Boise State Football: Why Chris Petersen Should Leave After This Season

Chris Petersen has been the head coach at Boise State since 2006, but after the 2011 season it's time for him to find a new home. 

He started as the offensive coordinator for the Broncos in 2001, and since becoming head coach he's had a record of 62-5 with some very impressive wins. 

However, the Broncos aren't going to be this good ever again, which is exactly why Petersen needs to take a much more lucrative job once this season is over. 

There's a good chance the Broncos play for the national championship this year, but I don't see them beating a team like Oklahoma, LSU or Alabama. 

Kellen Moore will be gone this season, and he's a quarterback that elevated this program to new heights with fantastic wins over Oregon, Oregon State, Virginia Tech and Georgia. 

After he leaves, this team will take a huge hit and they're not going to be labeled as a team that could bust the BCS, even with the cupcake schedule they always have. 

Petersen has done a fantastic job, but it's time for him to join a program with much better assets. With what he has accomplished at Boise State, just imagine what he could at a school with more money and a better talent pool to recruit from. 

Another reason Petersen should get out after this season is the recent sanctions placed on the program by the NCAA. 

The Boise State football program will lose three scholarships each of the next three seasons, and yes, this isn't a huge crushing blow to the program, but it definitely hurts and will be a setback. 

The Broncos aren't able to compete with the Oregons and the USCs out west when it comes to recruiting, which is why they need every single one of their allotted scholarships. 

It will all depend on what jobs are available at the end of the season, but really, this is the best time for him to leave. 

Losing key defensive players or big playmakers is one thing to overcome, but having to replace a quarterback as talented as Moore isn't going to be easy. 

I'm not saying he should bolt because he won't be able to bounce back because he's a great coach and is very capable of doing so. 

However, it would better serve him to join a school in a powerhouse conference that has a much easier path to winning national championships. 

Even though they just rewarded Petersen with a hefty five-year contract, he should still leave after this year because it will take a while before the Broncos are this elite again.

Broncos fans will be distraught if Petersen were to leave, but they must realize it's a part of the game and it also comes with the territory.

When you play well in the non-AQ conferences, a coach may get the chance to take over a team in a better situation, and more often times than not they choose to leave.

Boise State's last coach, Dan Hawkins, left the school for a chance to coach in a better conference, and although it didn't work out so well, Petersen would fare better because he's a stronger coach.

Petersen may never leave Boise State, and honestly, there's nothing wrong with that. However, he would be wise to leave now and avoid the drop-off they'll experience with the departure of Moore.