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VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1 11 Which Is More Important To Purdue's Offensive Success: Quarterback or Offensive Line? Stacy Clardie Call them nasty. Call them warriors. Call them anchors. From the first offensive snap against Marshall, Purdue's offensive line intends to embody those characteristics. It's what is demanded daily by Coach Jim Bridge, what's relayed by bellowing and in deed by fifth-year senior captain Robert Kugler and what's similarly represented by diverse starters Cameron Cermin, David Hedelin, Jason King and Jordan Roos. If the unit is as physical and relentless to the whistle in run- blocking as is its ceiling, even the inexperienced backfield will have no worries, only holes to slip through. If the unit is as swift-footed and strong-armed in pass protection as its expectation, whoever stands behind center will have no fear, only ample time to connect with a bevy of potential weapons, downfield and otherwise. Purdue goes as its big fellas go. They know the offense's success is on their broader-than-in- the-past shoulders, and they wouldn't want it any other way. Kyle Charters It's no secret at Purdue: The quarterback drives the engine. And this season will be no different. For the Boilermakers to have success, Austin Appleby — and we're going to presume it'll be Appleby all season — has to be a net positive. The Boilermakers aren't good enough, across the board position to position, to overcome weakness from the most critical position on the field. That doesn't mean Appleby has to be perfect, that's unreasonable. But it means that he has to operate the Boilermakers' offense efficiently, limit his turnovers and find ways to get Purdue into the end zone. To do so, he has to take the opportunities that are presented to him. If a receiver gets open down the field, hit him on the numbers. Those chances happen rarely in a game, so capitalizing on them can be the difference between a win and a loss. Goals scored by the soccer team in its first two regular-season games, four more than the Boilermakers had in their 10 games to end last season, when they finished 0-9-1. Pounds of lean muscle mass the Boil- ermakers put on during their offseason program, from January until the start of training camp in August, per Coach Darrell Hazell. Increase in student ticket sales from 2014 (as of Aug. 20). The figures were helped by a reduction in cost to students and will help offset the 1,666 drop (to date) in season ticket sales to the general public. Former Boilermaker football players, including Drew Brees, at the "Top Gun Summit" in June to discuss the future of Purdue football. The former players were joined by football staff and administrators at the three-day event in San Diego. By The Numbers 7 420 2,527 11 Photos by Tom Campbell (soccer, weights, students); Susan Quinn (alums)