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the program would have won more games during his first four seasons, but, "I don't know what we would have done any different." One day later, Hope was fired. "I knew it was close," Hope told WLFI months later in the only interview he did post-firing. "We had a tough stretch there and didn't come through at a critical time of the season and, obviously, had lost the support of our athletic administration and fan base." Hope's Boilermakers had some signature moments: Winning at Michigan in 2009 for the first time since 1966, ending a 17-game losing streak in Ann Arbor; beating Ohio State in back-to-back home games in 2009 and 2011 for the only time in the program's history; that first victory against the Buckeyes snapping an 18game losing streak against ranked teams; and winning at Iowa last season for the first time in 20 years. But since 2007, the program's average paid attendance Whether Hazell can bring Purdue back to those heights is unknown, but he has proven he can take a fledging program and revive it. At Kent State, Hazell led a team that hadn't had a winning record in 22 of its previous 23 seasons before his arrival to an 11-win season Tom Campbell and a bowl berth in only Danny Hope was fired following the season, the second two years. straight in which he guided the Boilermakers to a 6-6 Hazell did it by estabregular-season record. lishing a base of integrity the past five seasons needed a and discipline with no new leader. gray area for his players that Burke's search turned flashy carried onto the field. He did for a moment, briefly courting it by instilling toughness and former Cincinnati coach Butch belief into his group. He did it Jones. But ultimately Burke went by hiring a staff of committed, with a lesser-known name, hir- good teachers of like-minded ing Kent State coach and Jim morals. Tressel protégé Darrell Hazell "I like the challenge of takand introducing him as Purdue's ing a school that's been in the 45th head football coach Dec. 5. middle for so long to the top. In Hazell, Burke thinks he's That's what drives me," Hazell found the perfect fit. No. 1 said of the Purdue job. But Burke didn't only say Finding its man Assembling a staff balanced A football program with it with the hire, he showed it with experienced coaches and only one above-.500 finish in with an increased financial up-and-coming talents could commitment to football of help push the program forward about $2 million per year. quickly. Upcoming Publishing Schedule "We know we needed to inHazell landed a former NFL Football Preview: (July/August issue); Mails June 28 vest," Burke said at the news con- coordinator in John Shoop to Fall Preview: (September/Oct. issue); Mails Aug. 20 ference in December. "We want run the offense and a hardExpress: Cincinnati preview; Posts Aug. 28 to go to Pasadena." nosed, aggressive-leaning coach dropped from about 54,000 to 37,000 in 2012, Burke said. And, ultimately, Hope lost 27 of his 49 games as Purdue's head coach. "As the season progressed, it became increasingly clear to me that we were probably going to have to make a change," Burke said. "You have to pay attention to the fan base. It's not the only driver, but you have to pay attention to that. We can't do what we need to do resource-wise losing a third of the fan base. "I don't care whether it's Purdue or Michigan or Penn State, you lose your fan base, this is a consumer-driven organization, we're self-supporting. Losing $3 million in revenue opportunities, it's a big deal. I quite frankly think Danny was making inroads, but we didn't win enough games." — Stacy Clardie to guide the defense in Greg Hudson among the group. He brought secondary coach Jon Heacock, running backs coach Jafar Williams and linebackers coach Marcus Freeman from Kent and also hired former NFL defensive tackle Rubin Carter (Dline), Jim Bridge (O-line), Gerad Parker (TE) and Kevin Sherman (WR). Early indications are that Hazell's hiring and the choices he's made since have sparked some interest in the program. About 5,100 new season tickets were sold, according to Purdue, and Hazell continues to pack his schedule with visits to groups in the community and nearby states to sell his team. "He knows and I know that you always get a honeymoon when you're a brand-new hire," Burke said recently. "We're not going to get caught up in people telling us how great things are right now, although we certainly can feel the love, which we haven't felt for awhile, which is a good thing." — Stacy Clardie GoldanDBlack express • volume 23, express 30 • 7