Barry Odom took the stage at his first Big Ten Media Day on Thursday in Las Vegas. He was given 15 minutes on stage. Here's what he said.
LAS VEGAS ― Barry Odom's 15 minutes on the podium finally came at Mandalay Bay on Thursday, July 25.
When the final six teams had their time at Big Ten Media Days, Odom used his opening statement to make one thing clear.
Whatever Purdue football did in the past ― the good or the bad ― it had no reflection on what the 2025 Boilermakers are.
Odom wasn't a part of Purdue's 1-11 season last year and also wasn't responsible for the success of the 2022 team that competed in the Big Ten Championship game.
"We'll be defined by what we do," Odom said.
3 things Purdue football's Barry Odom said at Big Ten Media Days
∎ As the lone head coaching newcomer in the conference, Odom has yet to go through the grind of a Big Ten season.
"I've been in the conference now for seven months, and I have forever in my coaching career, this is year 26 for me, I've always had great respect for the Big Ten Conference, and even more so now seven months into our league," Odom said. "It's got great coaches, unbelievable players, student-athletes. Then you look at the leadership of our commissioner, Tony Petitti, on the things that he's been able to do for us, as head coaches, to be able to navigate us through this time, to lead and communicate during the changes that continue to go on. It's been amazing, and I'm thankful for him and his leadership group.
"As we all know, the Big Ten Conference and the footprint covers the entire country, but you look at tradition, the championships, the game day atmosphere. I believe it creates the best conference in college sports today."
∎ An overhauled roster coming off a one-win season would lend belief that Purdue is rebuilding.
Odom is not interested in the term rebuild, especially given college football's current climate.
"Our staff has blended really, really well together, and I believe that will prove a huge advantage for this team," Odom said. "Hope, vision, and belief, and soon enough we'll have validation on the things that we've started building this program. We're always judged by our moments and our experiences, and I look at the opportunity at Purdue."
∎ It's been stated by both Purdue's head coach the previous two seasons and again this week by Illinois head coach Bret Bielema that a shortcoming for the Boilermakers the past two seasons was staff building.
Odom doesn't believe that to be the case with his first year at Purdue.
"I believe we got the opportunity to play great complementary football," Odom said. "Our offensive coordinator, Josh Henson, he and I worked together for a number of years. He was at Southern Cal before we were able to get him at Purdue. He's done a great job on building schematically, defensively, offensively on what we want to be and how we're going to attack things.
"Defensively, our coordinator is Mike Scherer, who I coached years ago. He worked with me at Arkansas and then at UNLV. He has done a great job. Then, our special teams coordinator is James Shibest, and in my opinion will give us a huge advantage in the special teams play on how our team is built."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: What Purdue football coach Barry Odom said at Big Ten Media Days
Category: General Sports
