In the weeks and months to come, a whole bunch of stuff is going to be talked about when it comes to Purdue's soon-to-be vacant football coaching position.
Whether it's innovative offense, defensive reputation, Indiana or Midwest ties, head coaching experience, years of experience, age, height, weight, 40 time, whatever the case may be, a lot of factors are going to be pored over in terms of what Purdue needs in its next coach.
But if we can put it all under one big umbrella, it comes down to one thing: Identity.
Purdue football needs one. It hasn't had one in nearly a decade.
It's not had that one thing - whether it's a personality, a system, a defining characteristic, anything - that resonates in and outside West Lafayette and screams "Purdue football," that constant that makes Purdue football matter, whether it's winning or not.
(Winning is a good identity to have, though.)
The program needs that thing, more than it needs anything else, something that sets it apart.
For too long now, Purdue has just blended in, a shard of driftwood bobbing along the college football seas.
The only way Purdue has set itself apart recently has been for its futility, and that's why things are what they are right now, about 96 hours removed from a rare and bold - and necessary - midseason coaching ouster.
Whoever fills Darrell Hazell's seat long-term once Gerad Parker's run as interim ends - stranger things have happened, but one would think Purdue would have to move a mountain to get its highly regarded receivers coach the job - is going to have to set Purdue apart.
He's going to have to establish an identity.
It matters competitively.
Scheme was the great equalizer last time Purdue was successful in football, with Joe Tiller's pass-addicted offense complemented by an exciting, big-play defense. The former built upon Purdue's treasured Cradle of Quarterbacks and the latter birthed its legacy of great defensive ends, sources of pride still for a program that's drifting further and further from both.
Purdue basketball has always had its play-hard brand, even though some of its teams have played harder than others over the years. No matter. That's still what resonates with people when they hear of Purdue basketball.
This isn't about brands, though. It's about people.
People are going to be drawn to a product they feel connected to. When they know what they can expect from you, when they know what they can identify with, when there's that one thing fans can be excited about and proud of, they're more likely to be compelled.
When fans and donors are compelled, they're more likely to buy tickets, wear their gear and open their checkbooks and less likely to become Angry Twitter Guy.
Purdue needs hearts and minds right now, but more so than those of its fans, it needs those of teenage men who run very fast and tackle really well.
Purdue needs a recruiter with this next hire, someone who can attract a significantly higher caliber of player to Ross-Ade Stadium than is currently occupying it.
All due respect.
But this next coach must improve recruiting. Better said, he'll have to animate recruiting.
It's non-negotiable. An absolute must.
That coach will need to connect with recruits the way Darrell Hazell never seemed to, because it's going to be a pretty big vision he's going to be selling, circumstances being what they are, and he's going to need belief. He's going to need to be two feet in with recruiting.
Connection is important, on a personal level, but larger ones, too.
Purdue needs to reconnect to the Midwest in recruiting circles and otherwise stake an effective claim elsewhere. The hope was that the Boilermaker program could leverage its vast Ohio connections and rebuild bridges set aflame by the last staff in Indiana and build a program on traditional Midwest values and talent.
It didn't even come close to happening, for whatever reason. Doesn't matter now, anyway.
The next coach will have to be that bridge-builder.
Purdue needs the Midwest.
Purdue is the Midwest.
But right now, what Purdue needs to be is just something.
It just needs an identity.
Whether it's innovative offense, defensive reputation, Indiana or Midwest ties, head coaching experience, years of experience, age, height, weight, 40 time, whatever the case may be, a lot of factors are going to be pored over in terms of what Purdue needs in its next coach.
But if we can put it all under one big umbrella, it comes down to one thing: Identity.
Purdue football needs one. It hasn't had one in nearly a decade.
It's not had that one thing - whether it's a personality, a system, a defining characteristic, anything - that resonates in and outside West Lafayette and screams "Purdue football," that constant that makes Purdue football matter, whether it's winning or not.
(Winning is a good identity to have, though.)
The program needs that thing, more than it needs anything else, something that sets it apart.
For too long now, Purdue has just blended in, a shard of driftwood bobbing along the college football seas.
The only way Purdue has set itself apart recently has been for its futility, and that's why things are what they are right now, about 96 hours removed from a rare and bold - and necessary - midseason coaching ouster.
Whoever fills Darrell Hazell's seat long-term once Gerad Parker's run as interim ends - stranger things have happened, but one would think Purdue would have to move a mountain to get its highly regarded receivers coach the job - is going to have to set Purdue apart.
He's going to have to establish an identity.
It matters competitively.
Scheme was the great equalizer last time Purdue was successful in football, with Joe Tiller's pass-addicted offense complemented by an exciting, big-play defense. The former built upon Purdue's treasured Cradle of Quarterbacks and the latter birthed its legacy of great defensive ends, sources of pride still for a program that's drifting further and further from both.
Purdue basketball has always had its play-hard brand, even though some of its teams have played harder than others over the years. No matter. That's still what resonates with people when they hear of Purdue basketball.
This isn't about brands, though. It's about people.
People are going to be drawn to a product they feel connected to. When they know what they can expect from you, when they know what they can identify with, when there's that one thing fans can be excited about and proud of, they're more likely to be compelled.
When fans and donors are compelled, they're more likely to buy tickets, wear their gear and open their checkbooks and less likely to become Angry Twitter Guy.
Purdue needs hearts and minds right now, but more so than those of its fans, it needs those of teenage men who run very fast and tackle really well.
Purdue needs a recruiter with this next hire, someone who can attract a significantly higher caliber of player to Ross-Ade Stadium than is currently occupying it.
All due respect.
But this next coach must improve recruiting. Better said, he'll have to animate recruiting.
It's non-negotiable. An absolute must.
That coach will need to connect with recruits the way Darrell Hazell never seemed to, because it's going to be a pretty big vision he's going to be selling, circumstances being what they are, and he's going to need belief. He's going to need to be two feet in with recruiting.
Connection is important, on a personal level, but larger ones, too.
Purdue needs to reconnect to the Midwest in recruiting circles and otherwise stake an effective claim elsewhere. The hope was that the Boilermaker program could leverage its vast Ohio connections and rebuild bridges set aflame by the last staff in Indiana and build a program on traditional Midwest values and talent.
It didn't even come close to happening, for whatever reason. Doesn't matter now, anyway.
The next coach will have to be that bridge-builder.
Purdue needs the Midwest.
Purdue is the Midwest.
But right now, what Purdue needs to be is just something.
It just needs an identity.
