November 2, 2012

Kelly Kitchel
GoldandBlack.com

0 for October is not what anyone expected this season, not the fans, staff, administration or the players, but it is what happened. And we can all handle things a couple of ways: One is to buckle down and give everything you have for these next four games. I'm not just talking about the players and coaches, but also the fans. The other way is to listen to the vocal minority, slip into a depression and try to sabotage the program. Again, I am not just talking about the fans here but also the players. With all of the negativity floating around the Purdue football program, I think you will see a bunker mentality. It's going to be the players, staff and the ultra-loyalist against the world. There is a reason that Joe Tiller preached to us to not read the papers. With social media, however, it's almost impossible to stay away from the talk nowadays. I know that Purdue fans want to follow winners and we did not win last month, but there has to be more of a reason to be a Purdue fan than only to watch a winning team. Tell me if I am wrong, but I believe that Purdue football is like a family. The coaches are the elders and the players are the new generation testing the limits, but always keeping it interesting. I see the administration and support staff as the aunts and uncles and we as fans are the extended family of cousins - or may be we have married into the craziness. I may have been brought up differently than some, but there is no way that I would speak to my family the way some have recently. How could anyone cuss out the younger generation in our family because he has made a few mistakes? Would you send your cousin a death threat (by the way, that has been reported to the police) Would you boo your family? Would you spit on your family? Would you tear down your family? Would you rip apart your own family? Maybe that's how some families work, but not mine. We build each other up and build confidence in one another. We relish the times that are good and lean on each other when times are tough. We may get frustrated with each other and yell and scream, but never in public and never with hate. We want what is best for our family always and when things look the bleakest is when our love shines through the strongest. That is how I view our Purdue football family. If I am wrong then so be it, but this is how I will teach my children to be fans. I sent a letter to my teammates encouraging them to support the players and it was leaked on Knucklehead Central. I appreciate John trying to garner support from fans by using my letter, but somehow a few knuckleheads took offense to the idea of supporting our players. It's unbelievable to me that a letter asking for support from former players can be construed as being out of line. I will never apologize for trying rally my friends behind the Boilers. Danny Hope is "my guy" and I make no bones about that. We have been through too much together for me to ever give up on him. However, it doesn't matter who the head man is at Purdue, I will always support this team and its players. I want encourage everyone to "Think before you speak" or as the great Herm Edwards says "Don't press send!" Follow me on twitter as I will give you what I see from the sideline @kelly_kitchel Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc. GoldandBlack.com Mobile for your iPhone | GoldandBlack.com Mobile for your Android Check out GoldandBlack.com on | | ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial

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