Note: This feature ran in the Game Day program for the Central Michigan game on Sept. 6.
Boilermaker Feature
Feichter 'Lucky' To Be A Boilermaker
By Matthew Staudt
Landon Feichter needed a break to make the Purdue football team. Even he admits that he is lucky to be a Boilermaker.
Feichter was a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., that had some small-college offers. But, being the competitor that he is, the now-fifth year senior starting safety wanted more.
Feichter had a relationship with the Purdue staff in high school, but had yet to meet then-head coach Danny Hope. At a camp during his senior year, Feichter was approached by Hope and was asked his name. The former head coach misheard Feichter, thinking he had said, "FEEK-ter," instead of "FIKE-ter," which was the same last name as a talented individual Hope had worked with in the past. The believed relationship was good enough to give Feichter a walkon spot on the team.
"Purdue started talking to me, and then one day coach Hope asked me my last name," Feichter says. "He misheard what I had said, so I did get lucky to be here. Everything worked out in my favor for me to be on the team."
Simply making the team wasn't enough, especially after learning of the fortunate blunder. Feichter wanted to prove that he belonged. In his first practice as a Boilermaker, he was consistently beating the starters. Feichter made them look bad to the point that the of defensive graduate assistant called the starters out, saying, "He isn't even supposed to be here!"
Even though the comment stung, Feichter kept working.
He eventually made his way onto the two-deep as a redshirt freshman during spring ball. Then, his time came in the 2011 season opener against Middle Tennessee State. In the third quarter, with Purdue trailing 14-10, Feichter came up on run support and made his first career tackle, a huge moment for any walkon.
Feichter wasn't satisfied.
Three weeks later, he posted a then-career high eight tackles against Notre Dame. Feichter had gone from a mistake to a regular contributor.
Feichter kept working hard and became a starter for the 2012 season opener against Eastern Kentucky. His hard work paid off, as he recorded two tackles, two pass breakups and returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown. The tone was set for the season. Feichter was named honorable mention All-Big Ten and was the team's defensive Most Valuable Player. He led the conference with four interceptions and topped the team with 80 tackles. Everything seemed to be going his way.
Things didn't stay easy, though.
Instead of luck, Feichter's breaks turned to bones and other injuries. He sprained the AC joint in his shoulder and needed offseason surgery, broke a hand during spring ball and had a mild concussion over his first three years. Last season, he broke three bones in a span of two games. He tried to play through fractures in both hands, but then a broken leg sidelined him for six games.
"It's hard to keep count of all the injuries," Feichter says. "But I never got complacent and always realize that I need to re-earn my spot. That makes me the kind of player that I am today. I don't have a spot solidified, so I have to keep going out there every day and work hard. There is a difference between injuries and being hurt. What some would call an injury, I just think of as being hurt, so I just keep going out there and giving it my all."
It's that type of mindset that has allowed for Feichter to consistently be one of the top defenders on the field for the Boilermakers.
Not even a first-half suspension, stemming from a targeting penalty in last season's final game against Indiana, could stop Feichter from being the team's leading tackler last week against Western Michigan. He came out of the locker room in the second half, made tackles on the first two plays and eventually led the team with eight stops. Feichter's goals are simple: be a leader on the defensive side of the ball and get the team to a championship. If he can stay healthy, it doesn't seem like there's much he can't do.
In the end, Purdue is the one that caught the break and is lucky to have landed Feichter.
Note: Since running the story, Feichter leads the team in tackles this season with 33 total, and is tied for the team lead with one interception.