With a week to go until the Purdue football team kicks off the 2024 season at home against Indiana State, coach Ryan Walters took a few minutes this week to talk how the Boilermakers have done in practice, as well as why he favors early morning practices.
“Most schools I’ve been to (practice) in the morning. Everywhere that I’ve been where we’ve gone in the morning saw an uptick in academic performance, which has also been the case here. We’ve had back-to-back semesters of breaking the academic records here,” Walters said.
When asked why Purdue football has been holding meetings and practices in the morning, Walters said by doing so, his team benefits from having more accountability in terms of attending class, study halls and putting more work into their craft.
“At the end of the day, you’re not as gassed. If we’re practicing in the afternoon, do you go to that 8 (a.m.) class? I don’t know if you’re getting yourself out of bed and going to that class. Then you’re done with us at 5:30 or 6 (p.m.), you’re probably tired because you’ve gone through a whole day. So, you’re going home, getting on a video game and going to bed,” Walters said.
He said by bringing guys in for a team meeting at 7 p.m., he knows they are going to make class after practice.
“Then your day is done at 4:30 or 5, you’re still awake, so you’ve got a chance to do extra rehab, come back and watch extra film, chance to get extra studying in. So, I just think you maximize the growth potential throughout the day and maximize the 24 hours if you’re able to do football in the morning,” Walters said.
With practice winding down, Walters said he had a few things he wants to see happen before the home opener.
“Fine tuning on details, solidifying spots on the roster, staying healthy and preparing your bodies for a live contest. Then we will get a jump start on Indiana State and go to work,” Walters said.
The second year coach did acknowledge he has seen a Purdue football team that is much deeper than it was a year ago.
“We addressed the needs that we needed from a year ago. Happy with the morale of the locker room, happy with the buy-in and excited to go play,” Walters said.
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