GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 9
NEW DAY IN NEW YEAR
A
nd the calendar turns to 2016. With that proverbial flip-
ping of the page, there is an element of optimism as we
look to the new year.
And on the Purdue athletic front, there should be that same
vibe. We have witnessed the potential of Coach Matt Painter's
men's basketball team. Despite a disappointing loss at the
Crossroads Classic to Butler, this team has plenty of high-end
work ethic and potential. This issue's cover image of Caleb
Swanigan is intended to, in part, signify that. Make no mistake
that Swanigan is far from a finished product, and anyone who
watches Boilermaker hoops knows that he is one piece, albeit
a very important one, to a team with many pieces. The exciting
thing for fans should be that Swanigan and his teammates have
yet to reach the ceiling of what they can be. Whether the Boiler-
makers reach their potential in the upcoming 90 days or so will
be the top story to follow in the Purdue sports scene this winter.
Mackey Arena has returned to a place with a buzz every time
you enter the building. That comes from having a budding star
like Swanigan to watch every night, but it also is a by-product of
wanting, if not needing, to be there in person to witness a team
that can rake an opponent over the coals in so many different
ways. Yes, we haven't seen a player with the body and skill-set
quite like Swanigan in Mackey Arena before, but we also hav-
en't had many, if any, like Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons as well.
And depth, well, this is the deepest men's team
I have seen in my 50 years of watching Purdue
hoops.
By a long shot.
Potential is a dangerous thing if it goes un-
fulfilled. But the image on Pages 4 and 5 is an
indication that team members like one another. That alone can
help the Boilermakers be a cohesive unit that reaches their ceil-
ing instead of hitting the floor.
Everyone around the Boilermaker program also has to hope
football reaches its potential sooner than later. I commend
the strategic move to get the shovel in the ground on the new
football facility. It shows the vision necessary to get the sport
headed in the right direction. The potential of the entire project
shows that big things are possible for Boilermaker football. I
would argue it really says that big things are expected for the
program. Raising the level of expectation is a must if Coach
Darrell Hazell or anyone else is going to help make Boilermaker
football relevant again.
And for you optimists out there in Boilermakerland, that can
happen. We have seen it happen before and we will see it hap-
pen again.
It is only a matter of time, like turning pages on the calendar.
From Publisher Alan Karpick
This winter through the Final Four on your
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