Balancing Sport And Faith: Brock Purdy Leading Iowa State

Story by Maddyn Johnstone-Thomas

It was a tale of two Arizona quarterbacks Saturday night when the Iowa State Cyclones faced the No.18 Oklahoma Sooners. Spencer Rattler, who went to Pinnacle High School, backed the Sooners, while Brock Purdy, who played at Perry, led the Cyclones. 

Purdy and his squad defeated the Sooners 37-30, giving the team their first win over Oklahoma in Ames since 1960. 

“It was a game full of emotion as far as the first quarter to the fourth quarter,” the junior quarterback said on The Brad Cesmat Show. “There was a lot of stuff going on throughout the game. My team and I have been through a lot of situations like last night in the past, so I think that’s what helped us in the end. We had a lot of great leaders step up. I’m proud of our guys.” 

Purdy’s number one factor in his everyday life is his faith and it helps him still stay calm throughout stressful situations on and off the field, just like on Saturday. 

“I understand what my purpose is in life and why I’m here, so knowing that helps me stay calm in situations,” Purdy said. “It helps with life, just on a day-to-day basis. It helps me be a better person, teammate, brother and son. That’s really why I am the way I am. Faith is really what drives me every day and I’m thankful for that.” 

He knows there is a balance between his sport and his off the field duties as well. 

“I believe I am called to do what I am doing, being a quarterback, an athlete and a leader,” Purdy said. “Being able to get on guys sometimes and go over the line to push people to be their best, that’s what I’m called to do according to my faith.” 

During Saturday’s broadcast of the game, announcer Todd McShay said that he believes that Purdy is going to be an NFL quarterback. Purdy believes in himself, but is taking it one day at a time. 

“I’ve always believed in my heart that I would be able to play Division I football and then take my talents to the next level,” Purdy said. “That’s the confidence I’ve had in myself since day one, even back when I was at Perry High School. I’m not getting caught up in the future, but there’s definitely that side of me that has the ability to believe in myself, and what I’ve done in the past and build on that.” 

He recognizes that it is an honor to have people talk about him taking his talents to the next level and wants to keep pushing forward. 

“What drives me is looking in the mirror and understanding that I can be better in so many ways as a quarterback. Moving forward, I just want to give my team my all right now. I don’t want to look too far in the future where I miss out on what’s in front of me.” 

Purdy has gone from a big town in Arizona, to a small town in Iowa. But that was never an issue for him. He’s leading the Cyclones on a national stage in college football. 

“It’s a small college town,” Purdy said. “Everyone knows everyone, as an athlete people know who you are. It is different, but my faith and who I am, I was ready for this when I came here. I understood that I was going to be under the spotlight most of the time. I was capable of handling that. The people out here are great and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”