Purdue coach has a real hate on for Nebraska football

It’s not often an opposing coach will make it clear that a game is personal but Purdue’s Ryan Walters has a real, strong hate for Nebraska football.

Despite playing every year since both Purdue and Nebraska football both joined the Big Ten West, this matchup has never really felt like a rivalry for whatever reason. That’s interesting by itself because Husker fans tend to feel some rivalry hate toward basically every other team in the division.

On Monday, the Boilermakers head coach let everyone know that even if Nebraska football fans don’t view this Saturday’s game as a rivalry, he does. In fact, his dislike of the Huskers goes well beyond his first year at the helm in West Lafayette.

"“My history with Nebraska started at a very young age. I obviously grew up a fan of Colorado, with my dad playing there. That was like the hated rivalry…  Man, I really can’t stand that color, don’t like that N on the helmet. Definitely, this has been a big week.”"

Admittedlly, I haven’t paid much attention to Walters or Purdue since the season started. Perhaps the way he talked about Nebraska football is similar to how he talks about every team he’s coaching against. Maybe this is the way he gets his players revved up.

But it sure felt different. Only Deion Sanders comments about the Huskers before their game was even close to this, and he seemed more contrived. And he’s actually the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Nebraska football game just ratcheted up a notch

Call me childish and immature if you must, but those comments only make me want Nebraska football to beat Purdue that much worse. It’s not that I’m angry. I just like the idea of Walters both losing and being extra angry about it.

I’d like to think the Nebraska football coaches and players feel the same way.