More: Bowl appearance more than just reward

Jeff Brohm wasn’t at Purdue on Sunday evening, unable to celebrate the Boilermakers’ first bowl berth in five years with his team.

Instead, he was back on the road recruiting, where he’s been a majority of the week since the victory over Indiana, aside from his weekend time back on campus to host official visitors.

Brohm, whose team learned Sunday it will play Arizona in the Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl, called in to a teleconference to discuss the bowl and other topics, including recruiting. He says the reception has been great, even during a somewhat unusual week in which he was rumored to briefly be the top candidate for the open head coaching position at Tennessee.

“Without question, the last game we had against IU and the way we finished was very positive reception, not only in all the areas we went to, but definitely in-state. And believe it or not, this past Wednesday, we had positive reception,” Brohm said, perhaps alluding to the day the Tennessee rumors were at their peak. “And we had a lot of guys that are very interested in being a part of it.

“They understand that we've got a good thing going. We've got great resources. We've had great support this year. We've been able to improve. We've been able to kind of showcase the Purdue brand and it’s out there more now. It's been a positive response.”

Purdue has 21 publicly listed 2018 commitments as of now, with several others having taken official visits this weekend. Any can sign as soon as Dec. 20, the first day of the new early signing period.

Brohm thinks the Boilermakers will be able to gradually improve their recruiting.

“We always want to try to continue to get better and get the best student-athletes that want to be a part of it. And every year, every little thing's going to matter, from how you play on the field, your win/loss record, the trust you can build and the relationships you can build throughout the in-state areas and also down in the southeast and even in the Midwest where we hit certain areas where people and coaches, players, feel comfortable with what we're selling, how we're doing it.

“Really, it's the trust factor where the guys that know us and know what we're all about, it's been a very good reception. It's just something that we've got to consciously improve on.”

Talking — or not talking — Tennessee

Asked a couple times about the Tennessee position — Wednesday, at Knoxville area reporter said that Brohm was soon to be announced as the Volunteers’ new head coach — Purdue’s first-year boss wouldn’t elaborate on the situation.

He stuck to his own script on both answers, first asked about the job opening in general, then specifically whether he’d talked to Tennessee.

“Well, like I said, I'd rather not comment on any of the rumors and speculation, because that's what it was,” he said.

Hoping for health

With practice not set to resume for another several days — Friday is the first day back together — the Boilermakers should be able to get as healthy as possible.

Considering where they ended the regular season, that’s good news. Then, Purdue was battered, with middle linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley sitting out due to an apparent ankle injury and quarterback/wide receiver Jared Sparks the same; tight end Brycen Hopkins was out with a back injury; and D.J. Knox missed out of the second half vs. IU after left hand injury.

Knox had surgery on his left thumb, Brohm said, leaving him in a cast, but Purdue hopes he can play in the bowl game on Dec. 27.

“We'll see how he does with what that may cause him maybe have to carry the ball under the opposite arm, but we'll see how that progresses,” Brohm said.

Bentley, Brohm said, could start practicing as soon as Friday, or at least short after. And Sparks could be this week or next. Hopkins’ back injury might be concerning, but Brohm didn’t rule the tight end out vs. Arizona.

“I'm hopeful we'll get him back for the game, but I don't know that for sure yet,” Brohm said. “We'll have to kind of take that slow in the next couple weeks and see where he's at.”

Other risks?

Purdue could miss other players, as well.

But not for injury-related reasons.

Perhaps academics.

The possibility might be more apparent for Purdue considering it had at least a couple players in training camp — defensive end Antoine Miles and cornerback Tim Cason — who were at risk. Both made it academically, although Cason had to serve a four-game, coaches-imposed suspension.

It might not be as lucky now.

“We are going to have a few guys that we'll see how it plays out, and I'm not for sure how it's going to go,” said Brohm, without naming names.

“We've tried to work as hard as we can with some of those to make sure that they get over the hump. We won't know possibly until the last minute whether they will be with us.”

Fond memories

Brohm had an enjoyable couple season in San Francisco, where he served as the 49ers’ backup quarterback.

In 1996, San Fran finished 12-4 before losing in the Divisional Playoffs at Green Bay. The following season, the 49ers were 13-3, then beat Minnesota before losing at home to the Packers in the NFC Championship game.

Brohm played in eight games across two seasons, the only action of his eight-year career.

“I'm looking forward to it without question. A lot of good memories,” Brohm said. “Those were some fun days and to have an opportunity to go back to that same area and get out on the new San Francisco 49er field (at Levi’s Stadium) I think will be a lot of fun for me, and it will be a lot of fun for our players. It's a great stadium. Our players hopefully will respond and go out there and show what Purdue is all about.

“… I was with a tremendous team, a team with a lot of history and tradition. They won a lot of Super Bowls. We had some of the best players of all time: Steve Young, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Brent Jones, Ken Norton, Merton Hanks, all those guys.

“Really to get an opportunity to play around them and a lot of great coaches, that's kind of where I really learned so much about the game at the highest level and how they went about their business, how they found a way to win; the hard work they put in.

“But also the confidence they had when they took the field. It's one thing that definitely stood out to me when I was with the 49ers: When they took the game field, there wasn't a question they were going out there to win and they were going to find a way to do it.”

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.