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Bowl Central
Music City Bowl
Tickets: From the Bowl / StubHub
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Five members of the Purdue football team may have been discovered Wednesday.
For their songwriting talent.
Senior quarterback David Blough, senior running back D.J. Knox, sophomore cornerback Simeon Smiley, sophomore wide receiver Jared Sparks and sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Watts were victorious in a competition against five Auburn players for the song they wrote and performed at the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Welcome Party at the world-famous Wildhorse Saloon.
The song, entitled "Doing it for Tyler Trent," paid tribute to the Boilermakers' season and their honorary team captain, who arrived in town earlier in the day on Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's plane. Trent received a standing ovation upon arriving at the spirited evening gathering. The act achieved a 111 decibel reading, topping Auburn's 108.
Each member of the Boilermaker 5 received a trophy. The group was assisted by local country music songwriter Marv Green, who is best known for co-writing Lonestar's "Amazed," which reached No. 1 on the charts in 1999.
"We wanted to make sure we wrote a song that everybody could rock to and would be a hit," Knox said. "We wanted to talk about what our team has been through this season, starting out 0-3 and turning it around, making it to the Music City Bowl and doing it all for Tyler. We tried to incorporate everything we could into it.
"I was star struck so much meeting (Green) that we couldn't even get the song started. I was asking so many questions about the music business - tours, concerts, everything. It was amazing to me for him to take time out for us."
Auburn won the other competition, a four-minute hot chicken eating contest. Five Tigers topped five Boilermakers 32-28. Pacing Purdue was senior offensive guard Shane Evans, who consumed eight Damn Hot!! chicken tenders provided by the legendary Hattie B's. Sophomore defensive end Derrick Barnes and junior defensive tackle Alex Criddle both ate six, followed by junior running back Richie Worship with five and senior center Kirk Barron with three.
Earlier in the day, the Boilermakers conducted their final full practice from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Ensworth High School - followed by a weight-lifting session - sandwiched in between early-morning and late-afternoon special teams and position meetings.
"It has been a good week, balancing between having some fun and preparing for the bowl," Purdue co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. "We will be ready to face a very good Auburn team."
The Boilermakers (6-6) play Auburn (7-5) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time), and the game will be televised by ESPN.
"They put the same number of people on the field as we do, so if we play fast, hard and smart, I feel like we have a chance against anybody," freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore said. "So we haven't changed our game plan for Auburn."
#BoilerNotes
* Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm boasts a record of 22-4 in games he has coached on or after Oct. 29, including a 6-3 mark at Purdue and a 3-0 mark in bowl games. In their two years under Brohm, the Boilermakers have won their regular-season finale over Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket Game to become bowl eligible (31-24 at home in 2017 and 28-21 on the road in 2018).
* The Boilermakers are averaging 459.0 yards of total offense, 317.8 passing yards (10th in the nation) and 31.9 points per game. Those robust numbers rank fourth, fifth and sixth in school history.
* Nine of Purdue's opponents are playing in bowl games. One of them, Boston College, had its game against Boise State declared a no-contest Wednesday when severe weather in Dallas forced First Responder Bowl officials to cancel the contest in the first quarter.
Bowl Central
Music City Bowl
Tickets: From the Bowl / StubHub
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Five members of the Purdue football team may have been discovered Wednesday.
For their songwriting talent.
Senior quarterback David Blough, senior running back D.J. Knox, sophomore cornerback Simeon Smiley, sophomore wide receiver Jared Sparks and sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Watts were victorious in a competition against five Auburn players for the song they wrote and performed at the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Welcome Party at the world-famous Wildhorse Saloon.
The song, entitled "Doing it for Tyler Trent," paid tribute to the Boilermakers' season and their honorary team captain, who arrived in town earlier in the day on Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's plane. Trent received a standing ovation upon arriving at the spirited evening gathering. The act achieved a 111 decibel reading, topping Auburn's 108.
You know a video is coming later, but that @MusicCityBowl songwriting contest was Grammy-worthy! ????
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) December 27, 2018
Boilers won, btw. #BoilerUp ???? #LetsPlayFootball pic.twitter.com/Mh5H113ljt
Each member of the Boilermaker 5 received a trophy. The group was assisted by local country music songwriter Marv Green, who is best known for co-writing Lonestar's "Amazed," which reached No. 1 on the charts in 1999.
"We wanted to make sure we wrote a song that everybody could rock to and would be a hit," Knox said. "We wanted to talk about what our team has been through this season, starting out 0-3 and turning it around, making it to the Music City Bowl and doing it all for Tyler. We tried to incorporate everything we could into it.
"I was star struck so much meeting (Green) that we couldn't even get the song started. I was asking so many questions about the music business - tours, concerts, everything. It was amazing to me for him to take time out for us."
Forever our captain @theTylerTrent #BoilerUp ???? #TylerStrong pic.twitter.com/eSoFDepjpS
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) December 27, 2018
Auburn won the other competition, a four-minute hot chicken eating contest. Five Tigers topped five Boilermakers 32-28. Pacing Purdue was senior offensive guard Shane Evans, who consumed eight Damn Hot!! chicken tenders provided by the legendary Hattie B's. Sophomore defensive end Derrick Barnes and junior defensive tackle Alex Criddle both ate six, followed by junior running back Richie Worship with five and senior center Kirk Barron with three.
Earlier in the day, the Boilermakers conducted their final full practice from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Ensworth High School - followed by a weight-lifting session - sandwiched in between early-morning and late-afternoon special teams and position meetings.
"It has been a good week, balancing between having some fun and preparing for the bowl," Purdue co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. "We will be ready to face a very good Auburn team."
The Boilermakers (6-6) play Auburn (7-5) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time), and the game will be televised by ESPN.
"They put the same number of people on the field as we do, so if we play fast, hard and smart, I feel like we have a chance against anybody," freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore said. "So we haven't changed our game plan for Auburn."
#BoilerNotes
* Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm boasts a record of 22-4 in games he has coached on or after Oct. 29, including a 6-3 mark at Purdue and a 3-0 mark in bowl games. In their two years under Brohm, the Boilermakers have won their regular-season finale over Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket Game to become bowl eligible (31-24 at home in 2017 and 28-21 on the road in 2018).
* The Boilermakers are averaging 459.0 yards of total offense, 317.8 passing yards (10th in the nation) and 31.9 points per game. Those robust numbers rank fourth, fifth and sixth in school history.
* Nine of Purdue's opponents are playing in bowl games. One of them, Boston College, had its game against Boise State declared a no-contest Wednesday when severe weather in Dallas forced First Responder Bowl officials to cancel the contest in the first quarter.