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38 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED the meetings and kind of whisper to him, 'Hey, let's stay after so you can explain to me what you were just talking about because it went totally over my head.'" But it's not just the linemen who have benefitted from Kugler's willingness to teach. He's worked extensively with Purdue's quarter- backs, too, and considering he's snapped the ball to two first-year starters who were underclassmen, there have been some serious study sessions. In 2013, his first year as a starting center, Kugler was paired in the second half of the year with true freshman Danny Etling, who praised Kugler for not only putting in time on film but, simply, teaching him about defenses, protections and responsibilities. Kugler often works with returning starting QB Austin Appleby, too. Appleby's a film nut and also a junior now, so lately it's been more of a back-and-forth discussion, but it's a crucial collab- oration. "We sit there in the film room and he's asking me questions trying to see the DBs moving and seeing how he can get a tip on the blitz, and I'm asking him about stuff about the fronts and tips we can get. We have a great working relationship with each other, a great friendship and a great trust," Appleby said. "It's real- ly cool when we're out there in the game and things are clicking. He's got the offensive line working, and I've got everything else going. It's almost like having another quarter- back out there." Maybe more than Appleby even realizes. Since moving into the center spot, Kugler has taken control swiftly, firmly and totally. Usually, the huddle is the quar- terback's space, his time to calm teammates down, or fire them up and assure them that play, that drive will finish in a score. But before the quarterback even reaches the huddle, Kugler is doing work. Tom Campbell Kugler's passion for the game is unbridled. Growing up a coach's kid, some play- ers could have gotten burned out on the sport. Not Kugler. "I think maybe I'm still in that lala land where I still love it for what it is."