WEST LAFAYETTE − Drew Brees stepped back during the presnap of a seven-on-seven drill at Purdue football practice on Monday, reached in his pocket and dug out his phone.
In this moment, it was like Brees was a recruit being wooed by the Boilermakers.
With a cheesy smile on his face, Brees raised his phone as high as he could reach and started taking video.
Fresh off Brees’ induction Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the former Purdue quarterback returned to campus, meeting with individuals during position meetings prior to Monday morning’s practice.
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“That was incredibly special,” receiver Xavier Townsend said. “It’s not often you get Hall of Famers being able to come in pour into us and really talk to us. Seeing him get the gold jacket, everybody is striving for that in this profession. Hearing from him and what it really took for him to get there, you can’t ask for nothing better.
“Us being able to see that and know we can do that from (Purdue), that was very special.”
Practice began with players taking a knee while Brees delivered a motivational speech, where he relayed his own underdog story from lightly recruited quarterback out of Texas to the Hall of Fame, the importance of hard work and capped with Brees breaking down the team with the phrase, “Proud to be a Boilermaker.”
“That was amazing. I didn’t even know he was going to come in today,” defensive tackle Curt Neal said. “Having a guy like that, an NFL Hall of Famer, it was awesome. You can’t make that up. You can’t make that energy up. He lived it. He’s done it and he’s done it at the highest of highs. That’s the goal. One of the greatest QBs ever, to learn and get little nuggets like that from his speeches, I’m honored.”
It’s the second Hall of Fame quarterback Purdue has tapped into ahead of this season.
Peyton Manning visited in June and has struck up a friendship with Purdue starting quarterback Ryan Browne. Browne said last month at Big Ten media days he’s relied on Manning for advice and tidbits to improve.
And now, a more personal connection with Brees back in West Lafayette. His name is on the student-athlete academic center. His face hangs on a banner in Mollenkopf Athletic Center’s practice football field. And he’s just two days removed from receiving a gold jacket at Saturday’s Hall of Fame.
“Unbelievable message from the greatest to do it,” Purdue coach Barry Odom said. “When he reached out and said he was going to come back after the ceremony this weekend, I am just thrilled he would take time out of his schedule and come join us.
“I’ve said it a number of times, you go around the globe and when somebody talks about Purdue, it’s, maybe not in this order, it’s astronauts, it’s a great academic institution and then immediately Drew Brees comes into the conversation.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Drew Brees surprises Purdue football with visit after Hall of Fame induction: ‘Incredibly special’
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
