Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/842937
GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 6 15 to be solidified, said the moves led to players looking over their shoul- ders, knowing if they don't do something ex- tra — not only what they're asked to do — the next guy could be moving in. It's part of cultivating a culture of competition, and it's been missing, for one, from the offensive line room of late, Barron said. The prospective captain likes to hear true freshman Viktor Beach talking about playing in Year 1 — even if Beach said his mindset this summer was to view his competition as the "enemy." At least during workouts and in practices when they're in direct competition. On Saturdays, after the decision on playing time has been made, it's about shifting into acceptance and full-on sup- porting-teammates mode. "I think if you don't have that mentality of, 'Hey, I'm going to beat this person,' even though he's a solidified guy, don't show up," Barron said. "You need to be a real competitive guy. "It's time to wake up. If you haven't been doing the right thing at the right time, you're out of here. I'm very happy that's how it's been. It's hard to lead a group of guys when someone doesn't want to be here or someone just wants to be a football player because of some kind of status it brings. It doesn't. You're here for a reason." That type of environment means there's no sense of comfort for any position — whether Brohm reloaded there or not. "The one thing I like about this coaching staff is they're not chasing ghosts," receiver Greg Phillips said. "They don't care who you were prior to this year. They care about this year. They care about the main objective. You can see that." Not that players should have a sense of entitlement in a program that's not only struggled to win but, largely, failed to compete. In Purdue's 39 losses the last four seasons, the average margin of defeat was 20.2 points. In 21 home losses, it was even more lopsided: 23.4 points. That says plenty, but breaking it down even further: Of those 39 losses, only eight were by one score (seven points or fewer). And the nine victories weren't exactly overwhelming either: Four against FCS opponents (two against Indiana State), one against Nevada, one against previously winless (over multiple seasons) Western Michigan, two against struggling Illinois, and, finally, arguably the "best" victory, a 10-point one at home against Nebraska, in a game in which the Cornhuskers played with a backup quarterback (and still scored 45 points). "I like to kind of hold grudges a little bit," Barron said, "and it's just something where you try not to think about it, but at the end of the day, we haven't produced on the field since I've been here. That's something that really honks me off. So it's time to get going." Not surprisingly, then, Purdue players seem to have embraced Brohm's approach. There's little filter with him or the rest of the coaching staff, and the strength staff is similarly brutally honest, especially director of strength Nov. 11 at Northwestern 2016 record: 7-6 Series: Purdue, 50-30-1 TBA, TBA Nov. 18 at Iowa 2016 record: 8-5 Series: Purdue, 46-38-3 TBA, TBA Nov. 25 vs. Indiana 2016 record: 6-7 Series: Purdue, 72-41-6 TBA, TBA Sept. 2 vs. Louisville (Lucas Oil Stadium) 2016 record: 9-4 Series: Tied, 0-0-1 7:30 p.m., FOX Sept. 8 vs. Ohio 2016 record: 8-6 Series: Purdue, 7-0 8 p.m., FS1 Sept. 16 at Missouri 2016 record: 4-8 Series: Purdue, 6-2 TBA, TBA Sept. 23 vs. Michigan 2016 record: 10-3 Series: Michigan, 44-14 3:30 or 4 p.m., TBA Oct. 7 vs. Minnesota 2016 record: 9-4 Series: Minnesota, 37-32-3 TBA, TBA Oct. 14 at Wisconsin 2016 record: 11-3 Series: Wisconsin, 47-29-8 TBA, TBA Oct. 21 at Rutgers 2016 record: 2-10 Series: First meeting TBA, TBA Oct. 28 vs. Nebraska 2016 record: 9-4 Series: Nebraska, 3-2 TBA, TBA Nov. 4 vs. Illinois 2016 record: 3-9 Series: Illinois, 44-42-46 TBA, TBA 2017 Football Schedule