Purdue's moment arrives, not only against Penn State but for 2022 season
WEST LAFAYETTE – Since the thrilling overtime victory in the Music City Bowl over Tennessee last December, giving Purdue a rare nine-win season, momentum for what’s next has been brewing.
Aidan O’Connell returning to improve on last season's success. The addition of transfers who are bound to make an impact. A veteran defense with several key pieces back for another run. Even special teams have enough experience to create a layer of excitement.
Day after day, practice after practice and film session after film session brings us to Thursday night’s opener before a near-capacity crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium and a national television audience.
The wait has been long but the journey to reach this moment has finally arrived.
“I remember when the clock (in the weight room) said 256 days and we thought it would never come,” defensive tackle Branson Deen said. “It’s here and I can’t wait.”
Yes, it’s here but are the Boilermakers ready for this moment?
Can they take advantage of their experience, lean on newcomers from the transfer portal, remain a force on defense, benefit from a friendly schedule and piece together a special season, which is designed to end with a Big Ten West title and maybe more?
Most Purdue fans are uneasy about high expectations – regardless of the sport - since it’s not the norm. Jeff Brohm’s program has thrived in the underdog role but this year the Boilermakers have plenty of support from outside West Lafayette to become the “now” team in the Big Ten, even with their star power from last year in the NFL.
But Brohm rarely speaks about the big picture, instead keeping the focus on the immediate future and that’s Thursday with a fan base dressed in black and ready to roar.
“There’s nothing better than a night game at Ross-Ade,” veteran tight end Payne Durham said. “Our fans, our student section they’ll bring the energy. It’s going to be awesome.”
Despite the bandwagon filling up with supporters from across the league and the nation, the Boilermakers still have plenty to prove. They have a lot to replace and will have to overcome adversity to demonstrate they belong.
“We can’t read our own headlines. That’s the last thing we should do,” Durham said. “We made a name for ourselves being the underdog, playing with a chip on our shoulder and that’s how we got the buzz around us last season.”
Generating a new season of buzz starts against Penn State.
Although the Nittany Lions aren’t ranked and not the favorite to win the Big Ten East, it remains one of the Big Ten’s elite programs, one Purdue has struggled to beat – and compete with – since joining the league.
The last four meetings have been blowouts, including Penn State establishing a Ross-Ade Stadium record for points scored by an opponent with 62 in 2016. In the last matchup in 2019, the Nittany Lions sacked quarterback Jack Plummer 10 times and Purdue couldn’t gain any traction – or yards – in suffering a brutal defeat.
Regardless of Penn State’s winning streak in the series – it’s nine for those keeping score at home – and the Boilermakers’ last victory coming 18 years ago, this year’s opener is about setting the tone for the 2022 season.
A loss doesn’t derail Purdue from its mission, but a win amplifies the potential for this season.
“We always take it one game at a time, but this is a big first game,” co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. “If things go the right way on our side, it’s a lot more momentum building up throughout the season.
“You would see a lot of excitement and people excited to see the rest of the way, but if you come out with a victory against a high-caliber opponent that can start the momentum in the right way.”
And this season is also about the Boilermakers trying to carve out their own place in program history, becoming a team that's remembered forever.
“When you’re around campus, people still talk about the Drew Brees teams, the Rose Bowl team,” Durham said. “Our goal this year – and even last year – was to be a team people remember and etch our names in that Purdue history book since it’s a place of rich history and tradition.”
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
Penn State at Purdue
Thursday: 8 p.m.
TV: FOX
Radio: WAZY (96.5)
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football: Jeff Brohm ready for Penn State and 2022 season
