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Not all bad Though Purdue's season largely was tough, there were some bright spots. We take a closer look at a couple. R Cody Webster wanted to make it clear after his stellar senior season: Just because a team struggles, it doesn't automatically mean a punter will have a good season. He'd heard a lot of talk about he had a significant number of opportunities because Purdue's offense struggled. But a bad team does not make a good punter, he said. And, actually, Webster had as many punts in 2013 as he had in 2012 when Purdue finished 6-7 and with a bowl trip. "It's been really good," Webster said of his season after the team's postseason Tom Campbell Cody Webster may have been the biggest bright spot of Purdue's season. banquet in December. "From my freshman year to my senior year, I only went The punter was a finalist for the nation's top award for his position, the up in things. I kind of increased and got Ray Guy Award, and was the Big Ten's Punter-of-the-Year after averaging 43.5 yards per punt and landing 24 of his 70 inside the 20. better each year. I think that's really good. The scary thing for opposing teams is I don't think I've peaked yet. I'm still getting better." R With a non-conference schedule that doesn't Webster had the second-best average in school his- have any marquee games over the next couple of seatory (43.5) in 2013, but that wasn't his only impres- sons — at least how the schedule stood as of mid-Desive statistic. Of his 70 punts, 24 were inside the 20, cember — perhaps Purdue's night game against 17 went 50-plus yards and he had only one touchback. Notre Dame in 2013 will be the best atmosphere the Those numbers helped him earn a spot among Boilermakers will have for awhile. three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, given to the naThe game on Sept. 14 against the 21st-ranked Irish tion's best punter, and claim a coveted award, the Big was electric, a nearly packed Ross-Ade Stadium at Ten's Punter-of-the-Year. night with a nationally televised game on ABC. The "It wasn't really like exciting or anything. It was announced attendance was 61,127, the only time Purmore relieved that they finally got it right," Webster due had more than 60,000 in the house for a home said of the Big Ten honor, which he thought he should game all season. have won in 2012. "Sometimes I feel like they don't It also happened to be one of Purdue's best perfornecessarily look into punters as much as they should. mances of the season, though the Boilermakers lost I take it hard and feel a little disrespected sometimes 31-24. because I love to punt and that's what I love to do for R Perhaps that game would have been the best Purdue. You always like to get awarded for something time to unveil Darrell Hazell's new black helmets. you've done. To know people recognize you and to see The gear was a much-needed upgrade to a program that you've been doing well, it's been fun. I enjoyed that has generally stayed close to its tradition, even it." while others in the country have donned countless 20 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3 f