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Blame me.

Go ahead.  I'm one of those drivers who slow down to gawk at a traffic accident.  When I pass the wreck, I just have to slow down and take a look.  So I'm the one to blame me for traffic jams.  There's something in my DNA that makes me want to stop and stare. 

It should be no wonder why I tuned in last week to watch the vice presidential debate and the Purdue vs. Penn State game.  I expected to see mangling encounters between two mismatches.  Some serious crash, bang smash 'em action seemed inevitable.  I must admit, I was happily disappointed not to see the carnage that seemed so promising.  An obviously well trained and prepared Sarah Palin controlled her side of the line in the debate.  By all accounts, she went home with at least a tie.  Not bad for a dog mushing governor. Likewise, Purdue was expected to be clawed to pieces by the Nittany Lions.  Though the Boilermakers lost their Big Ten opener, they showed a great deal of effort and kept the game from calamity.  . 

Palin's chances of making it to the White House, though, look a little bit better that Purdue's likelihood of making it to a bowl game this year. 

Losing to Penn State 20-6 last week was only the second time in Tiller's dozen years at Purdue where he lost the Big Ten opener.  Penn State averaged 49 points per game (4^th in the NCAA) but the Boiler defense played their best of the year and held them to less than half.  Unfortunately the offense failed to score to keep things manageable.  The usually reliable Chris Summers missed every one of his field goal attempts and missed the point after touchdown (PAT) kick.  That was the first missed Boiler PAT in 111 consecutive attempts.  Cold Summers makes for bad agriculture and Boilermaker football.  (Get it or were you an engineering grad?)  Curtis Painter had another erratic day, finally getting benched in the fourth quarter in favor of back-up Joey Elliot.  A different voice in the huddle made a difference, apparently, as Elliot marched the team down the field for the lone score of the day.   Statistically, Penn State outdistanced Purdue 422 yards to 241 yards of offense but Purdue stayed close enough launch a come back.  It just never materialized.  Despite playing penalty free football, a first for a Joe Tiller team, close calls went Penn State's direction.  Purdue stopped Penn State on fourth down from the one yard line in the first quarter but the fourth down play had to be replayed because officials were still reviewing the previous play.  What was worse was the previous play was called correctly on the field and remained unchanged.  Penn State got another shot to score and made it on their second fourth down play.

If you are also an accident gawker, this Saturday's 3:30 p.m. showdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus offers expectations of a Chicago slaughterhouse-style buthchery.  Purdue hasn't won in Columbus since 1988 and the Buckeyes are ranked.  Purdue is the Big Ten's leading passing team and Ohio State leads the Big Ten in pass defense.  The big question mark will be whether we see a new quarterback and kicker for Purdue?

The difference in coaching styles between Tiller and Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel is clearly evident regarding their respective quarterback situations this year.  Ohio State is now running their offense with a freshman quarterback, Terrelle Pryor.  Pryor replaced senior quarterback Todd Boeckman permanently after the Buckeye loss to USC.  Boeckman, though experienced, was erratic and inconsistent.  It didn't take Tressel long to make the decision to switch quarterbacks.   Ohio State's come from behind victory in Madison, Wisconsin last week against the Badgers was orchestrated by the freshman Pryor who scored on a 12-play, 80-yard drive during the last six minutes of the game.  Earlier, this same freshman quarterback suffered an interception and four sacks!  Loyalty is a great thing and Painter is destined to set more Purdue records for passing.  Painter's 111 yards passing against Penn State moved him past Mark Herrmann for second on the career passing yardage list .  He's thrown for 9,988 in his career placing him fourth all time in Big Ten history in total offense (10,337).   But Curtis Painter doesn't have a "quality" win against at top-25 team.   He's had 12 chances to do so and last week made it evident that it doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon.  While I don't see what happens at weekly practices, it's time to set player loyalty aside and start Joey Elliot.  The offense needs a spark.

Ohio State's offense is powered by running back Chris Wells who is still mentioned in discussions about possible Heisman trophy candidates.  Last week against the Badgers, Wells ran for 168 yards in 22 carries.  Defensively, the Boiler offense will have their hands full with linebacker James Laurinaitis who returns this season as an All-American, Butkus and Nagurski Award recipient.  By many accounts, he is the most proficient linebacker in college football and returned this year to help the Buckeyes win a national championship. 

Purdue's defense has played good enough to keep things close against some very good teams.  But Tiller needs to do something with the offense as Korey Sheets seems to be the only reliable generator of yards.  Orton and Tardy continue to make catches and yardage when Joey Elliot is under center.  Tiller says Curtis Painter will start the game but I honestly don't see him remain under center if there is even a moment of poor decision making on his part.  Last year after being benched and replaced by Elliot, Painter came back in a game against Iowa and tossed for one of his best days ever.  Let's hope Painter got the front office memo about the importance of consistency. 

Change is good, especially when it builds upon itself for bigger and better things.  A change in quarterbacks or going with a two quarterback rotation might just be the spark to get the Boilermaker offense rolling again.  Winning in Columbus is like trying to win in Michigan's "The Big House".  What better way to restart the Big Ten season than cracking open Buckeyes in Columbus.  Boiler Up fans and alumni!  My ex-wife is a Buckeye graduate so this game is personal!!!!