Preseason predictions motivate Boilermakers

College football's preseason magazines show no faith in Purdue’s 2015 team.

The media that covers the Big Ten demonstrated zero confidence this season will be different than the last two.

“They put us dead last in everything,” senior cornerback Frankie Williams said. “To sit here and say we don’t look at it is a lie. We see it. It frustrates us but nobody sees what we see in the film room the next day. I can name three games right now that we’re a play away from winning those games.

“It pissed us off and we’re running with it.”

The consensus among those outside the program is the Boilermakers are headed for another last-place finish in the Big Ten West. One online sportsbook set the over and under win total for Purdue at four, which is two shy of qualifying for a bowl game.

Have the Boilermakers done anything the last two years to warrant anything but a last-place prediction? Probably not.

Still, the mindset inside the locker room is different.

From coach Darrell Hazell to each player on the roster, there’s a strong belief the program begins climbing out of the basement this season. Whether it ends with a bowl game remains a question, but they’re confident the overall performance and win total is in a position to increase.

Purdue has won four games in Hazell’s first two seasons and has lost all eight Big Ten home games.

“I don’t care. That’s their job,” Williams said of the prognosticators. “Their job is to give opinions about other teams and whatever helps them bring money to their family, but the only thing I’m worried about is everybody in the locker room. We’re on the same page and as long as I’m on the same page with them, that’s all that matters to me.”

While Williams is aware of the predictions, Hazell claims to stay away from the outside opinions.

“I don’t read those polls,” the third-year coach said. “I have way too many things to concern myself with than how people write those polls. All I know what’s in our locker room right now and I like what’s in our locker room.”

Purdue returns 18 starters from last year’s 3-9 team, which dropped six straight to close the season. The offensive line returns intact and adds depth. Defensively, there’s experience at linebacker, cornerback and defensive tackle.

Questions at receiver, defensive end, safety and who’s the starting quarterback continue to linger and will be answered during training camp. The Boilermakers start practice Friday.

“Our guys are going to go to work regardless if we’re picked first or last,” Hazell said. “We’re going to do the exact same thing. We can‘t get consumed about what people are saying about us. You can’t. If you do, you’re losing time at some things that do matter on Saturdays.”

According to Williams, the chemistry inside the locker room is as strong as it’s been during his career.

“There’s no negative vibes in our locker room right now – everything is positive, everybody is together, everybody wants to see everyone win,” Williams said. “When the team wins, the individual wins. Everybody is doing it for one another.”

So, what’s a successful season for Hazell?

“Successful season to me is wins. You’ve got to win. That’s from me. That’s not from anybody on the outside of the building. I know we have enough good players in our locker room to win against good people,” he said.