Boise State’s long, frustrating quest for spot at big boy table is just one game away: ‘We are a powerhouse’

Chris Petersen and Spencer Danielson talk each Sunday for an hour on Zoom. By then, there is much to chop up between the former Boise State coach (Petersen) and current Boise State coach (Danielson).

They talk ball, recruiting, work/life balance. Just two coaching bros. But it is much more of that. Petersen has chosen Danielson for this moment, in a way. “Coach Pete,” the legendary boss who built Boise into a national brand, told CBS Sports he did not have a similar weekly arrangement with the twp Broncos coaches who followed him — Bryan Harsin and Andy Avalos.

But when Danielson was named interim coach last season, one of his first initiatives was to reach out to Petersen. A relationship was formed.

“You’re not going to get this job, so don’t even think about it,” Petersen advised Danielson. “If you’re trying to position yourself for the job, I’ve seen it work so seldom. If you’re about the kids and the coaches, good things happen. But when you try to become the head coach when you’re not really the head coach, it just doesn’t work.’

“You could tell right away, ‘Oh yeah, I got you.'” Petersen continued. 

Something clicked in that conversation. Twenty days after Danielson transitioned from defensive coordinator to interim coach in 2023, Boise won its first Mountain West title in four years. A day later, Danielson had the permanent gig at age 35. 

The Danielson-Petersen association is a sidebar in the frantic finish to the season. Still, it is a powerful sidebar. 

Danielson arrived at Boise from Azusa Pacific in 2017, hired as a grad assistant by Harsin. 

“It was a grind, but it was an awesome experience,” Danielson said. “I just married. I told her we were going to Boise and she cried. It wasn’t happy tears. She thought I…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/boise-states-long-frustrating-quest-for-spot-at-big-boy-table-is-just-one-game-away-we-are-a-powerhouse/

Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2024-12-06 16:26:00

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