FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The Danny Hope era at Purdue University begins this Saturday at Ross Ade Stadium against the Toledo Rockets.  

            Someone once said if you don't learn about history, you're doomed to repeat it.  I don't know whether or not Danny Hope is a historian or but Joe Tiller's debut as Purdue head coach began against the Toledo Rockets and Purdue LOST.  The difference between first game jitters in location.  Hope has home field advantage against the Rockets while Tiller didn't.  

            For many fans, the Boilermakers are a big question mark this season.  But when I talk to people who have met and spoken with Coach Hope, there's a special buzz and feeling that left them with an impression we'll be seeing something special this year.   Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin are favored to lead the conference and everyone else is expected to fight for respect and their respective spot in the lower half.  Flying-under-the-radar might be a good way to describe this year's team.  But as many pilots know, there's a lot of trees on the ground that can reach up and bring you down.  Easily said, Purdue's success should be measured on whether or not they can qualify for a post season bowl game.  According to many sports analysts, this will not be an easy accomplishment for Purdue and therefore, a lofty goal indeed.

            So what's changed inside the ever changing fa??ade of Ross Ade Stadium?  If you haven't followed Purdue sports moves since the Indiana Old Oaken Bucket blow-out, there's been a lot of changes along the sidelines.  For instance, the coaching staff!  Brock Spack who seemed to be Purdue's Head Defensive Coach for all eternity has graduated to head coaching duties at Illinois State University.  Replacing Spack is Donn Landholm.  Landholm and Head Coach Danny Hope worked together for the past five years at Eastern Kentucky University.  In fact, much of the "new hires" have followed Coach Hope as is the norm in the profession of football coaching.  New offensive head coach Gary Nord worked alongside Hope from 1985 to 1995 and the University of Oklahoma and University of Louisville.  Offensive line coach Shawn Clark and special teams coach J.B. Gibboney have also worked for Hope in the past.  This coaching familiarity is important for Purdue football as it transitions away from the old and into a new direction?  But how new?  Well, it turns out Hope worked under Joe Tiller at Wyoming.  Perhaps something so new won't leave fans wondering "what happened" like Michigan's football program.  

            Hope takes over a team that's surprisingly similar to a team Joe Tiller saddled up on in 1997.  But let's end the comparison there.  On paper, achieving the goal of post season play isn't out of the realm of possibilities.  Just don't expect the Rose Bowl.  It's going to be an uphill battle to finish in the conference's top five.

            Offensively, fifth year senior Joey Elliot has been named starting quarterback.  Elliot showed some ability to take over starting responsibilities last year from Curtis Painter until he was knocked out of the line up by a shoulder separation.  Fans expecting to see the rascally Justin Siller sharing quarterback duties missed the news from last winter: academic issues led to an early dismissal.  Elliot has seen some game time action but he's only thrown 49 career passes and he has the same number of touchdowns as interceptions (two).  Likewise, the same questionable experience level exists at the running back position.  Fifth year senior Jaycen Taylor has played and appears as a big play maker.  Unfortunately, injuries have scored more on Taylor than Taylor has on the scoreboard.  The biggest question mark is the wide receiver situation.  Junior Keith Smith is really the only returning starter with 49 receptions last year.   While the scoring apparatus might need some breaking in, the offensive line may be the most dependable aspects of the entire team.  The line features four returning starters and four more whom  saw credible playing time last season.  This experience is going to be needed to help afford Elliot to process the game plan.  

            For the first time in many years, the balance of strength in this year's Purdue team is the defense.  Little has changed from last year's defense unit, except of course, the head defensive coach Donn Landholm.  The defensive line is strong and balanced.  The linebacker force and defensive backss also return with plenty of experience behind them.  What might catch most people unaware is the Boilermaker secondary led the Big Ten in pass defense last year.  Practically everyone is back this year.  The success of this year's team will definitely be centered on the defense's ability to not only stop the opposing team but to score on opponents' mistakes.  Offensive scoring may be hard to come by in the first few games.

            Given the changes of a new season brings us to the first game of the season against the Toledo Rockets.  The Rockets are in a similar position:  first game debut with a new head coach.  Coatch Tim Beckman has assumed the reigns from Tom Amstutz.  

            Toledo had a dismal season last year amidst a point shaving controversy.  To their credit, they did beat Michigan in the "Big House" which is something Purdue hasn't done since the beginning of time.  While Toledo showed the ability to move the ball, their defense did a horrible job in stopping the opponents.  Teams playing Toledo averaged over 30 points a game!  But this isn't the same team.  Fans should assume coaching changes will have pushed this team of experienced players past last year and scandal.  MAC conference teams are competitive and this is a good "first game" for both coaches.  

            It's the start of a new era for Purdue football this week.  The Boilermakers are infected with the spirit and enthusiasm of a new coach.  Based upon press reporting and anecdotal comments, I don't think Coach Tiller did enough to temper players' individual attitudes and locker room drama.  Purdue had talent but he could never get the personalities to meld as a team.  Case in point, the 2004 team where the season literally went down the tubes after Heisman candidate Kyle Orton fumbled the ball in the closing minutes against Wisconsin.  That team had everything except team work.  Several players on that team went onto the NFL but that group of great players never melded.  I believe Hope is not that type of coach.  One of his coaching strengths is his ability to recruit players.  I think he understands what it takes to separate attitude from talent and to pass on potential players whose personality outweighs talent.  

            I like Purdue's chances this week at home.  It's going to be a long season and MAC-Big Ten match ups are anything but a cake walk anymore.   Tiller may have lost to Toledo in his Purdue coaching debut but he went on to win the next six straight.  That is something we can truly Hope for the best.