Purdue Football: Patrick Bade to Try out for Tight End Position
Big10Rant is reporting that Purdue basketball player Patrick Bade is giving football a try for the 2011 campaign.
Bade, the 6'10" power forward out of Indianapolis, has been struggling on the hardwood the last few years, and will try to get some playing time elsewhere as a Boilermaker.
It is still unknown whether or not Bade will stay on the basketball squad, but he will be taking part in a tradition of Basketball players playing tight end for Purdue and vice versa.
It would be a shame to see Bade stop playing basketball after improvement especially during the last half of the season just a year ago. If he does leave the team, it will not be a surprise though, as Bade has not been getting very much playing time the past few years at Purdue.
In his two seasons with the Boilermakers, Bade has averaged a little over a point per game and a rebound as well.
If this report is true, it will be good news for the Danny Hope-led football program.
In high school, Bade was recruited by D1 schools not only for basketball but for football as well.
He was regarded as one of the top tight end prospects in the state and was sought after by Ohio State, USC, Texas, among the major Indiana schools.
Bade would be a great asset for the football program at Purdue, but would also be a loss for a basketball program that is already lacking in the size department.
If Bade were to jump ship, or play for both teams, he would be the first player since Charles Davis to play both sports.
Either way, Bade stays a Boilermaker, and this will be an interesting situation to watch as it unfolds.
James Evens serves as a National Featured Columnist for college football and basketball, as well as the FC for the Purdue Boilermakers. Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.
