Fiesta Bowl: TCU's Patterson and Boise State's Peterson Know Each Other Well

When TCU and Boise State put there unbeaten seasons on the line January 4th in the Fiesta Bowl, the head coaches of the two universities will know each other well.

Boise State's Head Coach Chris Petersen and TCU's head man Gary Patterson have known each other for over 20 years now.

This long time friendship began when Petersen was the star quarterback for UC Davis in 1986 and Patterson was the Aggie's linebacker coach.

Although their careers have taken them on different paths though the years, they find themselves together again as opposing coaches.

A year ago they faced each other in San Diego's Poinsettia Bowl, with Patterson's Horned Frogs prevailing 17-16 in a very close game.

Following last year's bowl game, Patterson and Petersen decided to get their two coaching staffs together to share ideas on coaching philosophy and system development.

Clearly their friendship and respect for one another runs deep.

Patterson and Petersen probably didn't think they would be facing one another again this year.

Let's hope they didn't share all the trade secrets.

Both Boise State and TCU's programs have a great deal in common.

The Horned Frogs and the Broncos both lack the respect of the national media for playing in non BCS conferences.

Petersen has lead BSU to a 23-1 record over the past two years while Patterson is 23-2 at TCU yet both have struggled in gaining the respect of the east coast sports writers and broadcasters.

Over the past four years, Petersen’s BSU teams are 48-4 while Patterson is 42-9 and both coaches’ records are ranked in the top five for that period with Petersen being number one.

After reading or hearing one of the east coast 'experts' talk of either program and how well they have done comes the word both head coaches are all too familiar with ... "but."

As in "BSU is good .... but they don't play anybody." Or "TCU has a great program ... but they play in the Mountain West Conference."

Next year Boise State will return 21 of their 22 Fiesta Bowl starters, while TCU will return 16 of 22. Both teams are naturally expected to be ranked high at the beginning of the 2010 campaign.

Respect may be just around the corner for both Patterson and Petersen.

Finally.

Five-star and four-star recruits are rare for both TCU and BSU. In fact, both programs rely on the three-star and mostly two-star (or below) players they are able to attract.

Interestingly, both programs do an outstanding job of finding the 'diamond in the rough' players that will excel in their systems.

The Broncos All-American sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore was a three-star recruit, yet no BCS schools offered him a scholarship. Jerry Hughes, TCU consensus All-American defensive end was a lightly recruited two-star player out of high school.

If you run down both TCU and BSU's rosters you'll find many like Moore and Hughes. Players that few wanted but turn out to be outstanding players.

Opposing coaches love to use the fact that both TCU and Boise State are not members of a BCS conference against them in recruiting.

"You'll never get to a BCS bowl game or have the chance to play for a national championship going to either of those schools," BCS conference coaches will say.

Chris Petersen will have coached BSU in two BCS bowl games in the past four years. That's something not every coach can say.

Gary Patterson coached his TCU team to their first BCS Bowl appearance this year, but has lead the Horned Frogs to bowl invitations in eight of his nine years at TCU.

On top of it all, many firmly believe that TCU should be playing for the national title this year.

I think opposing coaches will have to come up with some new lines now if they are recruiting against either Patterson or Petersen.

Their records speak for themselves.

Both head coaches have been honored by their peers and various publications for their outstanding coaching.

Chris Petersen was awarded the Paul "Bear" Bryant award as coach of the year in 2006 and is a finalist again this year.

Gary Patterson surprisingly was left off the finalist list, but has won the 2009 Sporting News and the Associated Press Coach of the Year honors.

When Petersen and Patterson line up their respective teams in the Fiesta Bowl Monday night, they will know each other well.

On January 4th for about four or five hours that friendship may be suspect.

You can bet that immediately following the game these two great college football coaches will walk off the University of Phoenix Stadium turf with great respect and admiration for one another.

Patterson and Peterson; Friends forever.