Well, it's the off season now, at least for those of us whose teams are not playing for a conference championship or bowl game this year.
I'm going to muse a little bit about Purdue's season and where the program is headed, but let's get this out of the way first:
WE WON THE BUCKET BABY, STAYING WHERE IT BELONGS! BOILER UP, IU SUCKS, ETC.!
And you know what? We may have finished 4-8. We may not be going to a bowl game. We may be losing an easier division placement while the Big Ten adds 4 historically superior programs. Yet in spite of all that... I feel good.
This was always going to be a tough year for Purdue. Jeff Brohm leaving for Louisville, along with his staff, and a chunk of recruits, was always going to leave the program depleted. We were at times in contention for the worst team in the Big Ten this year. But, as someone who went to the home games and watched most every game, I still saw promise, I still saw fight, I feel in most games, we had our chances. And I see a lot that looks good for next year.
Hudson Card should be back next year, and he seems like a great leader, who toughed out a rib injury to play this last game. He's mobile, has good accuracy, and generally makes good decisions, and I think another year in the program could do him a lot of good. When he was out last week, Freshman Quarterback Ryan Browne looked pretty decent as well, and I look forward to seeing his development.
We've had a lot of Freshman step up and do great things this year, none more so that Dillon Theineman, who emerged as our best defensive player of the year. The future looks bright for this kid, he pulled down 6 interceptions this year, 2 of which in the last game that were crucial. And with our best tight end Garret Miller injured, 2 Freshman stepped up into the role, and went on to both catch touchdown passes. We also have one of our best ranked recruiting classes coming in next year, and with the staff's success in recruiting and the portal last year, I'm expecting some transfers in, making Purdue a more formidable team going forward that better matches Coach Walters style.
Speaking of, I'm especially glad we sealed this win for Ryan Walters. Ending a season 4-8 with a win against your program rival is a hell of a lot better than finishing 3-9 with an ending loss to your rival, and I really can't undersell how big of a world of difference those scenarios are. People were already skeptical of the hire after the sustained success under Jeff Brohm, but a loss would have brought out the knives, and instead it looks like we're heading into the off season with some momentum on our side.
Anyway, rest in peace, Big Ten West, you were too beautiful for this world. Same to you, PAC after dark. Boiler Up, Famiboards! The off season looks bright, and hey, the basketball team is proving pretty entertaining to watch as well.