From Boiler Sports Report's Chris Emma, we bring you the following video of Coach Hazell, evidently either next to a fountain or perilously close to the output of Frank Drebin's microphone.
After being nearly unintelligible for a while, it gets going around the three minute mark. Click the continue reading button now, dammit. You know you want to.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kuRpKrtT8kA
Anyone else catch the "state of Purdue" he dropped in there at 3:25? Go ahead and listen again right here if you didn't.
We like it, Coach.
Hazell's complete comments are the podium are here:
I know I'm not the only one who was proud hearing Coach Hazell mention Purdue's academic strength first and foremost. A players must get A grades, after all.
Some other tidbits from Coach Hazel today...
On what has to happen to elevate Purdue:
"We need to continually improve, every single practice...and meeting."
On the importance of self-image:
"If you don't see yourselves as champions, nobody else will, either."
On what his coaching staff and he are working towards:
"We're going to make Purdue football what it should be."
"We're going to put this program in national prominence for a long time."
On things that are changing around Purdue football:
"We're going to be smarter and a more disciplined football team."
When asked how quickly Purdue can be better within the Big Ten:
"I think we have enough good players to make those critical plays."
I found myself impressed with Coach Hazell yet again. Naturally, it's possible that this could change once we see how he handles adversity or challenges during the season, but I doubt it. Nothing -- not a thing -- that he has done or said so far has left me with anything but a positive impression and, more than that, he's impressed me every time he's spoken and re-energized me about Purdue football. I'm not sure I could ever say the same for Danny Hope.