2006-2009 Auburn
Let’s stick with facts troll
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
Thanks WDE (War Damn Eagle) ..Go DAWGS!
Jborodawg
August 30th, 2011
1:38 pm
BS is a big game…because all games are big. It’s exciting because it’s the opener, it’s in the Dome, and it’s on nat TV. But the S.C. game is bigger because they’re SEC, and SEC east at that; the division we hope to win.
If we go 0-2, I won’t commit suicide and I won’t call for CMR’s head. I’ll still be on the bandwagon; I’ll still be a Bulldog fan; and I’ll think we can win the rest. We’ll still have a chance to return to the Dome…and a good bowl game…and a great season.
But, it’s one game at a time…and that next game is BS.
Goooo Dawgs!
GET DOWN BIG MAN
August 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg — way to stay positive… lol
Relentless Pursuit
August 30th, 2011
1:43 pm
This is a far bigger game for Boise State than Georgia. It knocks them out of a chance for a BCS game.
If Georgia loses, there’s still hope. South Carolina is a huge game. Lose it and the Dawgs are down for the count. There”s seldom been a lack of talent in Athens, player wise (Cox being the notable exception), but the coaching is just not up to par for a team that wants national recognition. Richt has never had the killer instinct and never will. I hope that Georgia wins, but it’s pure speculation to judge a team’s first game by paper stats.
dawgssux
August 30th, 2011
1:46 pm
Tampadawg——18 out of 21 are not good odds in your favor. I was waiting on you to throw out the words Hershal W. when you posted 2005 BSU
59bulldawg
August 30th, 2011
1:46 pm
Peterson seems to be in classic Vince Dooley mode – build up the other team and downplay your own. But make no mistake about it Petersen knows he has a good team. I think we should win . . . if we play traditional Georgia style football . . . but we can’t afford to think we can just walk on the field and win because we’re Georgia. We’re gonna have to GATA! Dawgs 34-17
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
2 of the 3 “experts” on rivals.com have UGA picked to win …
TampaDawg
August 30th, 2011
1:51 pm
All-time series dawgssux, all-time series. It goes in phases and it always will .. kinda like, say, prior to 1990. At any rate, your post just needed some facts thrown in.
Joey
August 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
Most Dawg fans have probably seen it but here’s the depth chart – only a couple of suprises – one, the 3rd QB:
http://dogbytesonline.com/georgia-depth-chart-observations-48079/
PowerDawg
August 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
Smug SOB ain’t he?
He FORGOT the details of the 48-13 smack-down his team got in 2005?
“Out of his mind” is right.
Some Boise fan stated on one of these blogs that “this is different team from the one in 2005!”
Coach Dan “Whats’ his name” is gone and Petersen is the coach now, or something to that effect.
The same Petersen that was the OC, the Guru, the “Mastermind” of this juggernaut offense, right?
He forgot, huh?
We’ll make him remember.
Oh, and is it me or did he give the same answer to two different questions?
just a fan
August 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
He did give the same answer for 2 diffferent question.
LHarding Dawg
August 30th, 2011
2:05 pm
I also try to forget our losses.
edumacated
August 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
Just remember folks, Richt is officially out of excuses. So if our Dawgs do lose to Boise ( which I don’t think will happen), don’t come on here and offer up any.
RiffRaff
August 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Check out this pre-game hype video -
http://www.obnug.com/2011/8/27/2387685/bsu-uga-pregame-video-re-edit
Fire Mark Richt
August 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
Hopefully we can refresh his memory of ‘05 with more of the same. Go Dawgs!
DawginLex
August 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Ken Malcome and Ray Drew not being on the 3 deep is puzzling and dissappointing.
Injuries I suppose
WDE
August 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
@RiffRaff
That’s a pretty cool video thanks for sharing!
just a fan
August 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
@DawginLex has Ray Drew been cleared to practice since his injury?
Buster
August 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
So, this Georgia team is so stocked with superior athletes that they couldn’t score a touchdown in a loss to UCF, lost to Colorado, and will have a cake walk vs. Boise? Shouldn’t such superior athletes be able to get into the endzone against UCF?
The VT team that Boise beat wasn’t nearly as good as UGA, but VT did beat Fla. State, who beat Florida, who beat UGA. I know it doesn’t work that way, but there are some confused southerners if you think Boise is so inferior.
WDE
August 30th, 2011
3:09 pm
@Buster
A large part of this team was not with THIS team vs UCF..and just a thought UCF was a nothing bowl game that many of the upper classmen just didn’t care about being at, this is opening day on national TV with a chance to right a program in front of the nation…there is much more on the line for a new cast of players.And I and most of the UGA fans don’t think this is a cake walk by any means..
MarineDog
August 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
I watched the replay of the BS/VT game agin last night and VT made a ton of mistakes and barely won that game. In the losses that Boise St has suffered, they always seem to blow a sizeable lead and their secondary also had a lot of holes. They are a good team, but they have issues just like every team in college football.
But last year is last year….the same applies to UGA.
MarineDog
August 30th, 2011
3:33 pm
meant to say: “again last night” and “Boise barely won that game”.
Numberwang
August 30th, 2011
5:13 pm
The only thing about this game that concerns me is potential turnovers. I’m worried that Richard Samuel puts on on the ground for Boise St. We don’t need that at all!!! Hold onto the ball and Georgia wins by 10 points – at least.
tom
August 30th, 2011
6:07 pm
What losses did you find of boise state… Nevada… a missed kick… what else there was no other ones last year… None the year before that. a 1pt loss to TCU the year before that. None the year before that Not really a sizeable lead. It was a 1 score game for the entire second half… Washington never had a lead.. ECU never had a lead.. so what history USMC Dog are talking about. None the year before that.
history.. a Loss year is followed by an undefeated year. guess what this is.
but as I always say if you do not know the history make it up
JDawg1785
August 30th, 2011
6:59 pm
Petersen’s a classy guy who seems to have his head on straight. I still hope he leaves ATL in tears, though.
Vandals Reek
August 30th, 2011
7:10 pm
Chris Peterson is nothing but a class act. Any SEC college would be blessed to have this guy coaching their team. Peterson doesn’t live on past victories and gives nothing but respect to the teams that he’s getting ready to play, no matter who it is. This guy has nothing but respect for other teams. A class act, unlike some, not all Dawg fans. If you can’t see that this guy is good for the game of football, then you’re basically a moron. Glad to have this guy coaching the Broncos, win or lose!!!
Vandals Reek
August 30th, 2011
7:12 pm
My last comment was basically for UGA fans like Powerdawg who wouldn’t know class if it bit him in the ass!!
WestOfAthens
August 30th, 2011
9:57 pm
I, and my family/friends, were at that game in 2005. Big game for DJ, take control and no doubts. I have no doubts this Saturday night.
Yes, Peterson will remember as well
HBTD
WestOfAthens
August 30th, 2011
10:00 pm
Hawkins was coach, yet Peterson resided in the dark. Doesn’t matter who Boise has beaten during his tenure. He knows the challenge set forth.
Has he defeated the SEC?
Austin Dingler
August 30th, 2011
10:23 pm
Gota give credit where it’s due…Boise coming to GA in the opener – props…UGA staying clean within the media realm – much improved team already (all of the freshmen coming in – it ’s showing maturity)…Let’s hope it tranfers to the field…I STILL BELIEVE IN MY DAWGS – REGARDLESS… Don’t be so wrapped up trying to be the “DAWGS” of old (Jyards)… make your own history…GBU