Purdue center Gus Hartwig leads bald brigade: 'I was just going to have fun with it'
WEST LAFAYETTE – When Payne Durham attended Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis last month, Purdue’s standout tight end had a full head of hair.
He was also wearing a new suit, looking dapper while answering questions and taking pictures with his teammates throughout Lucas Oil Stadium.
Less than a week later, Durham was nearly bald. What gives? He wasn’t the only Boilermaker to start preseason practices with a shaved head.
“I was persuaded by a few friends,” Durham admitted.
Those friends – in no particular order – were center Gus Hartwig, left tackle Eric Miller and fellow offensive lineman Jared Bycznski. In fact, Hartwig started the trend since he wanted to see how his full beard would look combined with his shaved head.
“Yeah, I was the first one to do it,” Hartwig said. “And then a couple of guys did it. I was just going to have fun with it. I thought it looked good with the beard.”
After two weeks, there’s no need for the group to buy hair restoration products since growth is slowly returning for those who took the plunge. It’s unlikely any of the players will visit a barber or a hairstylist in the near future.
“My plan is to let it grow all season,” Miller said. “Not sure if there'll be many haircuts between now and the end of the year. We'll go the complete opposite direction.”
At least one member of Durham’s family – his mother, as expected – wasn’t thrilled with the new look, which was created in his backyard with the help of his teammates.
“My dad is bald, so he was OK with it,” the Georgia native said. “My mom was not a fan. She was pretty upset about it.”
Durham’s position coach, Ryan Wallace, prefers the curly hair look for the John Mackey Award Watch List nominee instead of the bald look.
“The widow's peak, he's got a lot going on up there for me,” Wallace said. “So hopefully, it comes back. He's a little worried it's not going to grow back.”
As long as Durham is catching passes from Aidan O’Connell and playing a big role in the offense, the length of his hair won’t matter.
But not everyone wanted to join in the fun. Reserve tight end Paul Piferi?
“I was growing it out since spring,” he said. “I was really debating on it, but I didn’t want to cut it. It’s an emotional attachment, I guess.”
How about offensive lineman Spencer Holstege? Not a chance.
“I just can't. I don't like the look of it. I can’t do it,” he said.
And projected starting right guard Marcus Mbow?
“My hair isn’t coming off,” Mbow said “They’re all asking me; nope, not doing it.”
The next trend might be mustaches.
O’Connell started it when histhen-fiancé, Jael Johnson allowed the sixth-year quarterback to keep his mustache for the couple’s wedding last month. Others have jumped on board.
“Following in the leader’s footsteps,” Miller said. “We're trying to have a unified front on the mustache.”
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Gus Hartwig of Purdue football leads bald brigade ahead of 2022 season
