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ago, we called Coach Maurice) was like 'We heard (Kevin and Hope was get- ting fired. said 'No, he just his contract.' renewed Quarterback Danny Etling remains a Purdue commitment, but the coach- ing changes bring its strength into doubt. son says he is still committed to Purdue, but it might best be de- scribed as loose. "This is changing a lot, said. "The coaching staff was the whole reason I was going. It is a good school. I loved everything about it. It's one thing if it's an assistant coach change, but this is a head coach change. It could change everything. "I'm not sure yet what I'm go- " he idea that Hope might be done; his mom, he says, keeps up with the latest news. "She was talking about how the fans didn't want him there," he Like others, Thompson had an " said. "We brought it up before it even happened. I think two weeks GoldandBlack.com And he said he would call us if anything changed. was a (reporter)." R Lineman John Strauser says ing to do, but I've got a couple days to think about it. said. "But I also picked Purdue for a lot of different reasons: A big Ten education, the resources that Purdue has, all those things that Purdue offers were an even aspect to why I choose Purdue. "I liked a lot about him," he paign who has offers from Illinois, Northern Illinois and Pitt, says he'll be an interested observer to see who Morgan Burke and Co. hire. "The University made a choice to relieve him of his duties," Straus- Strauser, a native of Cham- " er said. "That's their call. You've just got to sit back and absorb some in- the first person I got a call from he remains committed to Purdue. But he says Hope was a big factor in his recruitment. But Coach ' He formation and then try not to over- react to anything. "Your heart kind of goes out to Coach Hope and his staff because they've put a lot of time into the season. And the players put a lot of time into the season. My thoughts go out to them because they've rallied these last three games. But at this point, we don't really have a choice as players or recruits. It's not our job to decide who the coach is. All we can do is play on Saturdays. R Indiana running back Da- " vid Yancey, who's set to enroll at Purdue next month, said the Hope news was "shocking. was going to stay because they won those three straight games and now they're bowl-eligible, "I really thought Coach Hope " Yancey said. "Right now, I'm still committed to Purdue. Before I committed, I went on a visit to Purdue and I liked the campus and everything about the academics. I didn't just commit because of the coaching staff or football. I com- mitted because they have great academics and it's close to home. "I'm still committed to Purdue of the fact he's not yet taken his of- ficial visit, meaning he'll get to use the weekend-long trip after a new " the news of Hope's firing, Texas wide receiver Myles Norwood re- sponded via text Monday night. "I picked Purdue for both its academics and the Big Ten expe- rience, staff is in place. R After taking a day to absorb "I really hope to still become a Boilermaker. My parents and I had several conversations with Coach Hope that made them feel com- fortable with me being so far away from Texas. And both Coach Hope and Coach (Patrick) Higgins played a big role in my initial decision to commit, so I have mixed emotions about the issue, but I know that's part of the business. "But if the coaching change " he wrote in a lengthy text. does NOT fit me or the new coach sees a different role for me and my future in college football, I will have to reevaluate my options and pos- sibly take additional official visits (which I hope to avoid that path). I spoke to Coach Maurice on Sunday night and he made me feel secure in my current decision, so for now I and I want to see what coach they bring in and what staff he brings in." Yancey does have the benefit was returning home from his of- ficial visit to Purdue when he was informed of the news. He wanted to take a couple days to absorb the news before responding. R Georgia linebacker Danny GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 13 • 30 Ezechukwu had a feeling that Hope would be let go at the end of the season. "One of my coaches told me it was on the verge of happening," from Iowa State and other non- BCS schools, says he's still with the Boilermakers. "Purdue still has my full com- mitment," he said. "But I'm going to have to see who I'm playing for and see if it's going to be a fit for me. I'm just wondering what will happen to me. That's about it. "Ultimately, whoever they don't know him." R Ohio defensive end re- cruit Jake Replogle has not yet weighed in on his status. R Running remain a Boilermaker. BUHD!!!" R Florida DB Austin Logan Green, a native of Georgia, hasn't yet spoken to media but has expressed via Twitter that he remains a Boilermaker commit- ment. He is scheduled to talk to a reporter Thursday evening. j back Keyante he said. "When I saw the Indiana game, my mind was eased a little bit because they won, but I guess that wasn't enough." Ezechukwu, who has an offer bring in, it will be his decision. Be- cause he doesn't know me and I