FanNation - The Republic of Sport

           Who can remember a rivalry game where tickets to the game weren't sold out and being scalped for the price of a semester's tuition on EBay? But in our lives, there's plenty of "first times" and this week's night game against Notre Dame is one of them. There are tickets still available.
 
            Before you start counting empty seats, the last two Purdue home games weren't sold out either. Up until kick-off against Northern Illinois, the reasons for empty seats had to be something other than Purdue's on field performance. Ticket price increases during an economic downturn and a team lacking pre-season bona fides may be part of the problem. But if Purdue continues to perform like it did last week against the "Huskies" of the MAC Conference, the athletic department is going to need an injection from President Obama's stimulus plan to offset bare benches.
 
            Notre Dame is a team you either love or hate.  Everybody is "up" for them.  The Irish get little respite.  If the previous years' scores between Purdue and Notre Dame are any testament to this rivalry, the winner won't raise their laurels until the final whistle is blown.  Lately, the margin of victory is one score.    

            A win in front of a national television audience will be a huge step up forward towards the Big Ten season.  Shortly after last Saturday's game, Coach Hope accepted the team's bad performance as "his fault". He explained practice schedule alterations after the long trip to the Pacific coast and then practiced too hard on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was still singing the same tune during his weekly press conference but admitted Joey Elliot made a lot of mistakes, just not the same mistakes he made in the other two games. That's okay, right? Ralph Bolden was also smarting from a minor injury and the defensive backfield was beaten up. This is one week where you need healthy players, a practiced team and a lot of Irish luck on the Boilermaker's side of the scrimmage line.
 
            Notre Dame comes to Ross Ade Stadium with a 2-1 record. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen has the nation's second best passing efficiency as he directing a unit that ranks tenth in offense. However, Notre Dame lost a favorite target, Michael Floyd, to injuries last week. The next favorite target is Golden Tate . Running back Armando Allen is also a force to reckon with when Notre Dame runs the ball. If the Purdue defense is even half as lackadaisical as last week, it's going to be a very long game.  The defensive backfield isn't matching up to the preseason hype.  Clausen could have a record setting day if the defensive line doesn't pressure him quickly.  The Irish moved the ball effectively against Michigan State.  Hope expects the same game plan but it's one they've seen before.  Hope says the Irish don't change too many things.  The fact that Clausen and Allen haven't practiced much this week because of bumps and bruises from the Michigan State game last week isn't expected to make a difference, or so says Charlie Weiss. 

             When Purdue has the ball, fans can expect the Irish to blitz, something they do quite a bit.  Despite last week's shabby offensive showing, Elliot was given plenty of protection and time to throw.  Purdue's offensive line has been strong.  Likewise, and healthy Bolden will provide enough variety to keep Purdue close.  Keep your fingers crossed Boilermaker special teams bring it up a notch.  Despite two consecutive fumbles on punt returns against Northern Illinois, Hope has faith in Aaron Valentin. 
 
             Welcome to the Big Ten, Danny!  Sport writers turned the heat up on Hope this week. When he was asked about his approach to this week's game plan against the Irish, Hope quipped: "I can't tell you the whole game plan today, you won't go to the game Saturday. What do you think?" Hope showed more flair as either a stand up comedian or a smart ass  A reporter asked:  "[An Irish running back] been really productive in the red zone, 10 or 11 touchdowns. Any special key there?" Hope answered: "It's closer to the goal line."
 
              Hope's attitude is cocky and refreshing. That's not something you typically see from a head football coach, especially one with a 1-2 record at the start of his first season. But fans caught a glimpse of it during the fourth quarter of the Oregon game when he held his hand up to his ear as if to say to angry, chanting Duck fans: "What's that you say?" He's confident and the Boilermakers are in good hands.

              Hope had three goals for the team this year:  He wants his team to hit the hardest, make the fewest mistakes and never quit.  Right now Purdue is the third least penalized team in NCAA football though the penalties they've had came at critical points.  Poor tackling is blamed on a team wanting to hit the ball carrier hard.  This week, Purdue fans will discover if there are any quitters when the Fighting Irish come to Ross Ade. 

              It's gonna be a night fight in West Lafayette.  Boiler Up!  Let's hope the light at the end of Notre Dame's tunnel is the non-stop Boilermaker Express, destination:  Victoryville.