SEATTLE — Fuzzy feelings aside, it was a moment Chris Petersen would have rather avoided.



His Washington Huskies had lost 16-13 in their 2015 season opener at Boise State, but the home crowd was anything but hostile as Petersen departed. The coach and fans had history, of course: Petersen was 92-12 at Boise State from 2006 to 2013 before taking the UW job, and this reunion came only one season later, meaning he had just coached against numerous players he had recruited and led at BSU.



Petersen made the rounds on Albertsons Stadium’s blue turf afterward, hugging and shaking hands with so many familiar faces, before he headed up the tunnel toward the visitors locker room. A healthy crowd of Broncos supporters remained in their seats nearby, showering Petersen with a respectful ovation, some even reaching out for high-fives, which the coach obliged before disappearing into the stadium’s bowels.



Cordial as that was, Petersen had described the...