Boilermakers Country

Barry Odom Describes Range of Emotions During Purdue's Wild Touchdown vs. USC

What did coach Barry Odom think of a disastrous trick play that actually resulted in a touchdown in Saturday's game against USC? The Purdue coach explains.
Dustin Schutte|
Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) is chased by USC Trojans defensive tackle Jide Abasiri (97)
Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) is chased by USC Trojans defensive tackle Jide Abasiri (97) | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

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Purdue Boilermakers

The wildest touchdown of the early college football season may have occurred at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday. In the third quarter of last weekend's game against USC, Purdue called a double-lateral that nearly resulted in a turnover. Instead, Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne made a smart play, and it turned into a score.

Browne threw the football to Michael Jackson III behind the line of scrimmage. As USC's defense swarmed the receiver, he tossed it back to the quarterback, but the ball was batted down to the ground. Since no whistle was blown, Browne picked up the football and raced 35 yards to the end zone.

As you can imagine, there were plenty of emotions on the sidelines as that play unfolded. Coach Barry Odom talked about watching that play in real time.

"It looked so great in practice. It was either going to be there or completely not there," Odom told the For Pete's Sake Pod. "When the linebacker just kind of read it and diagnosed it, I didn't want Mike to throw it back. Then, he threw it ... I had a few expletives. But then, Ryan, what a heads-up play."

You could certainly understand that roller coaster ride Odom experienced. At the time, Purdue trailed USC 20-3 and needed a touchdown to stay within striking distance. That play could have resulted in a turnover, ending the Boilermakers' drive.

Instead, the touchdown from Browne kept Purdue alive, trimming the lead to 20-10.

Ultimately, that wild touchdown wasn't enough to win the game. The Boilermakers fell 33-17 to the Trojans, dropping their first game of the season. But that play provided quite a memory for everyone who witnessed it at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday.

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Dustin Schutte
DUSTIN SCHUTTE

Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.

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