Even as students near midterms at Purdue University, their support for the Boilermakers sports teams remains consistent. Purdue consistently ranks high in basketball and volleyball, among other sports, making it easy for fans to remain motivated, but football is another story. (Photo Courtesy of Big Ten Network)
The team went 4-8 last year, which was understandable, considering it was Purdue Football Head Coach Ryan Walters alongside some other coaching staff and players’ first year.
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Already this year, the Purdue Boilermakers football team is 1-4 headed in to playing at rival Illinois, who is currently ranked 23rd in the AP poll as of this week.
Win or lose, the Boilermakers can reasonably expect fans to line up next Friday as they play Oregon. In fact, they probably expect to sell keep selling out all of their football games.
For at least the first half of every game over the last few years, they have brought in a full crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Boilermakers may not deliver victories every game, but students, fans and the community continue to come out every home game, thanks to the sports culture on Purdue’s campus. Purdue has a very loyal fanbase, even outside of the university in the mid-size city of West Lafayette.
While this culture is an important aspect bringing together West Lafayette and the Purdue campus, the Boilermakers would be wise to not take it for granted. While their fans may show up to sporting events regardless of the result, Purdue athletics should deliver them some wins to be proud of.
Jacob Buehrer is a sophomore at Purdue and the editor-in-chief of The Indiana Commons.