The return to Jeff Brohm's home seems less likely

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Purdue coach Jeff Brohm has been talking to reporters after his team's victory over Indiana. November 24, 2018
Gentry Estes, Louisville Courier Journal

November 24, 2018; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers Head Coach Jeff Brohm reacts after a game against Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Jeff Brohm's reunion parade is on hold.

The timing is less than ideal. The lure is less than irresistible. The career path outlined by Purdue's head coach has recently taken a higher trajectory and, perhaps, a higher price than the University of Louisville can achieve.

Brohm could still return to his alma mater to replace Bobby Petrino. The feelings he expressed on Saturday afternoon were perhaps more obligatory than sincere, said a university football coach when he tries to protect his recruitment interests in case a better agreement would not materialize.

Yet there was no way to watch Brohm's press conference after the next match Victory 28-21 boilermakers on Indiana and think he had a foot in West Lafayette, Indiana, just as this city could be more attractive in the rearview mirror.

"I want Louisville to do what is best for them," Brohm said. "I'm a fan, but for now, I'm the coach at Purdue, it's where I want to be and I like it here."

Context: Jeff Brohm on Purdue football: "That's where I want to be"

No, it was not a definitive statement. Certainly, one can not trust the most honorable coach for a total franchise when he has an interesting leverage. Nevertheless, it is difficult to switch suddenly from "That's where I want to be" to "I want to be somewhere else" without committing hypocrisy.

Until he shows the same contempt for the truth as Bobby Petrino 1.0, Brohm earned the right to be taken at his word.

In addition, it is reasonable to ask if U of L is the right choice for this man at this point. Beyond the immediate competitive considerations – a Purdue program up from a Louisville program to its lowest level in two decades – would such a step allow Brohm to become a job-hopper rather than a rising star? Could this make him a less attractive candidate if a job in a destination were to be opened in a year?

Objectively, there is no way to think that a coach who persuades an oppressed Purdue program of consecutive seasons of eligibility for the Cup considers another Power Five rebuilding project as a significant step forward. There was no way to think that a competitor with long-term ambitions would see a two-year pass preceding an essentially lateral move at the expense of one who was heading towards a championship candidate.

Related: Tyra's list of Bobby Petrino's substitutes goes beyond Jeff Brohm

The house has its call and its compensations, and the Brohm family remains the royalty of Louisville. But it does seem that a Brohm resume coach could be better served while waiting for an opening at a school with the resources and recruiting base of a state of Ohio, Michigan or a powerhouse. dormant of the Conference of the Southeast Conference.

It seems that the director of sports of the University of Alberta, Vince Tyra, was right to prepare for the eventuality of a Plan B.

As Tyra begins the direct contact phase of her coaching research, Brohm still deserves the first phone call. Given his many local connections, his strong resume, his repeated successes, his personal charm and his perceived ability to sell tickets, Brohm seems to be the only plausible candidate who moves the local needle to Spinal Tap 11.

If Louisville was his dream job – and this is the basic principle, he contests – the only impediment to an agreement could be money. Yet there are already signs of shock in Louisville's athletics and worries about the cost of a worthy move to Brohm's, which could be prohibitive, especially if Purdue is willing to soften his existing contract.

This does not mean that it can not happen or is not going to happen, but the chances of a homecoming to Brohm certainly seemed to change on Saturday. Plan B seems to be at stake.

Read more: Purdue and Jeff Brohm reach bowl qualification with victory over Indiana