Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/339722
30 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f ate some difficult fits." Gold and Black: Sinz said there needs to be a way for all three of them to be the field at the same time. I think he was joking. Shoop: "He's not joking. These guys are lobbying. I respect it. Hey, if you've got a good idea, bring it to me. Just don't bring it to me on Sunday. Bring it to me be- fore the game. That's what I like about our guys. If a guy like Sinz, he's been studying film hard enough, if he's got an idea, there's no coach that rolls their eyes or anything like that. It's, 'Hmm, Sinz thought that? So he thinks he can get around that guy?' It makes sense. "We're at that place. Last year, we weren't at that place. I listen to guys like Dan Etling and Austin Apple- by, guys like Sinzy and (Robert Kugler). Kugs will tell me if he can reach a guy or needs a down block, things like that. I value that. I want to emphasize that's some- thing we're really intentional about coaching. We try to teach guys football. We don't try to teach them plays. We try to teach them football. "What I really liked this spring was even a few times I'd get frustrated and I wasn't always in the box, and Kugs would just come to the sideline or in practice and be able to say, 'Coach, we've got it. We just missed the 3-technique. Call it again.' Or the tight ends would be able to say, 'The guy was wider than I thought it was. Can we go in- side instead of outside?' They knew what to look for. They knew what the companion play was for it, and they gave us good information. Those are things that we practice. It's not an accident. The guys who are going to come out of this program, I'll promise you this, they spend time with this staff, they're going to know football. They're going to know the game and respect the game." Gold and Black: That's something you've talked about with your quarter- backs especially is you want to empower them to really take ownership of the offense. Etling said he'll scribble down a play and bring it to you and you'll listen and then may- be say, 'Let's see if it'd work against this defense.' It seems like that would have the guys buying in especially because you are receptive to it. Shoop: "If somebody gives you good information, it's good information, no matter where it comes from. I think our guys are really training themselves, every- body, our staff and our players, are training to see the game similarly. Sinzy's got an idea? I'm for listening to it." Gold and Black: How do you utilize speed like you have with Mostert, Hunt, Knauf and Danny An- throp? It could be an advantage. Shoop: "Well, we have to get B.J. back on the field. I think he's having a good summer (coming off surgery), but we have to see how he is. He and I have talked ex- tensively. Endurance and durability are maybe the most underrated qualities in a football player. You can sit there and tell me how fast you are, but if you're only available three weeks … So he's taking care of that. I think he's really working hard on his body, his mind and his spirit. Tom Campbell Shoop sees junior Danny Anthrop as a player teammates can look to as an example of how to do things right, in terms of work ethic and being accountable.