Tuesday, February 7,

I was one of about 10 local media members that sat down for an hour-long interview session with Purdue head football coach Danny Hope in Coach Hope’s office this morning. Just like on National Signing Day last Wednesday, Coach Hope was in really good spirits. He attended Super Bowl XLVI and also spent some time with one of his standout offensive lineman at Purdue, New England Patriots veteran offensive lineman Matt Light.

Hope patiently answered a number of questions from reporters, ranging from updates on injured players, his coaching staff, the depth at quarterback, and whether or not he’s signed his two-year contract extension (he hasn’t but Hope said that’s not even remotely an issue for concern).

He also said that linebacker Dwayne Beckford is “temporarily suspended”. Beckford didn’t play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl after a mid-December arrest. And that wide receiver O.J. Ross, who didn’t play in the bowl game for academic-related reasons, still needs to get some academic work done to be in complete good standing, practice and playing time-wise, with the team.

I think the bowl game was a big benefit to Hope in more ways than one. I’ve always liked Danny Hope and I know he has some detractors but he sounds more confident since the bowl game victory. I’ve always enjoyed dealing with him as a member of the media. He’s always respectful and respects the fact that we’re trying to do a job to inform Boilermaker Nation fans. And if he doesn’t want to answer a question, he won’t answer it. And I respect that. But since the win over Western Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit, Hope has displayed his sense of humor at times. Which I like and, quite frankly, I wish he would display more often. Because I think fans would see what I see when I have off-the-record talks with Coach Hope. And that is he’s an interesting and likeable guy.

When I interviewed Light and two other former Boilers last Thursday, Rob Ninkovich and Niko Koutovides, they all raved about Hope. And, to me, that says a lot about Danny Hope as a man. I know this, I enjoyed today’s interview session with him. It didn’t seem like an hour long.

Blog to you soon,

Mike