CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL: LSU VS PURDUE

January 2, 2023

Brian Brohm

TJ Sheffield

Sanoussi Kane

Camping World Stadium

Purdue Boilermakers

Press Conference

LSU 63, Purdue 7

BRIAN BROHM: Yeah, obviously, not the performance we were looking for. Very disappointed in the result. A lo of people might have thought this was going to happen. We were trying our hardest to make sure that it didn't. Tried to give these guys the best plan we could possible to beat LSU, and we were believing we could do it.

Obviously, that did not happen, so very disappointed in the result, but I am proud of our guys' effort. I thought that they practiced hard. I thought they actually gave great effort today. We just didn't have enough to go win the game. We didn't execute at a high enough level to win the football game or to even be in it. Effort was there, but execution was not.

Q. I know this situation leading up to the game was pretty unique. Are there any particular lessons or anything you would do in preparing for the game this week?

BRIAN BROHM: Yeah, it was very unique. The whole month had a lot of different things happening. Obviously, starting with Jeff [Brohm] taking the Louisville job and multiple assistant coaches also departing at that time. Then, you start talking to our senior players that were really most of our production throughout the season. Then, guys with NFL futures that wanted to protect themselves and didn't feel like it was in their best interests to play. You lose a lot of firepower there off the top.

Then, your guys -- it's in flux, right, so who is going to be the new coach? Does the new coach want me? Do I need to get in the transfer portal? Even your coach is in the same position. Do I even have a job after the bowl game is over? A lot of things happening, going on.

In all honesty, I feel like the coaches stayed locked in. I felt like the players were locked in. We just couldn't get it done today.

Q. Can you sort of just assess the program going forward?

SEMISI FAKASIIEIKI: A month ago, we were playing in the Big 10 Championship, so it is not like any like reload, rebuild, anything that needs to be done. It is just progressing and moving forward to the goal, which is eventually winning a Big 10 Championship.

Q. Wanted to find out the status of Deion since he got escorted off the field in a stretcher.

BRIAN BROHM: I haven't been updated on his status. The reason a stretcher came out is, because there was some tenderness in the neck area. Obviously, his head hit the turf pretty hard, so they are evaluating him as we speak. We hope and pray that everything is going to be okay.

Q. Obviously, today's result stings, but when this coaching staff came here, this was a program that was in the dumps and bottom of the Power Five. To win nine games last year, eight this year, do you kind of feel like this group collectively accomplished quite a bit, even though the lasting image right now is 63-7?

BRIAN BROHM: I think so. I think for the most part, we came in kind of right away and, at least, instilled some belief in the players that they could compete. That they could go out and win. That they could win big-time games.

We were obviously able to accomplish that a number of times and beat ranked opponents and pull off upsets. I think there is still some ways to go as far as trying to get to that upper echelon of teams and teams in the Big Ten.

I think it was great year this year to get to the Big 10 Championship. Now, we did need a little bit of help along the way to get in there, but that is kind of how the Big Ten West has been going as of late. I feel like the program is in a good spot. I think Coach Walters is going to inherit a program of guys that are tough, that want to play hard and that want to win, and I hope that he's able to keep it going and take it to the next level.

I told the guys after the game, we want to see you guys be successful in the future. We want to see you in the Big 10 Championship next year, as well. Loved my time at Purdue. A lot of great people, a lot of great relationships. Hurts to end it this way. Kind of stuck around to try to make sure that this didn't happen, and, unfortunately, it did. It wasn't for lack of effort. I thought coaches and players put in the effort to try to go get a victory. Just didn't make it work.

Q. TJ, I know it's fresh, but what does this game and this experience and this loss going to do for you guys moving into the off-season?

TJ SHEFFIELD: It is just going to make us grind harder. I am looking forward to starting with Coach Walters and just getting back to it.

Q. I know it's a team sport, but any disappointment not seeing Devin get to a thousand yards rushing?

BRIAN BROHM: Yeah, I kind of threw him back in there at the end a little bit, because I knew he needed about 38, 39 yards. Obviously, you don't want to risk him getting hurt, right, but you like to see him get to that 1,000-yard mark.

We wish we could have got him there. Just we weren't -- I don't know that we had a big play today, to be honest. If we could bust a few runs, get a little bit of momentum, I think we could have done a few things, but it just wasn't our day.

Q. Was there anything, playing LSU in person, that was more than what you saw on film? What did you take from seeing them live?

BRIAN BROHM: I obviously thought we would do a lot better. It is what you saw on film. They are athletic, they are long, they are fast, and they play with speed. We knew that. We knew that coming in. We thought we could give them a much better game than we did.

Yeah, very good team. Hats off to them. I think they have a bright future. I think Coach Kelly has that place going in the right direction. I look for them to keep building on this for next year. That quarterback, both those quarterbacks, are really good. He has a wealth at the position, and I think they are both coming back. I would expect LSU to have some big expectations for next season.

Q. TJ, you talked about the program going forward, but this season clearly was special even though it didn't end the way you wanted it to. When you came to Purdue, obviously you wanted to help turn this program around. Do you leave here feeling like you lost to LSU, but the last couple years have been pretty fun to be a part of?

TJ SHEFFIELD: I think we have done a great job this year. We have definitely made history at Purdue. We just didn't put it together today. I'm ready to get back to it next season.

SEMISI FAKASIIEIKI: Yeah, I just felt like we have just got a brotherhood now, obviously like, since I have gotten here. We had some low moments but we have definitely had some highs. We have a brotherhood in that locker room.

So regardless of what anybody does, if they enter the portal or anything like that, it is a brotherhood down there, and I love every single one of those guys in that room. I know they will fight for me the same way I will fight for them.

It is a great experience. Obviously, we don't want to lose, but it is what it is. The game happened. We're moving on to next season, and just going to grind with my brothers.