As LSU begins their coaching search to replace Les Miles, here are five reasons why they should hire Washington’s Chris Petersen.
The Les Miles era is over at LSU. So who’s going to replace him? As of now, that may be the most popular question in college football.
Despite the recent years of inconsistency, LSU is still one of the top programs in college football. Having said that, Baton Rouge is a perfect place for current Washington head coach Chris Petersen to enter the pantheon of college football coaches.
He’s been around for quite some time as he is in his eleventh year as a head coach. With a notable stint at Boise State and now reviving the football program at Washington, Petersen continues to prove that he’s one of the best in the business.
With a recent big win over Pac-12 rival Stanford, Petersen’s coaching expertise gives reasoning why he should be a candidate for the LSU gig.
He’s a well-liked guy, and his unflappable personality may mesh well with fans, higher ups, and players at LSU. It also helps that he is an offensive guru. His style of play could revive the winning feel for the Bayou Bengals.
Of course, LSU will go after bigger names, but a guy like Petersen can fall into their lap as a blessing in disguise. LSU is a place where he can attempt to unseat Nick Saban as the general of the conference. Having said that, here are five reasons why Petersen and LSU is a viable fit.
5. He’s money in big games
Chris Petersen has ice water in his veins when on the sideline. Dating back to his days at Boise State Petersen had notable wins. In his first season as the head coach of Boise, he led the Broncos to an undefeated regular season. Coupled with an undefeated season, he won the program’s first-ever BCS bowl game in a classic showdown against the Adrian Peterson-led Oklahoma Sooners.
Petersen rises up the challenge when the stakes are high. Just last week, as the head coach of Washington, he defeated Stanford in a huge Pac-12 North showdown. With Washington’s biggest game in recent memory taking place, he delivered when it mattered most. Last Friday’s game had possible College Football Playoff implications, and Petersen met the challenge just as it was any other game.
The unflappable coach will have ample opportunities to defeat SEC foes such as Alabama, Texas A&M, and Florida. Coaching in arguably the best conference in college football, it’s key to have the fortitude to show up in big games, because of how often they occur.
Les Miles had the magic touch in his early days at LSU, but he lost his know-how as the years passed by. With Petersen at the helm, it will give the Tigers someone who doesn’t shy away from the big moment.