Purdue coach Drew Brees: 'I love LSU, except for Monday'
ORLANDO — Meet Drew Brees, Purdue assistant coach.
He talks like a coach, walks like a coach. No doubt, he looks good up on the dais sitting next to Purdue quarterback Austin Burton, talking about Purdue’s Citrus Bowl clash with LSU on Monday. The Boilermaker icon is used to being on center stage, the focal point of the media. Brees is a natural.
But, know this: The Boilermaker icon doesn’t want to be a coach.
“This is interim,” said Brees, prior to the Citrus Bowl game. “I’m just doing this because I love my university, and the opportunity to coach young men like Austin and our team, and just get this program through the bowl game.”
Brees says the idea for helping Purdue during this time of coaching change from Jeff Brohm to Ryan Walters was happenstance.
“The way this all came together is really kind of funny,” said Brees. “My family and I fly to Indianapolis to go watch the Big Ten Championship game, watch Purdue take on
Michigan …
“That’s when my conversations with Purdue began about just offering my assistance, to be able to come in and help as a coach in any capacity. At the end of the day, I love my university, I love my alma mater, and I wanted to provide whatever assistant they might need during this time … “
Burton finds himself as the starter after Aidan O’Connell opted out of the Citrus Bowl to prep for a pro career. Not only does Burton get just the second start in his three-year Purdue career, but he has gotten to work with Brees.
“I don’t think it took much research to know who Drew Brees was but I think as a room, excited would be an understatement, you know what I mean, to have a Hall of Famer come in your room and to be able to learn so much,” said Burton.
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This tilt vs. LSU puts Brees in an odd spot. He’s an icon in the state of Louisiana and headed for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after starring with the New Orleans Saints. And, most Saints fans double as LSU fans. So …
“It’s funny, being a Saints fan is like being a Tiger fan, right; they are one and the same,” said Brees. “You know, growing up in Louisiana or having 15 years in Louisiana and having our kids born there, having our kids raised there, obviously we were Tiger fans, as well. Still are. I love LSU, except for Monday.”
• Projecting Purdue’s defensive depth chart for Citrus Bowl
• Projecting Purdue’s offensive depth chart for Citrus Bowl
Brees arrived in West Lafayette on December 18th and spent three practices with the team before the squad broke for Christmas. He reunited with the club in Orlando.
“Obviously there was a great system in place with the Purdue offense, and that is still continuing to be executed. I think I’ve had great collaboration with (interim head coach) Brian Brohm, who is our interim head coach and also the guy who is going to be calling the plays,” said Brees.
“For me, a lot of the last two weeks have been getting up to speed with the things that, I would say, kind of the core principles of the offense and the things that our quarterback likes to do and is very good at and then, you know, finding places where I can offer up ideas or maybe little nuances and additions or thoughts that might be implemented, as well. I think the combination of those things is what we might see on Monday.”
