Former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen often reflects on the iconic Fiesta Bowl victory against Oklahoma, which took place on January 1, 2007.
The game was a thrilling spectacle, showcasing an underdog Boise State team that initially surged to a commanding 28-10 lead over the prestigious Sooners.
The match turned dramatic as Oklahoma launched an impressive 25-point comeback, punctuated by what appeared to be a critical interception return for a touchdown with just over a minute remaining.
However, Boise State crafted three captivating trick plays that not only tied the game but ultimately propelled them to a stunning 43-42 overtime win.
Adding to the game’s legendary status was the surprise marriage proposal from Broncos running back Ian Johnson to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics, which took place immediately after scoring the winning two-point conversion, all broadcasted live on national television.

While the Fiesta Bowl established Boise State football on the national stage, Petersen, looking back nearly two decades later, places a different significance on past victories.
“Many people reminisce about the Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl, and while the outcome was fantastic, for me, playing TCU three years later on a grand stage was an even greater achievement, albeit less dramatic,” Petersen stated.
He believes that their future success demonstrated that Boise State was more than just a fleeting phenomenon; they were building something enduring on their celebrated blue turf.

Continued achievements have followed the Broncos with remarkable consistency.
Currently positioned at No. 8, Boise State is gearing up for another appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, this time facing fifth-seeded Penn State in a playoff quarterfinal slated for New Year’s Eve.
This enduring success has persisted across multiple coaching regimes, yet there exists a cohesive thread running through the program’s coaching history.
Dirk Koetter, who came from Oregon, brought Peterson with him.
Moreover, Petersen facilitated Koetter’s introduction to Dan Hawkins for the coaching staff, ensuring continuity during these transitions.

Koetter and Hawkins guided the program to a remarkable five double-digit victory seasons within a six-year period, leading them to positions in major conferences.
Following Koetter’s three seasons, he moved to Arizona State, and Hawkins departed for Colorado after five successful years.
Petersen took over after the 2005 season, promptly leading Boise State to seven consecutive seasons of double-digit wins and bowl appearances throughout all eight years he coached.
He resisted several overtures from power-conference teams until Washington’s enticing offer drew him away at the close of the 2013 season.

Former quarterback Bryan Harsin succeeded him, achieving five double-digit victory seasons in his first six years.
However, after a 5-2 record during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he accepted an opportunity at Auburn.
Koetter noted the necessity of stability in leadership, highlighting that Boise State had experienced success across various levels before attaining Division I status.
Yet, he recalled the unfortunate series of events that made Boise State a reclamation project upon his arrival in 1998.
Coach Pokey Allen had led the team to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but tragically passed away a couple of days later after being diagnosed with cancer.
He coached the last two games of that season, marking Boise State’s initial foray into Division I-A.

Following Allen, Houston Nutt took over in 1997 but managed only a 4-7 record before moving to Arkansas, which left Koetter to rebuild the program.
“One coach passed away, and the other wasn’t the right match for the team,” Koetter reflected.
He pointed out that while Nutt was a skilled coach, he didn’t align with Boise State’s specific needs for success.
Due to the foundation of success from lower-level achievements, Koetter believed the program was poised for greater triumphs.

“As Boise State climbed the conference ranks, we maintained high talent standards,” Koetter added.
“It became evident that with proper direction and strong recruiting efforts, we could compete effectively within our conference.”
The turnaround was swift; Koetter recorded a 6-5 season in 1998, followed by back-to-back ten-win seasons.
Hawkins then built upon that momentum before Petersen elevated the program even further.

However, one particular season remains a sore point for Petersen.
He believed that his strongest squad emerged in 2010, which entered a crucial late-November matchup against Nevada ranked third, fully capable of contending for the national championship.
Unfortunately, they fell short with a 34-31 loss to the Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack.
“To me, that may have been the best team I coached. We had only one poor offensive half that entire season,” Petersen lamented.
He felt that this team, even having led 24-7 at halftime, had the potential to make a significant impact if given the opportunity.

This season, however, presents no what-if scenarios for Boise State.
They have qualified for the newly structured 12-team playoffs as the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five, earning a bye into the quarterfinals.
Interim coach Spencer Danielson successfully reinstated the championship-level performance after taking over following a rare downtick in performance that led to the departure of Andy Avalos.
Danielson was appointed as the full-time coach after leading Boise State to a Mountain West title.
Currently, the Broncos boast a 12-1 record, their only loss arising from a last-second field goal by top-ranked Oregon.
Running back Ashton Jeanty also impressed as a Heisman Trophy runner-up.

“This legacy was built years ago by numerous successful seasons well before my time here,” Danielson remarked.
“Even this year isn’t attributed solely to me. It’s the dedication of these young men who wanted to establish a legacy and realize their goal of competing in the Fiesta Bowl after a decade-long wait. They committed to making it happen.”

Like Danielson, both Petersen and Koetter emphasize that attracting elite talent has been the cornerstone of Boise State’s success throughout its history.
Winning remains the primary catalyst, and with more playoff entry points, the Broncos aim to leverage these new opportunities to consistently return to the postseason.
However, there’s also something uniquely captivating about the blue turf.
Petersen initially didn’t grasp its significance when he joined as an assistant coach, and there were discussions about replacing it with traditional green grass.
An overwhelming community response opposed such a change, and Petersen has since grown to appreciate the powerful symbolism the blue field represents for the program.
“Over many years, young athletes have watched significant games and said to themselves, ‘I recognize that blue turf. I want to be a part of that,’” Petersen remarked.