Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Point-Counterpoint:Petersen vs. Akey

Statesman sports editor Mike Prater is a Harris Poll voter and a Heisman Trophy voter. Columnist Brian Murphy is covering the Broncos throughout the 2009 season. Each week, they discuss a different topic in our Bronco GameDay section.

Today: Who has done the better coaching job so far this season - Boise State's Chris Petersen or Idaho's Robb Akey?

Prater: Wow, Murph, tough call. The Vandals have been down for a long time, and I've always wondered what kind of head coach Akey could become (frankly, I've always had my doubts). He's obviously done a remarkable job this season - so far. I want to judge his body of work. I want to see how he finishes. With that said, I'm going with Petersen, who might be in the midst of his finest coaching season ever. Four seniors on the roster (and none are having huge statistical seasons). Four lackluster early-season opponents on the schedule (i.e, not easy to get motivated for). And No. 4 in the BCS standings - amazing! Starting with the huge win over Oregon, there have been plenty of issues/mistakes on the field, yet Petersen is saying all the right things and pushing all the right buttons to make this team better every weekend.

Murphy: Petersen is doing a remarkable job, considering the youth of the roster and the pressures that come with being ranked in the top 10. However, Akey just might be the national coach of the year for the job he's done in Moscow. He's taken a program that won three games in the last two years combined and has them 6-1 - a feat no one thought was possible. Yes, the hardest part of the Vandals' schedule still remains, but few gave Idaho a chance to be bowl eligible at all this year, much less after seven games. Akey's biggest accomplishment might have been convincing his players they could win tough games.

Prater: Petersen has molded his prized player (Kellen Moore) into the No. 1 statistical quarterback in the country. He's helped with a rushing attack that's averaging nearly 200 yards a game (despite losing its best back). The scoring offense (38.2 ppg) and scoring defense (15.5) are No. 1 in the WAC. The red-zone defense has been spectacular (allowed only five TDs and one field goal through six games). The special teams aren't spectacular, but they are statistically strong as the entire coaching staff continues to tinker with ways to make them better. What's not to love?

Murphy: There's nothing not to love. But taking a team that went 3-21 in the previous two seasons, that hasn't had a winning year this decade and getting them to bowl eligibility before Halloween, well, that's special. Akey took a quarterback whose confidence had to be at an all-time low and turned him into a solid performer. He's juggled a stable of talented running backs. He's got his team believing it can win - with text messages to his guys last December, by making them eat of out bowls to reinforce his goals. He's done a terrific job.

Prater: Mostly, I like the intangibles of what Petersen has done this season. He handled the Blount-Hout incident with a mixture of firmness and grace. He's turned Titus Young from bad boy to outstanding. He's frustrating to listen to in public because he doesn't say anything - but he's being smart with his approach during a season where so much is at stake. Mostly, he's battering one of the oldest cliches in sports - it's harder to stay at the top. Put it all together and Petersen is clearly having the finest coaching season of his career.

Murphy: We know how voters vote in these things and Akey will get more credit for his turnaround job than Petersen will get for sustained excellence. Picked to finish last by the coaches, Idaho has done the almost unthinkable. If the Vandals finish with eight or nine wins, Akey deserves all the attention, awards and every bit of the raise he's going to get.