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Chris Petersen: I never thought of Mike Leach as rival but as a master of his craft

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/13/22•

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SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 29: Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach (L) and Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen (R) meet at midfield after the 112th Apple Cup between the Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It won’t be the Apple Cups he coached against Mike Leach that Chris Petersen will remember most. Instead, the former Washington head coach will remember Leach most by all the times shared off the field and as a true innovator of football.

In a message shared by the Washington Football twitter account — Petersen retired after the 2019 season, and Leach moved on from Washington State to coach Mississippi State — the former Huskies head coach offered a heartfelt message.

This one hurts! I will never forget Mike Leach,” Petersen wrote. “I always thought of him as a friend and the most interesting person I knew. I never thought of him as a rival, but as a master of his craft and a person who truly revolutionized the game. I loved seeing him away from the gridiron because I always left our encounters laughing, smiling and somewhat bewildered. I couldn’t wait to share the wild and crazy conversations I had with Mike, truly one of a kind. There is always one more Mike Leach story, but there will never be another like him.”

Petersen concluded the message simply.

“Love you, miss you brother and will see you on the other side,” he wrote.

Petersen wasn’t the only rival to offer laudatory words for Leach

Hired to lead SEC East rival squads in the same offseason, Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach brought character and hilarity to the state of Mississippi from the very beginning. Following the passing of the 61-year-old Mississippi State head coach, Kiffin reacted to Leach’s death with a powerful message on Tuesday.

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“I truly loved Coach Leach and every minute I shared with him,” Kiffin said. “I have been able to work with several of his former players and coaches and they have told so many amazing stories about the impact he had on their lives.

“Going back to our years together in the Pac-12, I have always felt tremendous respect and admiration for coach, his unique personality and his innovative mind, and I can’t imagine college football without him. I’m grateful to be a part of his final win, hug him and watch him walk off like the winner that he is.

“I know God is welcoming the Pirate home now.”