Jeff Brohm proves 'anything can happen' at Purdue
For Ohio State, David Blough watched game tape and studied statistical tendencies and all else that goes into typical game prep.
But he put the basis for his confidence into two words.
"We knew," the fifth-year Purdue quarterback said.
Blough, who has seen the lows of 2-10 and 3-9 seasons in West Lafayette, could have just as easily used two words to articulate that confidence in Purdue's offense: Jeff. Brohm.
"It's comforting knowing you have the best play-caller in the country on your sideline," Blough said.
In his 20th game as the head coach at Purdue, Brohm earned his signature victory in a 49-20 blowout win over No. 2 Ohio State. This win can't be described as Purdue "stealing" a victory. It wasn't about turnovers or fluke plays. Purdue led for the final 46 minutes and 10 seconds of this contest and led by double-digits for most of what turned into a second-half blowout.
"It is a huge moment. It wasn't like we won by one point," Brohm said. "Our guys came ready to play. If you put in the time, if you have a great attitude and keep working hard to improve yourself and your team, anything can happen."
After hiring Brohm, athletics director Mike Bobinski suggested this football program was in search for a tangible moment to draw from, recruit off and build from. When asked earlier this week if he could remember a monumental upset in his coaching or playing career, Brohm couldn't think of one.
Both men now have their answer.
"I don't think last year and even before this week we were ready for this moment," Brohm said. "I told them, 'We are ready for this moment now. You guys can win the game if you believe you can. If we play as hard as we can for 60 minutes and give it everything you have, good things will happen. They surpassed my expectations with the way we played today."
Saturday night showcased the most points Purdue has ever scored against the Buckeyes, the second-largest win in school history over Ohio State and its first win over a top-five-ranked opponent in 19 years. All of these things came for a program that 24 months ago fired its head coach amidst the worst four-year stretch in modern program history.
"A lot of these guys have not won a whole lot of games (and) they want to win. It's important to them. They're hungry," Brohm said. "Hunger can do a lot for you."
So can "genius."
"When he called the trap run (which went for a 42-yard touchdown), I was thinking, 'This man is a genius,'" Purdue tailback D.J. Knox said. "Coach Brohm knows exactly when to call every play. You just know schematically we're going to be set up to win."
Ohio State came to West Lafayette having lost only two games to Big Ten opponents in its last 20 contests under coach Urban Meyer. Following the 29-point loss, which was his third-largest since taking over the Ohio State program in 2012, Meyer could only acknowledge the obvious.
"The glaring shortcomings that we've had were exposed," Meyer said. "There are some serious shortcomings that we've got to get fixed. If it was a one-sentence answer, I'd give it to you. It's not that easy."
Folks will wake up Sunday morning and see Purdue in a four-way tie for the lead in the Western Division of the Big Ten. In the next five weeks, Brohm's program has a chance to make sure this 29-point blowout win over No. 2 doesn't really is the turnaround moment for Purdue football.
"We've been 2-10, we've been 3-9. I've been a part of it and a lot of the men in this room have been a part of that," Blough said. "By knocking off Ohio State, winning our fourth in a row, keeping pace in the Big Ten West, this is special."
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