Purdue or Louisville?

Jeff Brohm had a difficult decision to make this week. Should he stay at Purdue in the middle of what appears to be a promising rebuilding project? Or should he head back home, where the mere announcement of a return would be enough to warrant a city-wide celebration at Fourth Street Live!

Brohm was locked in an echo chamber with a clock glued to the wall. With every second that passed, the ticking got louder.

Ultimately, Brohm decided that saying goodbye to Purdue was more difficult than turning down his alma mater. Words can’t even begin to express how significant that is.

“After intense and thorough discussion, I believe it is important to finish the building process we have begun and honor the commitment I made to our football program, players and recruits,” Brohm said, according to Rick Bozich of WDRB.com. “While going home was very appealing to me, the timing was not ideal.”

A week ago, I thought Brohm would walk away from Purdue after just two seasons. Nobody would’ve blamed him. Home, regardless where it is, always tugs at the heartstrings.

Now, I’m not sure he’ll ever leave West Lafayette. And, if that’s the case, we might be on the verge of the greatest era in Purdue football history.

After four abysmal seasons (2013-2016), who would’ve guessed that Purdue would earn postseason trips in back-to-back years? Who would’ve bet on the Boilermakers knocking off three ranked opponents, including then No. 2 Ohio State — bludgeoning the Buckeyes to a bloody pulp.

Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

And  who would’ve predicted that Rondale Moore, a 4-star prospect with offers from Alabama, Texas, Ohio State and a dozen other programs on the table, would commit to play his college ball in West Lafayette. That the star wide receiver would lead the nation in receptions and the B1G in receiving yardage and touchdowns — enough to earn him B1G Receiver and Freshman of the Year honors.

When Brohm made the choice to stay at Purdue, he basically told the B1G — and the rest of the college football nation — he’s just getting started.

The Boilermakers currently have the nation’s 26th-ranked recruiting class of 2019, which includes commitments from four 4-star prospects. In a few years, he’s going to have a roster full of guys capable of running his scheme without a hiccup.

Can you imagine what that means for a team that averaged 459 yards and 32 points per game without those prospects?

Dangerous.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that Purdue’s chance at a B1G title is coming immediately. The Boilermakers aren’t going to be challenging for the a New Years Six bowl instantaneously. Those days are coming, though.

Brohm may not be a fortune-teller, but he can certainly tell the future is bright. He knows big things are coming to Purdue. That’s why he chose to stay, rather than make the 180 mile drive South back to his hometown.

A day of celebration in West Lafayette means a day of frustration across the rest of the B1G. While they say their only concern is with their program, I can’t help but think other coaches across the conference had their eyes on Brohm’s decision. Some might’ve been hoping and praying that Brohm would return to his roots and wreak havoc on the ACC.

That prayer wasn’t answered, but Purdue’s was.

Brohm isn’t going anywhere. Neither are the Boilermakers.