Purdue Starts The Season Off With An Exhibition Win Against Grace College

Last night Purdue played an exhibition game in a packed Mackey Arena. I have no access to the official stats, but I would guess that Mackey was sold out. When I started my season ticket plan years ago Mackey would be half full for games against top twenty opponents. It is amazing how much these fans love this team, and how they crave seeing them in person any time. Another amazing fact was that even in the second half with Purdue doubling up their opponent on a school night the fans were still there. They didn’t leave until the end. It is a pretty incredible fan base that has big expectations for this team.

Ten Years Of Fun

It dawned on me during the game that ten years ago I was making photos for the first time from the baseline in Mackey. I think that I spent most of the day hoping to get into the arena that I didn’t think about a story for my photos. When I realized it I decided to to try something fun. In the second half I brought my cameras back out with the idea of using one of them as a remote. In 2013 at my first game I made a photo of Ray Davis dunking the ball that ended up on the front page of the Purdue athletics site. It was the first time that I had a photo on the site, and it was amazing. Last night I used a floor remote again to try and get a different view of the action. This was my favorite two photos from the night with the remote and my handheld camera. I love how you get a different feel from each photo. It is also always fun to note that I like different photos from each camera. They fired at the same time, but in the tight photo I wanted the ball just coming out of the hoop. In the wide angle photo I liked the ball a little farther away from the player.

Working For The Wire

This year has been a learning experience for me. I always hesitating working for the wires because I have always felt that they just come in and take. I always wanted to help make something somewhere. Saying that makes the wires sound bad, but they obviously are not. Last year watching people that I make photos with on the court making those trophy photos while I was in the stands changed things for me. I would do whatever it took to get back on the court. I have found that since I started making photos that I have become a terrible fan. Watching a game is no fun for me anymore. The fun is being there and making photos. It has been a learning experience and I am still slow at getting my images out. Like any other aspect of photography it is something to work at and get better.

The Passing Of Bobby Knight

Just before Purdue took the floor I found out that Bobby Knight had passed. I don’t think that it is a secret that I grew up a huge Indiana basketball fan. I loved Coach Knight, and I was not a big fan of that coach in West Lafayette. Of course Coach Knight did things later on that made me not as much of a fan of him. I started watching Purdue basketball when Matt Painter took over the team. Even as a student at Purdue I had a hard time rooting for that other coach. I can only think of one other building that I would have wanted to hear the news in than Mackey. He definitely had his issues, but in his heyday he was a hell of a coach.

The Bench Steals The Show

Late in the game the bench cleared and stole the show. It was fun watching these kids that don’t normally get to play have their time to shine on the court. Senior Carson Barrett used his time wisely and really put on a show. When these athletes were on the court. I tried to make as many photos of them as I could. You never know when you will see them play again.