Wearing a Purdue baseball cap and jacket, Joe Tiller wandered into the Soldier Field press box to watch two of his proteges: Drew Brees vs. Kyle Orton.
"A radio station asked me this morning who I would cheer for," Tiller said. "I told them, 'Both offenses.'"
Tiller, who retired after 12 years as the Boilermakers' head coach, wanted to make the trek to Chicago last season, when Orton and the Bears handed Brees and the Saints a 33-25 loss. But Purdue's trip to the Motor City Bowl altered his plans.
Tiller found his schedule open earlier than normal this season as his Boilermakers finished 4-8.
"Actually I'd rather be practicing for a bowl game, to tell you the truth," Tiller said. "It's so rare to see them both on the same field. ... So we needed to be here."
While Brees has established himself as one of the NFL's best, Tiller believes Orton will continue his rise to stardom.
"People say Kyle has a confidence about him this year that he didn't have in the past, but I've seen it in him all along," Tiller said.
"This guy never has lacked confidence. He's always thought he could throw the ball through a linebacker to a receiver if need be. He always has been a strong-minded guy.
"I think the two things that both these guys have in common is both guys are extremely competitive. And both are very bright guys, smart guys."
vxmcclure@tribune.com
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