Purdue Coaches Caravan Stops AT FWCC

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Purdue Coaches Caravan made a stop at the Fort Wayne Country Club on Tuesday night as coaches Matt Painter and Danny Hope among others mingled with Boilermaker backers.

Painter's team is coming off a 22-13 season that saw the Boilers finish 10-8 in the Big Ten. Heading into Painter's eighth season in West Lafayette the Boilers will be looking to replace now graduated Robbie Hummel, Lewis Jackson, and Ryne Smith. Former South Side product Rapheal Davis will arrive on campus this season and could play a big role for coach Painter.

In football, Danny Hope is heading into his fourth season leading the program. Hope's team went 7-6 last year and beat Western Michigan in the Little Caesers Bowl 37-32.

The Boilers return 19 starters in 2012, most in the Big Ten. They have a log-jam at quarterback with last year's starter Caleb TerBush returning alongside a healthy Rob Henry and Robert Marve. Defensive tackle Kawann Short passed up leaving for the NFL draft and is poised to be one of the top defensive players in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers are a trendy pick to represent the Leaders division in the Big Ten title game as Ohio State is ineligible to play in the championship game.