July 25, 2014
By Tom Schott
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The football season is right around the corner.
Big Ten Media Days and the 43rd-annual Football Kickoff Luncheon are Monday and Tuesday, July 28 and 29, in Chicago. The Boilermakers will be represented by three senior players - running back Raheem Mostert, linebacker Sean Robinson and defensive end Ryan Russell - along with head coach Darrell Hazell. In addition, former defensive tackle and 2014 College Football Hall of Famer Dave Butz will be on hand.
The three players will be taking fan questions during a live Facebook Q&A on the Purdue Athletics Facebook Page at 2 p.m. ET Monday. Submit your questions in the comment section of the post.
On July 30, Hazell will join his fellow Big Ten West Division head coaches for ESPN's annual midsummer college coaches "car wash" in Bristol, Conn. They will appear on multiple programs and platforms during their one-day stay. The East Division coaches will follow July 31.
Purdue opens training camp Aug. 4, and fans are invited to watch most of the practices. The Boilermakers' first game is at noon on Aug. 30 against Western Michigan at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Click here to purchase season tickets, Three-Game Mini Plans, Two-Game Prime Packs and single-game tickets.
Tickets Still Available for Men's Basketball Alumni Game on Aug. 2
Tickets are still available for the men's basketball Alumni Game, set for noon on Aug. 2 in Mackey Arena. They are priced at $10 for the lower level (reserved) and $5 for the upper level (general admission) and may be purchased online at purduesports.com, by calling 800-49-SPORT or in person at the Purdue Athletics Ticket Office (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).
Hall of Fame head coach Gene Keady will lead one of the alumni teams, while current head coach Matt Painter will guide the other. Click here for a list of players returning for the game.
Immediately following the game, current members of the men's basketball team and the alums will be stationed around the Mackey concourse to sign autographs.
Nine Boilermakers Earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Status
Nine Purdue track and field athletes earned USTFCCCA all-academic status for having a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25 and finishing the indoor season ranked in the top 96 in an individual event, top 48 in a relay event or participating in the NCAA Preliminary Round during the outdoor season.
The men's team had five honorees - junior Chris Arvia, senior Kyle Campbell, senior Kevin Griffith, sophomore Matthew McClintock and sophomore Caleb Reiff - while the women's squad had four selections: junior Blair Doney, sophomore Katie Hoevet, freshman Hope Schmelzle and senior Kari Shoolbraid.
You can read more about their accomplishments here.
Checking in with the Student-Athlete Interns
In April, the Purdue Athletics Department selected six student-athletes to serve as interns in various areas this summer, one each in communications, compliance, John Purdue Club, marketing/fan experience, ticket operations and the John R. Wooden Leadership Institute.
Each intern is providing an update about his or her internship on purduesports.com. Here are the ones that have been posted to date:
Charles Torwudzo, John Purdue Club
Soraya Toppin-Herbert, John R. Wooden Leadership Institute
Jessie Schmitt, Communications
Madison Monteiro (marketing/fan experience) is on tap for today, followed by KiKi Jones (compliance) on Monday and Ryan Clay (ticket operations) on Tuesday.
Downtown Gridiron Club Information
The Downtown Gridiron Club will kick off its 2014 luncheon series with an exclusive evening event at the Mollenkopf Athletic Center on the Purdue campus. Members are invited to join head coach Darrell Hazell and his staff from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 27 for refreshments, a cash bar and tour of the football facilities. Members may bring a guest for just $10. Please RSVP via email.
The luncheons - held at The Outpost (2501 Old U.S. 231 South in Lafayette) - will be held on the following dates: Sept. 10, 17 and 24; Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 29; Nov. 5, 19 and 26; and Dec. 17. The doors open at 11 a.m., with the previous game film running until Hazell addresses the crowd at noon. He will review a handful of plays from the previous game and then give a preview of the upcoming game. Questions are welcomed and encouraged.
A season ticket for all 12 meetings (11 luncheons and the evening event) is $175. Please make checks payable to PRF (not Downtown Gridiron Club) and mail to Clint Brand, c/o Reed & Company, P.C., P.O. Box 1128, Lafayette, IN 47902-1128.
Etcetera
Several assistant coach vacancies have been filled: Jake Amos (men's golf), Megan Ciolli Bartlett (softball) and Tyrel Todd (wrestling) ... The John Purdue Club is sponsoring a "Trick or Treat Tour" to Lincoln, Neb., in conjunction with the Purdue football game at Nebraska, and it's available only to JPC members. The tour runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Click here for more information ... The 2014-15 men's golf schedule has been released ... Former assistant women's basketball coach Gail Goestenkors (1987-92) has been elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. After leaving Purdue, Goestenkors enjoyed a distinguished 20-year head coaching career at Duke and Texas. She compiled a 498-163 record (.753 winning percentage). The Class of 2015 will be inducted June 13, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. ... Tracking the Boilermakers will return Aug. 8.