In securing Jeff Brohm to take on the task of fixing its middling football program, Purdue did about as well as it could in this coaching search, and everyone involved deserves considerable credit for that.
Forget the success for a moment — Brohm's record in his three seasons as Western Kentucky's head coach is impeccable and his résumé now dotted with championships after he's won the past two Conference-USA titles — and just look at the boxes he checks off for Purdue.
When Purdue has been good in its history, it's been on the back of its offense, typically its quarterback.
This hire, intentional or not, is a nod to that history and a representation of Purdue embracing that tradition.
Purdue needs an identity, first, that thing that sets it apart, that resonates with fans and, more importantly, recruits. Overnight, Purdue has that identity.
That identity: Big-time offense.
That matters in recruiting and might matter more in the Big Ten, where Brohm's offense will stand out more than it might have in other conference. While Wisconsin and Iowa plod, Purdue will spread the field, throw it around and aim to generate gaping holes in the running game, and they'll do it in an up-tempo manner. If nothing else, Purdue will be interesting.
Purdue is short on talent right now. Scheme is the best way to level the playing field against superior talent. Purdue's history has proven that.
David Blough should be ecstatic right now.
Brohm comes to Purdue with a bold offense, but a very different personality from what I can tell from profiling him the past few months.
He oozes modesty and humility and handled this hiring process in a first-class manner. While Les Miles was injecting his name into every headline he could, Brohm kept as low a profile as could be here, true to his history. I spoke last week to a friend of his about Purdue's interest and was told, "He just has to keep it quiet 'til Saturday," like this was some arduous task.
He couldn't, then after Western Kentucky won a track meet over Louisiana Tech this weekend, his phone blew up, as could have been predicted.
Purdue was first on him, the luxury it gave itself by moving on Darrell Hazell in-season and got it done with what we can view as a crystal-clear message of commitment to football.
I don't know yet how much Brohm is going to make at Purdue. I do know money was probably only part of his decision-making process here. I do know that Purdue doesn't seem to be messing around here.
A salary of at least $3.5 million - if that turns out to be accurate - might not be as outlandish as it might seem with Big Ten media revenues set to erupt, but it is a bold statement by Purdue, which will need to make similar commitments throughout the program as well.
Purdue seems serious about football, dead serious, and it's backed up its action with words. Between the training center and Brohm's presumably ample contract, Purdue is actually ahead of the curve on some things instead of reacting to those things years late. It would seem like a new day around West Lafayette.
One must give new athletic director Mike Bobinski his due here. After months of diligence, his list came down to one guy: Jeff Brohm. He got it done. And I'm not sure any of this is even possible without the efforts of Mike Berghoff. Credit him as well.
Now, Brohm must get it done.
In time, the fervor around the hire will subside and it will be time to work.
Then, reality sets in.
Purdue's won nine games in four years.
There's nowhere to go but up. It's a big job.
Time will tell, but Purdue believes Brohm is the man for that job.
Forget the success for a moment — Brohm's record in his three seasons as Western Kentucky's head coach is impeccable and his résumé now dotted with championships after he's won the past two Conference-USA titles — and just look at the boxes he checks off for Purdue.
When Purdue has been good in its history, it's been on the back of its offense, typically its quarterback.
This hire, intentional or not, is a nod to that history and a representation of Purdue embracing that tradition.
Purdue needs an identity, first, that thing that sets it apart, that resonates with fans and, more importantly, recruits. Overnight, Purdue has that identity.
That identity: Big-time offense.
That matters in recruiting and might matter more in the Big Ten, where Brohm's offense will stand out more than it might have in other conference. While Wisconsin and Iowa plod, Purdue will spread the field, throw it around and aim to generate gaping holes in the running game, and they'll do it in an up-tempo manner. If nothing else, Purdue will be interesting.
Purdue is short on talent right now. Scheme is the best way to level the playing field against superior talent. Purdue's history has proven that.
David Blough should be ecstatic right now.
Brohm comes to Purdue with a bold offense, but a very different personality from what I can tell from profiling him the past few months.
He oozes modesty and humility and handled this hiring process in a first-class manner. While Les Miles was injecting his name into every headline he could, Brohm kept as low a profile as could be here, true to his history. I spoke last week to a friend of his about Purdue's interest and was told, "He just has to keep it quiet 'til Saturday," like this was some arduous task.
He couldn't, then after Western Kentucky won a track meet over Louisiana Tech this weekend, his phone blew up, as could have been predicted.
Purdue was first on him, the luxury it gave itself by moving on Darrell Hazell in-season and got it done with what we can view as a crystal-clear message of commitment to football.
I don't know yet how much Brohm is going to make at Purdue. I do know money was probably only part of his decision-making process here. I do know that Purdue doesn't seem to be messing around here.
A salary of at least $3.5 million - if that turns out to be accurate - might not be as outlandish as it might seem with Big Ten media revenues set to erupt, but it is a bold statement by Purdue, which will need to make similar commitments throughout the program as well.
Purdue seems serious about football, dead serious, and it's backed up its action with words. Between the training center and Brohm's presumably ample contract, Purdue is actually ahead of the curve on some things instead of reacting to those things years late. It would seem like a new day around West Lafayette.
One must give new athletic director Mike Bobinski his due here. After months of diligence, his list came down to one guy: Jeff Brohm. He got it done. And I'm not sure any of this is even possible without the efforts of Mike Berghoff. Credit him as well.
Now, Brohm must get it done.
In time, the fervor around the hire will subside and it will be time to work.
Then, reality sets in.
Purdue's won nine games in four years.
There's nowhere to go but up. It's a big job.
Time will tell, but Purdue believes Brohm is the man for that job.
