Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Indiana vs. Purdue
11/24/2018 4:06:00 PM | Football
Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
TOM ALLEN: Just left a really hurting and disappointed locker room. A lot of tears, a lot invested by our seniors, a lot invested by our players and coaches. Just not the result we wanted.
But as I just told our men, young men, if you did everything in your power to prepare yourself to play your best during this week, and you played your heart out for 60 minutes, you got nothing to be ashamed of. But if you didn't, you know that, can't change the past.
It's about growing a young team. It's about appreciating the seniors and what they've given, what they've been through here, playing for a couple coaches, buying into everything we've asked them to do. The way they've worked, the way they've invested in this program, not the outcome that any of us wanted. That hurts because it's a special group of guys that I really wanted this win for for a lot of different reasons.
Just didn't create enough explosive plays in my mind offensively. At the end there we needed to stop the run. We were down by seven, trying to get off the field there, critical drive that really cost us. Didn't create enough takeaways. That kind of sticks out to me in the summary of the game.
But kids played hard. Just really disappointed.
Questions.
Q. You mentioned not enough explosive plays offensively. I think it was probably around half a dozen times in their end, only seven points for most of the game. What were some of the issues offensively?
TOM ALLEN: They were stirring some things up. Different looks. Just we got pressure at times that didn't help us. Just didn't finish drives. We had more yards than they did, but that really don't matter. It's about points.
It's just a matter of finishing those drives and being able to keep our pocket clean, get the ball down the field, still continue the run the ball in that situation. Obviously you always have to do that.
I just felt it seemed like we got too much pressure on us in those situations. Go back and watch the film. Just from watching it live, that seemed to get us. We got some second- and third-and-longs in there quickly. That makes it tough to convert. They're dropping eight. That makes it tough to be able to get.
We had several of those fourth downs. No man's land, you can't really punt. The field goal is into the wind there at the end. Makes it tough. Already missed one into the wind.
Yeah, I think more than anything we just didn't get a clean pocket so we could get the ball thrown down the field.
Q. How would you grade your team's sense of urgency during the game today?
TOM ALLEN: I felt like our kids understood what was at stake. We came right out of the gate, got a stop, forced them to punt. Wanted to see us go down and score, get ourselves in front.
But, yeah, I just feel like, to me, I think when you go through as a team, you see where you are, a lot of times in games like this, sometimes your weaknesses get exposed a little bit, inability to do certain things makes it hard.
I feel like we got to take the ball from them. Got to get better. Certain positions got to grow, mature, execute better. I felt like those kind of things kind of showed up today. Not enough explosive plays on offense, create touchdowns. That's what you have to have, you got to score touchdowns.
I think our guys worked hard this week. Very focused practices, good energy. Just had a couple costly mistakes, penalties. We had six total, but two I thought were really untimely and really hurt us.
Q. The penalties, is there a way to diagnose the timing of some of them? It's not just penalties, but penalties cut off big gains offensively or extend a drive defensively.
TOM ALLEN: Yeah, there were two particular defensively. The one was huge. We were off the field. They're kicking long field goal, going for it on fourth down. Long ways to go. Gave them a first down on roughing the passer. To me, that's undisciplined. They just can't be.
The other one with Devon Matthews, I was shocked he was the guy that got called. I don't know what he did. Immature mistake. One of our best kids in terms of doing everything we ask, the way he handles his business. That was costly to me.
It wasn't the number of them, it was the timing of them. We had them throughout the season at critical times. Not be able to overcome those has been the problem. When they set you back offensively, you get behind the chains, that high-low block was a really costly one field position-wise, taking you back 15 yards. Not able to overcome those when they do occur.
Q. Explosive plays and finishing drives, those were kind of consistent issues for you all year. How do you fix that? Personnel, scheme?
TOM ALLEN: You go back and look at scheme, evaluate that in the off-season. To me, you continue to develop your down-the-field passing game with the quarterback position making those throws, the receivers getting open and contesting those balls, taking those shots, making those big plays.
To me, it's about continuing to work on our vertical down-the-field pass game with our quarterbacks. That's a big part of it.
Q. You have done that more as the season went on. Seems like almost all your deep throws are outside the numbers. Is trying to get more post patterns, using the middle of the field the next step for you in the passing game?
TOM ALLEN: There's no question. You go through and evaluate, you look and see, Where are the areas we got to take advantage of now to be able to create the one-on-one matchups that you're trying to get to, be able to take advantage of the safeties being involved in the run game, to be able to get the ball deep down the middle or on the perimeter, to evaluate how we can do a better job of that.
To me, that's such a huge part. Turnover ratio, explosive play ratio, those two things determine your success on game day. That's the whole objective of what we're trying to do.
Q. You didn't have Whop, a guy who showed the ability to stretch the defense, especially down the middle. How much did that hurt? Purdue scored five fewer points than its average. Would you have taken that coming in?
TOM ALLEN: I thought it would be enough to win, I did. I knew they were going to get some points. They're an explosive offense, have done it against about everybody. Yeah, I would have thought that would be what we needed to do.
But still, you got to get more than they do. We didn't. Defensively we had our chances to get some key stops and weren't able to step up and get those.
It's just about to me growing the leadership of our team and guys that rise up and have that swag about them, have that confidence about them to take games over. We got to get to that point defensively, have guys step up in those roles, take games over as a defensive unit.
Going to really work hard to develop that this off-season because we got a lot of really talented young guys. They got to grow, mature. To me, that's what happens when you get in games like this, you have to have somebody rise up and be the guy that takes over, verbally, physically, making plays on the sideline, locker room, halftime, instead of it always being the coaches. We got to grow that with the defensive side of the football, for sure. Even as a team.
I just think that, yeah, we played a good football team that's been a very, very dangerous offense the entire season. Their issues were just not being able to -- we got out-scored. That's why we felt like we could do that today, and it didn't happen.
Q. You alluded to overcoming your weaknesses. What are your most glaring weaknesses you have to get over?
TOM ALLEN: I think to me, first of all, up front defensively. We have to be able to be more disruptive and do a better job of stopping the run within that core group of guys, then being able to create pressure with that core group of guys. Big-body guys that can be firm in the interior, then win your gaps, be able to create pressure.
We did a good job of getting some pressure today with those three and four guys we were rushing. I think to continue to grow a young secondary is critical. They got to play better throughout the season.
I think we continue offensively. When you talk about the explosive play department, we got to be able to address that, continue to develop the guys we got.
We went through and identified our top, most explosive players on offense coming out of fall camp, probably three weeks into fall camp. Top three guys really didn't play most of the whole season, if not at all. Guy like Whop, even though he hasn't been back here lately, got hurt against Michigan State, hasn't been healthy since. A huge part of our offense. Got to be able to continue to recruit, where if you lose a guy like that it's not so devastating of a loss. Right now there's not a guy that's like him that takes the guy's place.
Other guys in the runningback room that do things. Obviously Stevie showed up and did some awesome things this year. But to me, it's just continue to develop that part of our game. Then also the run game has to just continue to grow and develop. That to me is a constant thing.
Today the weather was fine, but last couple weeks it's been very, very cold. You got to run the football. Keep growing the offensive line, developing them, get strong, replacing the guys that graduated, move forward.
To me up front is a big deal. Then explosive plays on offense, our secondary ability to cover guys. No. 4 today is a difficult matchup. Can't double cover him every single snap. When we didn't, he won some one-on-ones. Double cover him, weakens other areas. Couple times one-on-ones is when he made his big plays.
Just a matter of continuing another whole off-season, full spring, summer, fall camp to continue to grow our guys and develop them, keep getting the results that we want.
Q. You yourself have shown the ability and willingness to change your approach, shape yourself as a coach based on what the team needs. How does this year shape you as a coach going forward? Have you thought about putting defensive coordinator responsibilities on someone else and taking more of a head coaching job moving forward?
TOM ALLEN: Definitely something I've been thinking about because of all the responsibilities that fall into this position. Now that I've done it for a couple years, feel like I understand the time demands. There's no questions about it, as I've talked about, even last year saying there's going to come a time when I need to do that so I can be the head coach of the team.
A big part of that is recruiting, the amount of film and time it takes to be the head coach and the DC is really, really changing. The amount of film you have to watch during a game week.
I think, yeah, as I continue to grow as a head coach, to be able to coach the coaches, coach the players, be able to be involved in all three phases, there's no question that's something that I'm thinking about, for sure.
Thank you.
Peyton Ramsey, Quarterback
Nick (Westbrook) said it was a different kind of look on that last touchdown. Was that a matter of seeing what the defense was?
"No, we had to hurry up and try to make something happen. Nick ended up running past the guy and making the play in the end zone. It was different. We always try to mix it up. He did a good job."
What's the next step offensively?
"We've got to be balanced all year long. There were games where we ran the ball really well. There were games where we threw the ball really well. I don't think there is enough of that throughout the year where we complement each other. I would also say red zone scoring. We moved the ball today, that really wasn't the issue. I think we only went three-and-out only one time. We moved the ball. I just think we have to get better at finishing off drives and getting points."
What was it like to have a guy like Stevie Scott with you all season in the backfield?
"He definitely grew up throughout the course of the year. He was a true freshman. A young kid. He developed early and grew up fast. He played really well throughout the course of the year. You saw him get better each and every week."
Nick Westbrook, Wide Receiver
Talk about the last touchdown. What did you see on that play?
"There was time left on the clock and we knew we had to score fast. A couple of plays before that we realized we were able to get by the corners and the safety wasn't able to get there. They just said to get down the field and we are going to throw the ball to you. Peyton threw a great ball and got me to make the catch."
How tough is it to not have Whop Philyor?
"It's been really tough. Obviously, we all love Whop. He brings out a lot of energy to that group. He keeps everyone up and motivated. Also, adding that extra depth, because we had Ty (Fryfogle) going both ways, both the slot and outside. If one of us gets tired outside, Ty could just move out there."
What does this program need to do moving forward as a team?
"We just have to choose to do it. We just have to choose to be great and realize we are a great team. Just having that confidence in yourself to realize you are good enough to be a great team in the Big Ten East. The toughest division there is. Having these young guys, who aren't as confident in themselves, going into this offseason, focused on building that confidence. Realizing how good of a player you really are."
Jerome Johnson, Defensive Tackle
You guys were getting a lot of consistent pressure from their guys, what do you think was working for you guys against their offensive line?
"I think Coach Allen and Coach Hagen had a good game plan for us. Obviously, it was working. We just need to finish better."
Where do you feel like this defense is relative to the beginning of the year?
"At the beginning of the year we started off young, and we still are young. We definitely got better as the games progressed as far as people playing, I think we did have a good rotation and people were ready to get in when they were called upon even if it was only one play they were ready."
You have had some untimely penalties, has there been an emphasis to get rid of those?
"Definitely. We never want those. It hurts you at any point in the game. We just need to work on not having those."
Mike Barwick Jr., Defensive Tackle
On the interception late in the first half, what did you see?
"It was a play where I had to drop back in coverage. I was watching the quarterback's eyes, and I saw where he was looking and came up with the ball."
What did that interception do for the game heading into halftime?
"In general, getting stops and takeaways are big and have always been a part of our goals and mission. It was definitely real big and definitely a momentum switch."
How do you think the defense has changed over the course of the season?
"We just grew together, as a unit. There is nobody out there doing their own thing. Everybody is doing their jobs and working together."
How much growth have you seen form some of the younger guys who probably haven't played a lot of snaps?
"Younger guys are coming along well. Like I said, it's going to be a great ride, a great next couple of years when they come back. It's going to be some trouble."
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm
Opening Statement
"Well, it's a great day to be a Boilermaker. I am very proud of our football team. We've hung in there all year long. Things haven't been perfect and we've had some ups and downs, without question. To be able to come into this game, coming off two losses, one in triple overtime against a very good opponent and still hang in there and believe that you can go on the road and beat your rival when everything is on the line, is what it's all about. This is why you play the game. Our guys performed under pressure and we found a way to win in the end. Very proud, not only of our team but our seniors who have been through a lot. To be able to go to a bowl game two years in a row is a great accomplishment. I'm proud of their leadership. Our young guys played hard for them and while everything is not perfect, you have to hand it to our team for hanging in there and making enough plays to win. Definitely proud of David Blough as well. He is someone who exemplifies what a student-athlete should be and definitely a Boilermaker. He's done everything we ask and more. An unbelievable man off the field, does everything the right way and for him to come in and help us win football games, play at a high level and be able to advance to a bowl, I'm very proud of him. Just a great effort from our team and coaches and I'm very proud of them."
Rondale Moore, what he's done as a freshman, is it beyond belief for you?
"Well as you know, Rondale Moore is a special talent and we knew he would be a difference-maker. We told him. I probably undersold him to be quite honest with you. He showcased what he can do to us at practice, fall camp, and then translating to the game is a different story. Just the speed of the game, everything is on the line, you're playing against great opponents, especially in the Big Ten with great defenses, and nobody stopped him. Nobody contained him. Numerous teams tried in numerous different ways. He was a difference-maker for us today. He's the guy a quarterback looks to and if you get him one-on-one, he's going to get the ball and you're going to have to find a way to double team him. He plays hard, he plays tough, does all the small things right, so I'm happy he's on our team. He's a great teammate, the guys on the team love him because he doesn't want the credit and he doesn't want all the attention on him. He just wants to play football and win."
After the last two seasons and the foundation you've laid here, what's the future of this program look like?
"I think it's about finding a way to inch up and get better and better every year. We're taking the small steps necessary to do that. We're going to take some lumps along the way, get hit in the chin, hit in the gut, knocked over a few times and get our lip bloody. But, if we got guys that enjoy football and want to compete, you can find a way to improve and get better. Every little thing matters. We have to find a way to win this rivalry game, find a way to get to a bowl game and win that, find ways to beat some opponents on our schedule that we haven't beat as much in the past, figure out ways to be a better overall team, get more difference-makers and continue to recruit. I think everything is going the way I would like, and we just have to stick to it. We can't take anything for granted, but I feel good about the position we're in. I think we have a great group of guys and coaches that like football and like to compete and want to find a way to do it because we do have room to improve."
This is the second straight year you will be going to a bowl game, what is the significance of that for you?
"Well it's huge. I'm proud of our team. We wanted to find a way to improve upon last year, which meant go to a bowl game of course and hopefully find a way to win it. To start the season 0-3 and then figure out a way to beat three ranked teams was great and then we got in a slump again and then found a way to win this game. That's football and really that's life. I think our guys understand that. The good thing is they come in ready to work every day. They don't let anything get them down. We try to keep their spirits up and they go hard. Everything won't be perfect and pretty all the time, but this means a lot to them. They want to advance and play one more game and that's what it's about. Putting your back against the wall, putting pressure on yourself. We knew the pressure was on us. We had to go on the road, play Indiana, a team that has beaten us a lot in the past and figure out a way to win. Our guys did that and I'm proud of them."
TOM ALLEN: Just left a really hurting and disappointed locker room. A lot of tears, a lot invested by our seniors, a lot invested by our players and coaches. Just not the result we wanted.
But as I just told our men, young men, if you did everything in your power to prepare yourself to play your best during this week, and you played your heart out for 60 minutes, you got nothing to be ashamed of. But if you didn't, you know that, can't change the past.
It's about growing a young team. It's about appreciating the seniors and what they've given, what they've been through here, playing for a couple coaches, buying into everything we've asked them to do. The way they've worked, the way they've invested in this program, not the outcome that any of us wanted. That hurts because it's a special group of guys that I really wanted this win for for a lot of different reasons.
Just didn't create enough explosive plays in my mind offensively. At the end there we needed to stop the run. We were down by seven, trying to get off the field there, critical drive that really cost us. Didn't create enough takeaways. That kind of sticks out to me in the summary of the game.
But kids played hard. Just really disappointed.
Questions.
Q. You mentioned not enough explosive plays offensively. I think it was probably around half a dozen times in their end, only seven points for most of the game. What were some of the issues offensively?
TOM ALLEN: They were stirring some things up. Different looks. Just we got pressure at times that didn't help us. Just didn't finish drives. We had more yards than they did, but that really don't matter. It's about points.
It's just a matter of finishing those drives and being able to keep our pocket clean, get the ball down the field, still continue the run the ball in that situation. Obviously you always have to do that.
I just felt it seemed like we got too much pressure on us in those situations. Go back and watch the film. Just from watching it live, that seemed to get us. We got some second- and third-and-longs in there quickly. That makes it tough to convert. They're dropping eight. That makes it tough to be able to get.
We had several of those fourth downs. No man's land, you can't really punt. The field goal is into the wind there at the end. Makes it tough. Already missed one into the wind.
Yeah, I think more than anything we just didn't get a clean pocket so we could get the ball thrown down the field.
Q. How would you grade your team's sense of urgency during the game today?
TOM ALLEN: I felt like our kids understood what was at stake. We came right out of the gate, got a stop, forced them to punt. Wanted to see us go down and score, get ourselves in front.
But, yeah, I just feel like, to me, I think when you go through as a team, you see where you are, a lot of times in games like this, sometimes your weaknesses get exposed a little bit, inability to do certain things makes it hard.
I feel like we got to take the ball from them. Got to get better. Certain positions got to grow, mature, execute better. I felt like those kind of things kind of showed up today. Not enough explosive plays on offense, create touchdowns. That's what you have to have, you got to score touchdowns.
I think our guys worked hard this week. Very focused practices, good energy. Just had a couple costly mistakes, penalties. We had six total, but two I thought were really untimely and really hurt us.
Q. The penalties, is there a way to diagnose the timing of some of them? It's not just penalties, but penalties cut off big gains offensively or extend a drive defensively.
TOM ALLEN: Yeah, there were two particular defensively. The one was huge. We were off the field. They're kicking long field goal, going for it on fourth down. Long ways to go. Gave them a first down on roughing the passer. To me, that's undisciplined. They just can't be.
The other one with Devon Matthews, I was shocked he was the guy that got called. I don't know what he did. Immature mistake. One of our best kids in terms of doing everything we ask, the way he handles his business. That was costly to me.
It wasn't the number of them, it was the timing of them. We had them throughout the season at critical times. Not be able to overcome those has been the problem. When they set you back offensively, you get behind the chains, that high-low block was a really costly one field position-wise, taking you back 15 yards. Not able to overcome those when they do occur.
Q. Explosive plays and finishing drives, those were kind of consistent issues for you all year. How do you fix that? Personnel, scheme?
TOM ALLEN: You go back and look at scheme, evaluate that in the off-season. To me, you continue to develop your down-the-field passing game with the quarterback position making those throws, the receivers getting open and contesting those balls, taking those shots, making those big plays.
To me, it's about continuing to work on our vertical down-the-field pass game with our quarterbacks. That's a big part of it.
Q. You have done that more as the season went on. Seems like almost all your deep throws are outside the numbers. Is trying to get more post patterns, using the middle of the field the next step for you in the passing game?
TOM ALLEN: There's no question. You go through and evaluate, you look and see, Where are the areas we got to take advantage of now to be able to create the one-on-one matchups that you're trying to get to, be able to take advantage of the safeties being involved in the run game, to be able to get the ball deep down the middle or on the perimeter, to evaluate how we can do a better job of that.
To me, that's such a huge part. Turnover ratio, explosive play ratio, those two things determine your success on game day. That's the whole objective of what we're trying to do.
Q. You didn't have Whop, a guy who showed the ability to stretch the defense, especially down the middle. How much did that hurt? Purdue scored five fewer points than its average. Would you have taken that coming in?
TOM ALLEN: I thought it would be enough to win, I did. I knew they were going to get some points. They're an explosive offense, have done it against about everybody. Yeah, I would have thought that would be what we needed to do.
But still, you got to get more than they do. We didn't. Defensively we had our chances to get some key stops and weren't able to step up and get those.
It's just about to me growing the leadership of our team and guys that rise up and have that swag about them, have that confidence about them to take games over. We got to get to that point defensively, have guys step up in those roles, take games over as a defensive unit.
Going to really work hard to develop that this off-season because we got a lot of really talented young guys. They got to grow, mature. To me, that's what happens when you get in games like this, you have to have somebody rise up and be the guy that takes over, verbally, physically, making plays on the sideline, locker room, halftime, instead of it always being the coaches. We got to grow that with the defensive side of the football, for sure. Even as a team.
I just think that, yeah, we played a good football team that's been a very, very dangerous offense the entire season. Their issues were just not being able to -- we got out-scored. That's why we felt like we could do that today, and it didn't happen.
Q. You alluded to overcoming your weaknesses. What are your most glaring weaknesses you have to get over?
TOM ALLEN: I think to me, first of all, up front defensively. We have to be able to be more disruptive and do a better job of stopping the run within that core group of guys, then being able to create pressure with that core group of guys. Big-body guys that can be firm in the interior, then win your gaps, be able to create pressure.
We did a good job of getting some pressure today with those three and four guys we were rushing. I think to continue to grow a young secondary is critical. They got to play better throughout the season.
I think we continue offensively. When you talk about the explosive play department, we got to be able to address that, continue to develop the guys we got.
We went through and identified our top, most explosive players on offense coming out of fall camp, probably three weeks into fall camp. Top three guys really didn't play most of the whole season, if not at all. Guy like Whop, even though he hasn't been back here lately, got hurt against Michigan State, hasn't been healthy since. A huge part of our offense. Got to be able to continue to recruit, where if you lose a guy like that it's not so devastating of a loss. Right now there's not a guy that's like him that takes the guy's place.
Other guys in the runningback room that do things. Obviously Stevie showed up and did some awesome things this year. But to me, it's just continue to develop that part of our game. Then also the run game has to just continue to grow and develop. That to me is a constant thing.
Today the weather was fine, but last couple weeks it's been very, very cold. You got to run the football. Keep growing the offensive line, developing them, get strong, replacing the guys that graduated, move forward.
To me up front is a big deal. Then explosive plays on offense, our secondary ability to cover guys. No. 4 today is a difficult matchup. Can't double cover him every single snap. When we didn't, he won some one-on-ones. Double cover him, weakens other areas. Couple times one-on-ones is when he made his big plays.
Just a matter of continuing another whole off-season, full spring, summer, fall camp to continue to grow our guys and develop them, keep getting the results that we want.
Q. You yourself have shown the ability and willingness to change your approach, shape yourself as a coach based on what the team needs. How does this year shape you as a coach going forward? Have you thought about putting defensive coordinator responsibilities on someone else and taking more of a head coaching job moving forward?
TOM ALLEN: Definitely something I've been thinking about because of all the responsibilities that fall into this position. Now that I've done it for a couple years, feel like I understand the time demands. There's no questions about it, as I've talked about, even last year saying there's going to come a time when I need to do that so I can be the head coach of the team.
A big part of that is recruiting, the amount of film and time it takes to be the head coach and the DC is really, really changing. The amount of film you have to watch during a game week.
I think, yeah, as I continue to grow as a head coach, to be able to coach the coaches, coach the players, be able to be involved in all three phases, there's no question that's something that I'm thinking about, for sure.
Thank you.
Peyton Ramsey, Quarterback
Nick (Westbrook) said it was a different kind of look on that last touchdown. Was that a matter of seeing what the defense was?
"No, we had to hurry up and try to make something happen. Nick ended up running past the guy and making the play in the end zone. It was different. We always try to mix it up. He did a good job."
What's the next step offensively?
"We've got to be balanced all year long. There were games where we ran the ball really well. There were games where we threw the ball really well. I don't think there is enough of that throughout the year where we complement each other. I would also say red zone scoring. We moved the ball today, that really wasn't the issue. I think we only went three-and-out only one time. We moved the ball. I just think we have to get better at finishing off drives and getting points."
What was it like to have a guy like Stevie Scott with you all season in the backfield?
"He definitely grew up throughout the course of the year. He was a true freshman. A young kid. He developed early and grew up fast. He played really well throughout the course of the year. You saw him get better each and every week."
Nick Westbrook, Wide Receiver
Talk about the last touchdown. What did you see on that play?
"There was time left on the clock and we knew we had to score fast. A couple of plays before that we realized we were able to get by the corners and the safety wasn't able to get there. They just said to get down the field and we are going to throw the ball to you. Peyton threw a great ball and got me to make the catch."
How tough is it to not have Whop Philyor?
"It's been really tough. Obviously, we all love Whop. He brings out a lot of energy to that group. He keeps everyone up and motivated. Also, adding that extra depth, because we had Ty (Fryfogle) going both ways, both the slot and outside. If one of us gets tired outside, Ty could just move out there."
What does this program need to do moving forward as a team?
"We just have to choose to do it. We just have to choose to be great and realize we are a great team. Just having that confidence in yourself to realize you are good enough to be a great team in the Big Ten East. The toughest division there is. Having these young guys, who aren't as confident in themselves, going into this offseason, focused on building that confidence. Realizing how good of a player you really are."
Jerome Johnson, Defensive Tackle
You guys were getting a lot of consistent pressure from their guys, what do you think was working for you guys against their offensive line?
"I think Coach Allen and Coach Hagen had a good game plan for us. Obviously, it was working. We just need to finish better."
Where do you feel like this defense is relative to the beginning of the year?
"At the beginning of the year we started off young, and we still are young. We definitely got better as the games progressed as far as people playing, I think we did have a good rotation and people were ready to get in when they were called upon even if it was only one play they were ready."
You have had some untimely penalties, has there been an emphasis to get rid of those?
"Definitely. We never want those. It hurts you at any point in the game. We just need to work on not having those."
Mike Barwick Jr., Defensive Tackle
On the interception late in the first half, what did you see?
"It was a play where I had to drop back in coverage. I was watching the quarterback's eyes, and I saw where he was looking and came up with the ball."
What did that interception do for the game heading into halftime?
"In general, getting stops and takeaways are big and have always been a part of our goals and mission. It was definitely real big and definitely a momentum switch."
How do you think the defense has changed over the course of the season?
"We just grew together, as a unit. There is nobody out there doing their own thing. Everybody is doing their jobs and working together."
How much growth have you seen form some of the younger guys who probably haven't played a lot of snaps?
"Younger guys are coming along well. Like I said, it's going to be a great ride, a great next couple of years when they come back. It's going to be some trouble."
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm
Opening Statement
"Well, it's a great day to be a Boilermaker. I am very proud of our football team. We've hung in there all year long. Things haven't been perfect and we've had some ups and downs, without question. To be able to come into this game, coming off two losses, one in triple overtime against a very good opponent and still hang in there and believe that you can go on the road and beat your rival when everything is on the line, is what it's all about. This is why you play the game. Our guys performed under pressure and we found a way to win in the end. Very proud, not only of our team but our seniors who have been through a lot. To be able to go to a bowl game two years in a row is a great accomplishment. I'm proud of their leadership. Our young guys played hard for them and while everything is not perfect, you have to hand it to our team for hanging in there and making enough plays to win. Definitely proud of David Blough as well. He is someone who exemplifies what a student-athlete should be and definitely a Boilermaker. He's done everything we ask and more. An unbelievable man off the field, does everything the right way and for him to come in and help us win football games, play at a high level and be able to advance to a bowl, I'm very proud of him. Just a great effort from our team and coaches and I'm very proud of them."
Rondale Moore, what he's done as a freshman, is it beyond belief for you?
"Well as you know, Rondale Moore is a special talent and we knew he would be a difference-maker. We told him. I probably undersold him to be quite honest with you. He showcased what he can do to us at practice, fall camp, and then translating to the game is a different story. Just the speed of the game, everything is on the line, you're playing against great opponents, especially in the Big Ten with great defenses, and nobody stopped him. Nobody contained him. Numerous teams tried in numerous different ways. He was a difference-maker for us today. He's the guy a quarterback looks to and if you get him one-on-one, he's going to get the ball and you're going to have to find a way to double team him. He plays hard, he plays tough, does all the small things right, so I'm happy he's on our team. He's a great teammate, the guys on the team love him because he doesn't want the credit and he doesn't want all the attention on him. He just wants to play football and win."
After the last two seasons and the foundation you've laid here, what's the future of this program look like?
"I think it's about finding a way to inch up and get better and better every year. We're taking the small steps necessary to do that. We're going to take some lumps along the way, get hit in the chin, hit in the gut, knocked over a few times and get our lip bloody. But, if we got guys that enjoy football and want to compete, you can find a way to improve and get better. Every little thing matters. We have to find a way to win this rivalry game, find a way to get to a bowl game and win that, find ways to beat some opponents on our schedule that we haven't beat as much in the past, figure out ways to be a better overall team, get more difference-makers and continue to recruit. I think everything is going the way I would like, and we just have to stick to it. We can't take anything for granted, but I feel good about the position we're in. I think we have a great group of guys and coaches that like football and like to compete and want to find a way to do it because we do have room to improve."
This is the second straight year you will be going to a bowl game, what is the significance of that for you?
"Well it's huge. I'm proud of our team. We wanted to find a way to improve upon last year, which meant go to a bowl game of course and hopefully find a way to win it. To start the season 0-3 and then figure out a way to beat three ranked teams was great and then we got in a slump again and then found a way to win this game. That's football and really that's life. I think our guys understand that. The good thing is they come in ready to work every day. They don't let anything get them down. We try to keep their spirits up and they go hard. Everything won't be perfect and pretty all the time, but this means a lot to them. They want to advance and play one more game and that's what it's about. Putting your back against the wall, putting pressure on yourself. We knew the pressure was on us. We had to go on the road, play Indiana, a team that has beaten us a lot in the past and figure out a way to win. Our guys did that and I'm proud of them."
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballFB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Carter Smith Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (10/20/25)
Monday, October 20