Purdue QB Blough's goal to play Saturday: 'I'm good'
More: Brohm looking to instill belief | Vs.: Will Blough play Saturday? ($) | Brohms are 'first family' of Louisville | Depth chart notes
If it were up to David Blough, he'd play Saturday against Louisville.
It's not, of course.
The decision on whether Blough plays — let alone starts — three weeks after straining his right, throwing shoulder in a scrimmage will be on Coach Jeff Brohm, considering the team doctor and athletic trainers already have cleared the junior QB.
Blough knows that, and so since he got cleared late last week, he's worked hard Sunday and again on Tuesday to show he deserves to play.
"I’ve got a lot to prove,” Blough said. “It’s a bummer when you miss a couple weeks of practice. I want to get back out there and show I can play at a high level and the coaches can trust me if they call my name on Saturday.
"Ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s up to Coach Brohm. Of course, I’m going to tell him I’m ready to go. But at the end of the day, it’s his decision."
It's likely QB coach Brian Brohm will get a say, too, being inside the meeting room with Blough daily and working directly with him on the sidelines has given the younger Brohm a good pulse on the team captain. Brian Brohm said Blough looked good Tuesday, showing some “zip on the ball” and being able to throw the ball down the field, as well as his “usual qualities, good leadership, good moxie out there.”
If either of the Brohms approached this quarterback decision from a player's perspective — not a coach's — there'd be no doubt Blough would be on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
They were, even when they shouldn't have been.
As a junior at Louisville, Brian Brohm helped the Cardinals to an upset of No. 17 Miami but tore ligaments in his right thumb (on his throwing hand) in the third quarter and needed surgery. The surgeon had a timeline of 6-8 weeks recovery. Brian Brohm didn't like that number. He was back on the field after three weeks — against doctor's orders — playing.
Brian Brohm says now that it was a risk he shouldn't have taken, but it was a no-brainer then: He wanted desperately to return to the field, to lead his teammates.
So he understands Blough’s insistence.
Jeff Brohm crushed his index finger during a game while playing QB at Louisville, an injury so bad it required pins and a plate, and was told by doctors “no way you can play,” according to father Oscar. But Jeff Brohm didn’t accept that. He was back on the field — against orders — leading Louisville to a victory over Michigan State in the Liberty Bowl. And was MVP.
So Jeff Brohm understands Blough’s insistence.
Like his coaches, Blough is a tough, fierce competitor. But he also isn’t just trying to build up a tough-guy persona: Blough said he felt good when he woke up Monday morning after the return to the field Sunday and said he had velocity on his passes Tuesday during practice.
“I feel normal,” Blough said. “When I’m all warmed up, it feels great. ... My mom and dad say, ‘You can only lie in cards.’ I’m not going to lie to anybody. One time I lied my sophomore year of high school with a collarbone injury, and luckily, it didn’t get worse. I’m not lying.
"But like Coach (Jeff) Brohm has said a couple times — of course I’m going to say I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m good.”
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