Debt Payment Might Stretch Brees

Purdue quarterback Drew Brees promised to rent limousines and take his offensive linemen out to dinner as thanks for protecting him so well that he was sacked only seven times in passing 473 times this season.

But according to senior center Chukky Okobi, a steak won’t begin to pay Brees’ debt if the 14th-ranked Boilermakers defeat the fourth-ranked Washington Huskies Monday.

“Drew owes me a whole lot of things,” said Okobi, one of three fifth-year seniors on Purdue’s offensive line. “Drew owes me 50% of his [NFL] signing bonus next year for keeping him healthy. Would he be healthy without me? He said he was going to get a Navigator stretch limo if we win the game, and I’m gonna call him on it.

“As time goes on and he signs new contracts, I’m gonna call him. He owes me his first-born child. Well, his first son, anyway.”

Brees hasn’t forgotten his obligation, but he pleaded poverty--for now.

“After signing day, hopefully I’ll have some money and I’ll get some stretch limos,” he said. “That’s the least I can do. . . . They work together so well. They take so much pride in what they do, and they’re very versatile. They can cut block, run block, anything. And they know how to have a good time, but they also know when to bear down. They have a good sense of humor.”

That lighter side was revealed this season, when they decided to pose for a picture on media day wearing helmets, pads and Speedos. That’s it. “That’s the kind of guys they are,” Brees said.

No question, they’re an interesting group. Okobi started at right guard in 1997 and for 11 games in 1998 and six in 1999 before moving to center; left tackle Matt Light was recruited as a tight end by the previous coach, Jim Colletto, and was moved to tackle by current Coach Joe Tiller. Light has increased his weight from 220 pounds to 304 pounds on a 6-feet 5-inch frame and was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference, attracting much attention from NFL scouts.

“I kind of had to be talked into [the position switch]. But looking back, it’s the best thing I’ve done,” he said. “Our offensive line coach [Danny Hope] is known as one of the best in the country, and he’s really helped me. It’s been a great experience. . . .

“We’ve gone from allowing 16 sacks to 14, and those are great numbers, to seven. We have guys that know how to work with each other, and we have a quarterback with eyes in the back of his head. But we’re still waiting for that limo ride and for him to take us out to dinner. I heard him say he’s going to do it back on campus, because it’s a little cheaper there than it would be here. But he’s a great guy.”

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Preparing for their fourth successive bowl game, the Boilermakers can gauge the progress of their preparations. So Tiller, though dissatisfied with Wednesday’s practice at the Coliseum, wasn’t frantic.

“The practice wasn’t as good as [Tuesday], although I thought that was exceptionally intense,” he said. “We kind of backed off a little bit. That happens sometimes. This is the second day in a row we’ve practiced [after a Christmas break]. We need to get a little bit better tomorrow.”

The team’s plans Wednesday included attending a taping of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” However, Okobi wasn’t all that impressed.

“I don’t watch him,” Okobi said. “I’m usually asleep by then or busy.”

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Demand built during a 34-year wait for the Boilermakers to return to the Rose Bowl has left Purdue fans scrambling for tickets.

Tom Schott, Purdue’s sports information director, said the school got 1,000 extra tickets from other Big Ten schools and an additional 1,000 from Rose Bowl officials but still couldn’t satisfy everyone. “We sold 27,500 and we probably could have sold 40,000,” Schott said.

He also said about 4,000 alumni made arrangements through the university to attend the game, but he couldn’t estimate the number who made their own travel plans and will be in Pasadena.