Freshman players receive extensive playing time in loss
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/02/2009
sponsored by
A few young players saw more playing time than usual Saturday.
The Purdue football team (3-6,2-3 Big Ten) may have lost 37-0 to Wisconsin this weekend; however, several young players exhibited what they are capable of doing in upcoming seasons.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Caleb TerBush, freshman halfback Al-Terek McBurse and freshman cornerback Chris Quinn all saw action on the field. TerBush was the only freshman to make his debut Saturday, but it was the first extended playing time for all three.
TerBush replaced senior quarterback Joey Elliott in the third quarter and went 4-for-10 with 22 yards. He was also sacked once for a 13-yard loss. Elliott was 5-for-23 for 59 yards and one interception before being pulled with the game out of reach at 34-0.
“I had a feeling something was going to happen,” TerBush said. “I got the jitters out on the first couple of plays and went from there. Any time you get in the game it’s a good thing.”
After shedding his redshirt against Ohio State, McBurse took all of the kickoff returns for the Boilermakers against Wisconsin. He had six returns for 141 yards.
McBurse had a little experience beforehand with returns and now cherishes his new role on the team.
“If we were scoring back and forth it wouldn’t have been as bad,” McBurse said. “I felt comfortable right there. I did it a little in high school. They gave me a chance, and it was successful so far.”
In the third quarter, McBurse also got to see a little bit of time at running back with his longest rush being a four yard run. Although McBurse fumbled the ball late in the third, coach Danny Hope believes it is all a part of the learning process for his younger players.
“I’m glad that Al-Terek is doing a good job on kickoff returns,” Hope said. “He had a couple of decent runs. He did a poor job on the one run, turning the ball over and running smack into someone. Those are growing pains for a young player.”
Hope recognizes the importance of these younger players but also knows they all still need some experience.
“I think (McBurse) is helping us some,” Hope said. “But he needs experience. Going out there and getting Al-Terek in there, and playing TerBush and Chris Quinn and some of those young guys out there is important to us right now.”
The Boilermakers will play Michigan at noon Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.