Game Notes
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue and Minnesota open their Big Ten Conference seasons Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised by ESPN2.
Both the Boilermakers (1-2) and the Golden Gophers (3-0) are coming off open weeks.
Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said his team took advantage of the extra time between games to stress physicality of play.
"We got a lot of good contact work," Brohm said. "I think both sides of the ball need to get better at being more physical and trying to dominate the line of scrimmage and trying to win football games in that manner before we get into all the cute stuff that we like to run.
"I think we did see some improvement. We've got to continue to see more, but we're going to make sure we continue to harp on being physical, trying to be as dominant as we can at the point of attack, and coming off the ball, striking people and making sure we're getting better each and every day."
Minnesota has won its three games by a combined 13 points - victories over South Dakota State, Fresno State and Georgia Southern - and the Gophers have won six of their last seven games, dating to last season.
"They finished the year strong last year," Brohm said. "They beat us, they beat Wisconsin on the road, they won their bowl game, and now they've won three in a row. They've got some leadership on their team. They find a way to win the close games, they fight and compete to the end, and obviously they've gained experience over the last couple years.
"Things are going in the right direction for them. We have to find a way to step up to the plate and take on this matchup head-on and have some courage and toughness, go out there and compete, and see if we can find a way to win."
During the open week, Brohm revealed that junior wide receiver Jackson Anthrop also would see playing time at running back moving forward.
"Jackson is a guy that we want to try our best to get the ball in his hands more," Brohm said. "Even on special teams, he gives great effort, he goes hard, he wants to win, he competes, and he's a guy we want to get in the mix, so you'll see him playing both running back and the receiver position."
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day, and the Boilermakers will honor the military by wearing branch stickers on their helmets. Various military and service vehicles will be on display around Ross-Ade. Active military service, ROTC members and future soldiers will form the pregame fan tunnel. Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Winslow will participate in the coin toss as the honorary captain. Navy Rear Adm. James Aiken will conduct a halftime enlistment ceremony of all branches in the south end zone.
The last time Purdue began the Big Ten season against Minnesota was 2011, and the Boilermakers won 45-17 at Ross-Ade.
Buy Tickets
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue and Minnesota open their Big Ten Conference seasons Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised by ESPN2.
Both the Boilermakers (1-2) and the Golden Gophers (3-0) are coming off open weeks.
Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said his team took advantage of the extra time between games to stress physicality of play.
"We got a lot of good contact work," Brohm said. "I think both sides of the ball need to get better at being more physical and trying to dominate the line of scrimmage and trying to win football games in that manner before we get into all the cute stuff that we like to run.
"I think we did see some improvement. We've got to continue to see more, but we're going to make sure we continue to harp on being physical, trying to be as dominant as we can at the point of attack, and coming off the ball, striking people and making sure we're getting better each and every day."
Minnesota has won its three games by a combined 13 points - victories over South Dakota State, Fresno State and Georgia Southern - and the Gophers have won six of their last seven games, dating to last season.
"They finished the year strong last year," Brohm said. "They beat us, they beat Wisconsin on the road, they won their bowl game, and now they've won three in a row. They've got some leadership on their team. They find a way to win the close games, they fight and compete to the end, and obviously they've gained experience over the last couple years.
"Things are going in the right direction for them. We have to find a way to step up to the plate and take on this matchup head-on and have some courage and toughness, go out there and compete, and see if we can find a way to win."
During the open week, Brohm revealed that junior wide receiver Jackson Anthrop also would see playing time at running back moving forward.
"Jackson is a guy that we want to try our best to get the ball in his hands more," Brohm said. "Even on special teams, he gives great effort, he goes hard, he wants to win, he competes, and he's a guy we want to get in the mix, so you'll see him playing both running back and the receiver position."
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day, and the Boilermakers will honor the military by wearing branch stickers on their helmets. Various military and service vehicles will be on display around Ross-Ade. Active military service, ROTC members and future soldiers will form the pregame fan tunnel. Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Winslow will participate in the coin toss as the honorary captain. Navy Rear Adm. James Aiken will conduct a halftime enlistment ceremony of all branches in the south end zone.
The last time Purdue began the Big Ten season against Minnesota was 2011, and the Boilermakers won 45-17 at Ross-Ade.