I think it’s safe to say that this year come down to two things:

Expectations and youth

Which are both god

Going into year three Coach Jeff Brohm has already surpassed any hopes and dreams I, or any rational Boilermaker fan, had when he took over the Purdue Football program. When Athletic Director Bobinski hired Coach Brohm my initial hope was each year we would get better and by his third year we would be competing for a bowl bid.

Boy was I wrong. Almost overnight he changed the culture on and off the field at Ross-Ade Stadium. The coaches that he brought with him, the graduate transfers he landed, along with the roster he inherited he has has been able to guide the Boilers to two consecutive bowl games. Even after a slow start last season that saw the Boilers drop to 0-3 after a back and forth game with Missouri at Ross-Ade . But what came next I think exemplifies the impact this coach has had on this program. They turned it around. They resurrected the season, added a signature win, and the College Football world began to see the grit and talent, Rondale Moore particularly, that now have catapulted Purdue into a legitimate contender for the B1G West Division in a very short time. Now that they have peoples attention what will they do starting tomorrow in the mountains as they tray and wrangle the Wolf Pack?

There are a lot of questions on both sides of the ball going into 2019. Can the offense under the Brohm Brothers direction keep finding ways to move the ball, put up points, and keep defensive coordinators guessing? Will the third time be a charm for Elijah Sindelar? Will he stay healthy and guide this team for an entire season? Can the linemen continue to give Coach Brohm time in the pocket? Is there another skill player that can take the eyes of the defenders off of #4?

The defense is loaded with questions as well. Most notably who will step in for NFL draft pick Ja’Whaun Bentley. Can this defense rally around returning starters Markus Bailey and Navon Mosley to take all the necessary steps to stop the opposing offenses week in and week out? Will Cornell Jones play at a consistently high level? When will Lorenzo Neal be back? Can Coach Holt’s defense continue to take the ball away, make stops on third down, and give the ball back to the offense?

Will names like David Bell, George Karlafitis, and Brycen Hopkins begin to be heard on Saturday’s in West Lafayette? If so look for another exciting year of B1G football right here in Indiana. If not, lets hope Coach Brohm and Coach Holt can continue to develop great game plans, motivate the players, and continue to develop the culture of Purdue Football.

I’m not in the business of making predictions of wins and loses or looking past the next opponent. I hope these Boilers share that mind set and they are focused on what needs to happen each and every week. That might be the most important of any keys to success for this years team. If they can do that beginning tomorrow night in Nevada they should be in contention to play at Lucas Oil Stadium the first Saturday in December.

Somethings tells me as long as Jeff Brohm is at the helm of Purdue Football they will remain focused and motivated.

Good luck to the Boilermakers as the 2019 season prepares to get underway.

Thanks for reading.

Ken