WEST LAFAYETTE — How last season ended was supposed to symbolize two programs trending in different directions.
Ultimately, it was, just not how Purdue football envisioned.
Nic Scourton’s sack secured a 35-31 victory over rival Indiana at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The next day, Indiana fired its head coach, making the move to start over after a 3-9 season while Purdue pushed forward with its first-year head coach and staff after winning two of its final three games.
The way the 2024 season has played out has been disappointing and frustrating for Purdue’s fans. Seeing the Hoosiers on the brink of making the college football playoff with a new staff and overhauled roster only exacerbates it.
“For coach (Curt) Cignetti and his staff to come in in year one and have the success they’re having certainly increases the spotlight on things here,” said Purdue offensive analyst Jason Simmons, a longtime Indiana high school coach whose son is a member of the Hoosiers football team.
Instead of building off last season, Purdue is 1-10.
Fans have turned against everyone from the athletic department to the head coach and on down the line.
There’s no naivety in the Boilermaker coaching offices.
Jobs are on the line and Sunday, win or lose, will come with some tough conversations between coaches, players and administrators.
More:To frustrated Purdue football fans, tearful Ryan Walters hears you: ‘It hurts’
Purdue coach Ryan Walters reiterated on Monday that he’s not focused on anything beyond Saturday, just three days after he mentioned following Friday’s loss at Michigan State that it’d be an injustice to the team to think beyond the next game.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday. That is what I am focused on right now,” Walters said on Monday. “Those are the things that are right in front of us right now. After Saturday, I’ll look forward to the next wave of things.”
If the head coach returns for Purdue next season, there will be staff changes below Walters.
Walters already has removed one coordinator this season. Some members of Purdue’s roster already know they’re not returning.
On Saturday, Purdue has a chance to play spoiler and ruin the greatest story in college football this season. The Boilermakers also have a chance to beat Indiana for the fourth straight time.
And yet, at least in West Lafayette, all of that seems secondary. Even if that unlikely scenario happens, it will be a temporary bandage on a season of agony.
When a team goes 1-11, or even 2-10, things have to change.
Come late Saturday night, there’s no delaying things any longer. If Walters is retained, we already know he’ll be in the market for one coordinator at the very least.
“Nobody is wearing this more than him, obviously,” Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane said of Walters. “It just sickens me to know that we are where we are right now because of the guy that he is and how much he puts into this whole program.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
