One year later the world hasn't ended; a look back at Petersen going purple

When I was younger, I had a favorite blanket. It was my constant companion while at home and I thought about it often while I was away. 

I had separation anxiety from my "blankie."

One day I came home from school to find blankie was missing. The devastation was severe. It was ugly. I had a crisis on my hands. I interrogated the only suspect, my mother, and she cracked. 

Blankie was gone forever, never to return. My mom had thrown the ratty thing away, and I immediately knew life was over. Permanently altered. 

Why go on? What is life without your favorite blue blanket? Oh how I longed for it. 

As time passed, I replaced the hole in my heart left by blankie with other things; sports, video games, girls, etc. Before I knew it, the blanket never crossed my mind, even accidentally.

I was over it. I had finally let go. The wounds were healed, and, you know what? My life was pretty darn good. 

As a longtime Boise State fan, Chris Petersen was my college football blankie. Strange comparison, I know, but think about it. How did you feel when he left for the purpler grass at Washington?

Like crap. I know I did. 

When Ian Johnson scored the 2-point conversion against Oklahoma in the first Fiesta Bowl and Petersen did his double fist pump celebration, the man immediately became my idol. When he left, that role model was ripped from me just like my mother removed blankie from my life.

I went through the stages of grief. That night when Huskie Athletic Director Scott Woodward flew to Boise and the news leaked that Petersen was leaving, I was in denial. No way. That guy loves Boise. He IS Bronco football. 

What were we going to do without Petersen? Life was over. We were screwed. It sucked. We were never going to win again. Rip up the blue turf and sell it to some high school in Alaska. 

But, time passed, as it always does, and the wounds began to heal. The Petersen-shaped hole in my heart was partially filled by Bryan Harsin's energetic, BAMFy attitude and confidence. 

When August rolled around and Boise State faced off against Ole Miss in Atlanta, I saw a team with energy, fight and desire. 

I saw Boise State was still Boise State, Petersen or not. The loss to Air Force had me worrying, but what transpired after that has me as giddy as a 13-year-old girl at a Justin Bieber concert. 

One year later, Petersen is no longer a concern. I wrote a piece saying I was rooting for Petersen to fail at Washington a couple of months ago, but even those feelings are now watered down. In fact, I find myself cheering for him. I discovered I still have a deep, deep respect for him and his work. 

Now he just needs to beat Oregon and we'll be even. 

Life goes on. It's actually pretty sweet. Life after Petersen hasn't been all candy canes, puppies, rainbows and gumdrops, but it's been far from the Broncopocalypse we all expected it to be.

I bleed blue. Always have and always will. So carry on, fellow Bronco fans. Who we are wasn't forged by just one man, one season or one win. We are a conglomeration of everything we've been through and experienced, including the departure of a beloved coach and role model. 

Enjoy what's left of this season. I sure will. At least we aren't on flight watch and coach Defcon alert this time around. 

Go Broncos!