Purdue quarterback David Blough motivated to face Illinois again

• In three games against Illinois, Blough is 67 of 106 for 575 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
• Blough has one interception in 151 passing attempts this season
• Purdue is seeking its third straight win after starting the season 0-3
• The Boilermakers have won 10 of the last 13 meetings against the Illini

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — David Blough remembers.

He remembers laying on the ground in pain. He remembers his left ankle pointing in a direction it wasn’t supposed to point. He remembers the reaction, from the Illinois players, his teammates and the Ross-Ade Stadium crowd. He remembers raising his arms while being placed in the back of an ambulance, signaling a touchdown when his team scored moments after he was carted off.

About 11 months ago, Blough’s season ended abruptly in the fourth quarter of a game the Boilermakers would win 29-10, setting the stage for a dramatic finish to Jeff Brohm's first year. It was Blough’s second game as Brohm’s full-time, No. 1 starter after a back-and-forth battle with Elijah Sindelar.

He’s eager to face Illinois again. This isn’t about payback. There’s not much Blough can do to change the past, other than to lead the Boilermakers to a third straight win. 

A win won't erase the physical pain and the endless hours of rehabilitation but it will provide a large dose of satisfaction if Purdue continues to rebound from its 0-3 start.  

“It hasn’t been a big deal,” center Kirk Barron said. “It’s the next game on the schedule. We’re 2-3 right now trying to get back to .500. It’s a rivalry game and we want to keep the streak going.”

Nothing has been said in the quarterback room about Blough's gruesome injury. It’s business as usual.

“I think they’re all important to David,” co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. “I don’t know if it’s any extra motivation for him. I know he comes out and gives it his all no matter what. That’s what we’re counting on.”

But it’s been on Blough’s mind. A lot, especially recently. The off week allowed the thoughts of what happened nearly a year ago to start percolating inside his brain.

He’s waited for another chance.

“When football gets taken away from you, it puts everything in perspective a little bit,” Blough said Tuesday after practice. “It’s just another game but that being the opponent and all those emotions flooded back.”

And here’s why.

On first down deep in Illinois territory, Blough tucked the football in his right hand and started to run. He began to lower his body to the ground when the Texas native was hit from behind by defensive lineman Bobby Roundtree.

Blough slid with his right leg but his left foot was planted in the turf and when defensive back Stanley Green lowered his shoulder and helmet into Blough’s head – along with the weight from Roundtree - his ankle snapped. Green was initially called for targeting but the call was overturned after a review.

“I threw up on the play. It was gross,” Barron said. “I got hit in the throat, too. I was throwing up and then I looked at his ankle, I really threw up. That was messed up.”

It’s one of two plays Brian Brohm doesn’t show in his room. The other? When Sindelar suffered a torn ACL against Northwestern.

“I try not to bring that up,” Brohm said of Blough’s ankle injury. “Normally, there’s two plays I click really fast, so we don’t have to watch them and that’s one of them.”

As Blough was carted off, a million thoughts traveled through his mind. He was asking if could play again — in the same game — or even later in the season. He didn’t know the severity of his injury.

He later learned. Surgery to install plates and screws to hold the ligaments together. Doctors made three incisions around his ankle, leaving three reminders when Blough looks at his ankle.

Up to six months of rehabilitation. Likely to miss spring practice but he would be ready for training camp. The timetable changed. Blough made it change.

“He did it the way David does everything; he does everything 100 percent,” Barron said. “He’s not going to shorten any reps or he’s not going to take the easy way out. He’s putting in extra work, which makes him a two-time captain. You admire a guy that works like that.”

Blough needed only four months before he was back at spring practice, participating in 11-on-11 drills and moving around the indoor facility like surgery never happened.

“A lot of people had a hand in it,” he said.

Once Blough made enough progress in his rehabilitation, knowing he would return for spring practice, did the fifth-year senior watch the play. But he didn’t watch the television version until he was healthy in the spring.

“I did end up watching the TV copy,” Blough said. “I saw some things that want to make me get after Illinois. Those guys are a good team, but I want to go out and give it my best performance. I haven’t played well against them the last few years. I broke my ankle. Any human would want to have a good game against Illinois.”

SATURDAY'S GAME

Purdue (2-3, 1-1) at Illinois (3-2, 1-1)

Time: 3:30 p.m. 

TV: FS1

Radio: WAZY (96.5)

Read more Purdue football news:

• Tracking the offense:Stretching the field
• Game Week:Purdue at Illinois
• Takeaways:Ball security looms large as Purdue prepares to face Illinois