Walters fueled by skeptics
Ryan Walters hears the doubters. He has seen the preseason prognostications. He knows pundits’ predictions have tabbed Purdue to finish last in the Big Ten.
“Absolutely,” said the second-year Boilermaker boss.
The lack of respect began when the preseason magazines hit newsstands earlier this summer. Athlon and Phil Steele each picked Purdue to finish in the basement of the 18-team Big Ten. The Cleveland.com preseason poll of Big Ten media members–considered the standard–forecast a last-place finish for the Boilermakers, too.
Walters is unmoved by all of this–at least on the surface. But, you can tell getting the Rodney Dangerfield treatment bothers him. And, it should.
Purdue isn’t THAT bad … is it? Worse than Illinois, worse than Minnesota, worse than Michigan State, worse than Northwestern, worse than … Indiana?
We shall see.
“I definitely think there is a chip on everyone’s shoulder in the building,” said Walters. “We are all here to compete.
“Can’t really pay attention or harp on it too much, but I’d be naive to sort of turn a blind eye and not talk about the elephant in the room.”
Oh, it’s a big elephant that has to be addressed.
Reasons to doubt Purdue? At the top of the list is the fact the Boilermakers will face a schedule as tough as any in the Big Ten. The daunting menu of games includes tilts vs. arguably the three best teams in the league: Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State. There’s a game vs. Notre Dame, too. And a trip to Wisconsin never is a treat, while a cross-country sojourn to plucky Oregon State looks like a trapdoor.
Brutal.
“You go 4-8 (2023 record), you better have a chip on your shoulder,” said Walters. “I think the guys we brought it, we feel like they have something to prove, as well. Defiantly use it as motivation. Can’t really pay attention.”
But Walters, his staff and players are aware.
“Yes, I’m very motivated,” said inside linebacker Kydran Jenkins. “I can’t wait to prove them all wrong ’cause I know what we have. I know what we’ve been doing in the offseason. I’m ready to prove people wrong.”
Purdue will get its chance to be Rocky vs. an Apollo Creed schedule.
“It’s something you see, obviously,” said quarterback Hudson Card of the low forecast. “I try not to let all the social media people get to my head, weather that’s good or bad. Try to block it out as much as you can. But you see it. I think it will build more fire to the team to prove everyone wrong.”
Hope floats for the Boiler staff in a hope-for improved roster fueled by myriad additions. To with: 37 players have been added, with 27 arriving in January. The two areas with the most influx: Offensive line and receiver.
“I think the guys that we brought in feel like they got something to prove, as well,” said Walters. “So, definitely use it as motivation.”
Purdue will start practice on Wednesday, July 31. The Boilers open the season Aug. 31 vs. Indiana State.
“You see it,” said center Gus Hartwig of the low predictions. “It gets you a little bit. But they don’t know what we’ve been doing in this offseason. You kinda see people picked here and there. At the end of the season, it will speak for itself.”
