CHICAGO — David Blough is accustomed to preparing to face the Big Ten's best defenses and, rarely, is he nervous, even playing in front of the conference's biggest crowds.

But giving a speech in front of more than 1,000 people Tuesday had him more nervous than he'd ever been before a game.

"I woke up (Tuesday) morning, performed for the city of Chicago in my hotel room window. I figured if I could do that, I could stand up here and do it," Blough said after getting a standing ovation for the speech.

He practiced while he jogged, in the shower, standing in the hallways of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

After he was selected to give the student-athlete speech at the Big Ten kickoff luncheon in Chicago, Blough rehearsed five times a day over the past five days for one of the more nerve-wracking moments of his young adult life.

But he didn't seem one bit shaky once he took the stage, flanked by all 14 of the Big Ten coaches.

Blough, a junior quarterback, gave the speech without note cards.

"I wanted to go up there and talk about how football teaches life and what it's taught me and how I get through it, in some things," Blough said. "I didn't want to be trite, come across as pressing what I believe because that's not diversity is. ... I wanted to talk a lot about diversity. That’s how football is special to me. My best friend is from Nigeria. My closest friends are big guys, little guys, fast guys, it doesn’t matter. Then I realized football encompasses so much more than that, the perspective and responsibility and just the life lessons, too. It was more than just diversity, so I had to pivot in that way."

"Good afternoon. It’s an honor to be here, following in the footsteps of great players and, more importantly, great men. I considered what I would share with you today by seeing what players in the past said when they had this same opportunity. I was inspired by former Michigan State Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins, who touched on privilege and that it should be a responsibility rather than entitlement. I was encouraged by former Penn State standout John Urschel, who talked about what advice he would have given to his younger self. And, Boilermaker fans please cut me a break, I even listened to former Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld talk about the perspective gained from the opportunities we have as Big Ten football players. So I started thinking, 'What could I share about my experience over the last three-and-a-half years at Purdue and in the Big Ten Conference?' The message that was placed on my heart was one I believe we all need to remember: It’s that the great game we’re all here to celebrate teaches life. Yes, football teaches life. I think we can all agree it teaches life lessons. It instills disciplines like the importance of being on time, paying attention to the details and working hard. It prepared me and the other Big Ten student-athletes here today for life after football.

"I’ve experienced a lot of the good and a lot of the bad this game has to offer. When I was introduced, they said all the good things. However, Boilermaker fans need to cut me a break on this one, too: I led the conference in turnovers this past season. Football teaches the disciplines I mentioned a moment ago, but it also teaches how to stand up when everybody else wants you to stay down. Football teaches you to never, ever give up. So when you’ve failed, like I have, will you learn from it or quit? Football teaches life.

"It teaches perspective and responsibility for the opportunities we have as Big Ten football players. For me, perspective has come in the form of service. Through Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Purdue, my teammates and I have been able to take five trips to Bethesda Outreach, which is an orphanage in South Africa. It holds a special place in my heart where I’m reminded there are people much happier with much less than I have. I have football. Since I have football — since we have football — we have a platform. A platform that should be used to impact this world for the better. This is where responsibility comes in. We have a responsibility as Big Ten football players to leave our communities, universities and teams better than when we first arrived. How will you choose to make your impact? Football teaches life.

"To me, what makes football the greatest game in the world is that it teaches us to love one another. A college football locker room consists, roughly, of 105 members. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic. Rich, poor and from the middle class. Christian, Muslim, atheist and Jew. We’ve had players from Sweden, Compton, Calif., Miami, Fla., Paris, France, right here in Chicago, Ill., small-town Indiana and just about everywhere in between. We even have players who affiliate with different political parties. And you know what? That’s the beauty of life. On this stage with me are 14 of the finest football coaches in the country, born over the course of four decades from 10 different states. Each with a number of different experiences that have placed him in the seat he’s in today. Each the leader of a team that is as diverse as any organization has to offer. That’s the beauty of life. In this room, there are fans that bleed blue, despise the team up north, others that say ‘On Wisconsin’ or ‘Go Hawkeyes.’ All brought together by football. I believe football teaches life to those who play it. However, it doesn’t have to stop there. Our country could learn from the game of football because diversity is also what makes the United States special. There should be unity rather than division. Football taught me it starts with looking past differences and love the people around you and loving them for who they are. That’s the beauty of life. In John 13, verse 34, Jesus says, ‘I give you a new command. Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.’ How will you reach beyond yourself in order to love those that are unlike yourself? My challenge today for myself, the Big Ten student-athletes here and college football players around the country is to not let it end at the locker room. Since football teaches life, may we go now and live that life fully, to the benefit of others. Thank you, Boiler up and God bless y’all."

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