The fact that Drew Brees went to Purdue and the Colts are Indy’s team has finally drawn some attention to the lay person, or the Chicago Tribune, which I didn’t know was still a paper.
Let me draw you a comparison:
Drew Brees – raised in TX, recruited to Purdue (West Lafayette, IN, 60-ish miles north of Indianapolis) to play QB, wore #15, went to bowl games in each of his 4 years at Purdue, and capped it off with a trip to the 2001 Rose Bowl… now QB of the New Orleans Saints, wearing #9
Colts – started off in Baltimore, in 1984 the Colts moved to Indianapolis.
So, Drew led Purdue to football success, which included a trip to the 2001 Rose Bowl. Yes, he is an icon at Purdue, he has his name on a building and a street, I think.
Here’s the issue, if you grew up in Indiana, and the Colts are your team, and you went to Purdue or are a fan of Purdue, who do you root for?
There are a variety of ways to look at it, but I didn’t grow up in Indiana. I grew up in LA. I am not a Raiders fan, or a Rams fan. I was a Chargers fan, but then they let Drew go… so now I am a Saints fan. But as you may know, I kinda like those Cardinals.
I don’t hear the media making a big deal out of the other Purdue player that will be on the sidelines come Sunday – Curtis Painter. So either way, another Boilermaker will be getting a ring, whether it is earned or by default is to be determined.