Purdue head coach Barry Odom used his time at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday to paint a clear picture of where the program is headed: back toward “consistent winning football.”
Odom opened by pointing to Chicago as “one of the greatest cities in the world” and noting it as the home to 65,000 Purdue alums. From there, he spent much of his remarks emphasizing the people around the program - a theme he returned to repeatedly as he talked about what makes Purdue different.
He thanked Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski ahead of his impending retirement, saying Bobinski “poured in over 40 years to college athletes.” Odom said their friendship runs deep and added that they have “a number of things in working order for Purdue football to be successful.” He also praised Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, calling his leadership “elite in every single way.”
For Odom, the identity of the program comes down to the people in it and the way they approach the work. He described Purdue as a place that should be associated with “Innovation and blue collar,” and said the program has made “so many gains” over the last eight months. In his view, this is now “a different team, a different program,” with renewed energy throughout the building and organization.
That energy, Odom said, starts with the players. He said the one transfer portal window was helpful because it gave the staff a clearer picture of what it had entering the summer.
He also said the team is a “true team that cares about each other - they are selfless, and made tremendous gains in their habits and what it takes for winning football.” Odom added that the best teams are “coach-driven and player-led.”
He also highlighted the staff structure, mentioning offensive coordinator Josh Henson returning for his second year with the program, along with new defensive coordinator Kevin Kane and special teams coordinator James Shibest.
When the conversation turned to Indiana, Odom credited Curt Cignetti for the success he has had with the Hoosiers and said that kind of turnaround gives other programs belief that a quick flip can happen. Still, he noted that the formula is not the same for every program.
Odom spent a good portion of his remarks on quarterback Ryan Browne and the decision to stick with him this season. “There were some really good ups for him and some low-lows,” Odom said, adding that quarterbacks often get too much praise and too much criticism.
He pointed out that some interceptions were not entirely Browne’s fault, though they still end up in the record books. Odom said Browne is judged on wins, just as he is, and called him “a fierce competitor with an elite skill set.”
He also said nobody has poured more into Browne’s development since the season ended than Browne himself, and he believes Purdue will have an explosive offense this season.
Odom closed by pointing to another familiar source of winning energy: Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter. He said he has a great relationship with Painter and admires the success he has built, adding that winning is contagious and that is what Purdue is chasing this season.
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