Petersen happily blends in while building up Washington

SEATTLE (AP) — This city is home to grunge rock gods, tech billionaires and a ubiquitous retail giant.

Downtown, a King holds court in the summer and a recent Super Bowl champion dominates sports-talk radio in the fall.

For Washington's Chris Petersen, college football's most unassuming star coach, Seattle is the perfect place to build a powerhouse program on a foundation of well-ordered priorities.

While Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh and Dabo Swinney could stop traffic in their towns, Petersen can spend a day at the mall or a night out with his wife without drawing so much as a "Good luck, coach" here.

If the sixth-ranked Huskies (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) keep playing as they have this season, Petersen might reach the celebrity status in Seattle currently held by Mariners Cy Young Award winner "King" Felix Hernandez, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, or Wilson's coach, Pete Carroll — whether he likes it or not.

Washington is two victories away from its first Pac-12 championship since 2000 and maybe a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Petersen, 52, has a runner's wiry frame, a just-right wave in his salt-and-pepper hair that would make an anchorman jealous and an "aw-shucks" demeanor.

The son of a high school and junior college football coach from Northern California, Petersen did not want to follow in his father Ron's footsteps growing up in Yuba City.

Petersen worked his way up the career ladder carefully and somewhat reluctantly to become head coach at Boise State.

Petersen helped turn the Broncos into the standard by which all college football overachievers are judged.

Boise State went 92-12 in eight seasons under Petersen, winning two Fiesta Bowls and frequently forcing itself into the national championship discussion.

"There's a saying he says that I like," senior offensive tackle Jake Eldrenkamp said.

"How 'bout those Seahawks? I'm taking all questions about 'em," Petersen began his fir