Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/766803
GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 3 10 5 Baseball resurgence: It's a new era for the Boilermakers, with first-year coach Mark Wasikow- ski taking over a program that has fallen on hard times since its 2012 Big Ten championship. A rebuild won't happen in one year, but maybe the Boilermakers can start the climb. 4 Culture change: When Mike Bobinski took over as the new athletic director, he wanted to integrate his vision for the program. Early signs look pretty good, with a football hire that has been widely praised as a good fit for Purdue. But he's working to change attitudes as well, trying to get a fan base to rejoin the Boilermak- ers, even if it is a work in progress. 3 Dreaming of a Final Four? Dave Shondell would never go so far as to predict such an NCAA run, but we can hope for it. The Boilermakers have been ousted in the second round the last two NCAA Tournaments, but they come back next year with an experienced and widely talented group. Maybe it's the year. 2 Fans come back: It'd be nice to see Ross-Ade Stadium full again on Saturdays and rocking like it was in the early 2000s. Exciting football, which Jeff Brohm's teams are known for, will help, but winning would more so. And that might take more than a year to get going again. 1 Sweet sensation: The last few basketball seasons have been void of March excitement, and that needs to change this season, if for the mental health of Boilermaker fans above all. A nice run to the Sweet 16, or maybe beyond, would be a great start to spring. — Kyle Charters T O P Wishes For 2017 Photos by Tom Campbell (Bobinski, Kramer, flag-bearer); Purdue Athletics (volleyball, baseball) Targeting Recruiting Jeff Brohm said he is going to target prospects within three hours of Pur- due's campus in addition to recruiting the south. Here's an indication of how the Boilermaker football program had moved away from that, especial- ly under Danny Hope and Darrell Hazell. Hazell Hope Tiller * 0–3 hrs 20% 16% 34% 4–8 hrs 16% 10% 12% 9–16 hrs 43% 52% 43% 16+ hrs 21% 11% 11% * 2002–07 only Boiler Index