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VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2 87 The inability to consistency string solid performances together plagued the team during the Hazell Era. Purdue never won back-to-back games, includ- ing this season, one that Hazell called a "roller coaster" on more than one oc- casion. Though Bobinski wasn't at Purdue for Hazell's first three seasons, he said he did speak with people about that time period, and the team's record spoke volumes. But it wasn't past per- formance that necessarily dictated this midseason move. "For me, it was watching the envi- ronment, watching the approach to how we handled ourselves, pre- and post-game," Bobinski said, "and ultimately my determination was we need- ed to do it a different way in order to allow ourselves the best chance for success." There's still a chance to see some "success" this season. At the time of the move, the Boilermakers were 3-3 with six games to play, and Bobinski said that's where his priorities would be directed, not on a search for the next coach. He moved receivers coach Gerad Parker to an interim head coach role the same day he announced Hazell's dismissal. When asked if he's hired a search firm to allow him an opportunity to not be distracted by the future during the season, Bobinski said he'd thought about it but hadn't done anything as of mid-October. But Bobinski does believe Purdue can provide a good opportunity for a new coach, saying he thinks the infrastructure will be in place soon and the com- mitment already is in place now to help build the pro- gram back up. "This is not just about changing one person out and saying, 'All is well.' It's about building an organi- zation that's capable of competing at a championship level. That's what we're ultimately going to try to do," Bobinski said. "But I think we will have all the pieces in place and we've got the commitment necessary to make that happen. I have great confidence we'll be able to present that to the right people and ultimately find the right person. … "All the attention that search deserves, it will get. There's nothing more important than having the right people. Building facilities are important, they're great, but if you don't have the right people, you don't get to where you need to go. That'll be an absolute first priority for me as we get past getting our team acclimated and situated here to move for- ward under Coach Parker's leadership." Players seemed to quickly respond to Parker's new role. The 35-year-old brings high energy, a bru- tally honest approach and has earned a reputation as a hard worker. Those traits have him respected throughout the locker room. It helps, too, Parker has had success as a position coach, first molding tight end Justin Sinz into a play- er who went to an NFL training camp and, in the last one-plus seasons, building receivers DeAngelo Yanc- ey, Domonique Young and Bilal Marshall into key contributors. "Coach Parker, without a doubt, is the best coach I've ever had. That's from Pee Wee all the way 'til now," fifth-year senior Marshall said. "I've never had somebody drive me more than him. I've never seen somebody drive themselves as a coach more than he has. We joke around all the time that he's like our dad, but he's not that old, so a lot of times we look at him as our older brother. … The way he pushes us and cares for us — he genuinely cares for us — it means so much. You can't even measure it." j