Smurf Turf, the infamous blue football field for the Boise State Broncos.  Folks either love it or hate it, but everyone seems to have an opinion.  The decision to change the color of the playing field from green to blue was not a whimsical thought by a salesman wanting to make a deal.  Instead, it was a well-thought-out, deliberate design inspiration by Boise State University Athletic Director, Gene Blaymeier, who wanted to provide the school with some recognition.  So in 1986, when it came time to replace the AstroTurf, the Bronco Stadium unveiled its new look to the world.  Some 24-years later, the Bronco's recognition isn't about the color of the turf but about the team on the it and the man who leads them.

Of course, the man who leads this once seemingly under-rated team is Coach Chris Peterson.  "Coach Pete" joined the Boise State Broncos in 2001 as the offensive coordinator and was promoted to head coach in 2005 when Dan Hawkins left for University of Colorado. Under Peterson, the Broncos have accumulated a remarkable 31-1 record in the WAC, including a league championship in 2006, 2008, and 2009, and a runner-up finish in 2007.

These kinds of stats are impressive but not half as impressive as the Coach himself.  Watching him on the field or in the news, one can see that he is quietly guided by personal humility, passion, and self-control.  In his book, The Character of Leadership: An Ancient Model for a Quantum Age, Phil Eastman called the combination of the three attributes "Temperance."  The word temperance isn't used in our 21^st century day-to-day conversation, but its 14^th century meaning, "moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression," certainly applies to Boise State's own Coach Pete.

Humility: Genuine humility is not timidity or self-effacing.  Simply put, humility is a blend of knowing where you've come from and still understanding how much more work there is left to do.  During the days and months that led up to both Fiesta Bowls in 2007 and 2010, national sportscasters and writers would continue to ask the Coach about the team's NCAA ranking and whether it was fair.  Coach Peterson's response was always forward-focused about the next game and the players and less about the ranking.  If they played well and won the next game, the ranking would take care of itself.

Passion: Peterson's excitement and love for the game are evident from his history, but his love for coaching seems to radiate from him.  Coach Pete's ability to develop players has created numerous All-Americans, as well as NFL draft picks.  His coaching goes deeper than their ability to succeed on the football field but also in their lives.  To his personal credit, Coach Peterson has won multiple "Coach of the Year" awards and recognitions among his peers throughout America's football coaching arena.

Self-control:  Of all the attributes of temperance, self-control is pinnacle!  When faced with both the accolades of an undefeated season or with a player's disciplinary issue, Coach Pete exemplifies self-control.  Remaining calm and dealing fairly in high-pressure situations have caused some critics to question his decisions, but one can get a sense that his decisions are well thought out and not just in the moment.

For me, the antithesis of self-control and Coach Peterson is Coach Bobby Knight, whose temper and regular rants became almost sideshow entertainment throughout his coaching career. I'm not here to argue whether Bobby Knight could produce good players and great results on the court, or to even debate his passion for the game; I am saying the leadership element Temperance was certainly not evident in Knight's character.

Whether or not you are a sports fan, one can still admire how Coach Pete has led this dynamic team of young men through his own character and leadership.  It would be easy for Peterson to take credit for the success (and many of us would let him), but that's not how he sees it.  He continues to turn the honors and rave reviews back to the coaches and team.