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40 years and nearly qualified for a BCS game in only two seasons. Freeman wouldn't say the book is the reason behind the success at Ohio State and Kent State, but he did say he thinks the book "absolutely" had something to do with it. "A lot of people think being a football player is all Xs and Os. We preach the best football teams are unselfish football teams, teams that are families," Freeman said. "We're going to give you Xs and Os, but there's other parts that make you a better football team. To me, that's what this book is for: To help you realize that being a great football player and a great football team and a great person is not just Xs and Os. That's what people on the outside don't know yet. This book helps you become a better football team by giving more than just Xs and Os." Offensive coordinator John Shoop hasn't had a season with the book, but he couldn't put it down when Hazell gave him a copy and believes in its power. "It's not a football manual, but it is. Everything is connected," Shoop said. "That (Hazell) sees that makes him an uncommon head coach. There's a direct correlation between the integrity of the men on your team and how many wins you can put on the board. Sometimes that correlation may have more to do than talent in some ways." The book, perhaps more than anything, shows what Hazell values and his approach to leading a program to resurgence. And that's the task at Purdue. Though the Boilermakers have played in two bowl games the last two seasons, they've had to win the final regular-season game to qualify at just 6-6. They haven't won seven games in a regular season since 2007. They haven't finished better than third in the Big Ten since 2003. They haven't been ranked in the AP poll since 2007. They aren't expected to pile up victories, snap into the upper half of the league or shoot into the rankings in 2013, either, based on prognosticators' predictions. "I guess we've gotten that rep that we're going to be a mediocre team, but that's GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com not what we think of ourselves," Kugler said. "That's not where we want to be. That's one of our big things this year — we're a team that can compete in the Big Ten and that's what we want to prove this year." The Boilermakers already have been fueled by the passion and energy of the new staff, proclaiming they've never worked harder in offseason conditioning because this staff is demanding it. They say they've never been closer as a group, sparked by Hazell's emphasis on team bonding and exercises, like a game night, to foster it. They say they don't care if their four non-conference opponents were a combined 41-10 last season. Or that the group includes Notre Dame and Northern Illinois that return key pieces from teams that played in BCS games. "There are a lot of great opportunities week-in and week-out for us to show how hard we've worked," Henry said. "They're there to really solidify our opinions and show people the things we said and the expectations that have been placed on us, (that) they are actual real. We have the talent. It's not just us saying we have the talent. But we actually do have it. We're all really excited." They say they don't care that there's an overriding lack Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 7