FanNation - The Republic of Sport

            How many times did you swear off drinking for the rest of your life on Sunday morning after a big party or a night on the town? 

            Or how the times you were left shaking your head when the after effects of a big miscalculation left you thinking, "Man, if I only had it to do over again...."

            Would you?  Could you? 

            For the second consecutive week, the Purdue coaching staff was asked to reconsider a questionable play call in the closing seconds of the game.  In Saturday's loss to Northwestern, quarterback Joey Elliot spiked the ball with seconds left after Purdue reached first and goal from the five yard line.  A time out would've preserved one extra play if three other chances didn't produce a winning touchdown.   Purdue failed to score over the next three plays.  Game over.  Another heartbreaking loss. 

            The coaches' response was the same heard the week previous about a questionable time out in the closing minutes of the Notre Dame game.  No, they wouldn't change a thing.  They'd make the same call.

            President Obama calls these instances "teachable moments".  But is Purdue's coaching staff learning anything? 

            Last week's loss should not have rested on the final series of plays or another "teachable" moment.  Five turnovers in the final two minutes of the first half sent the Boilers into a tailspin they couldn't pull out from.  Still, Elliot played a good game tossing three touchdowns while amassing 313 yards passing.  He surpassed the Big Ten's top passer, Northwestern's Mike Kafka who passed for 224 yards. 

            Purdue travels north to Minneapolis this week to take on the Golden Gophers.  It's their homecoming game so you know what that means?  Schedule a team that you're likely to beat to make the alumni happy!  Last week Minnesota came up on the short end of the stick against their rival, the Wisconsin Badgers.  It appears this week Purdue and Minnesota will be fighting to stay out of the Big Ten's cellar.  The big question mark for Purdue fans is whether or not mistakes will cost Purdue another victory?  The turnovers must stop if Purdue is to win. 

            Statistically speaking, it's hard to believe Purdue has the record it does.  Purdue is third in the Big Ten in total offense.  Elliot is the best passer in the conference and Bolden is second in rushing.  Not bad for a team that is expected NOT to throw the ball downfield and opposing defenses play tighter to the line of scrimmage.  Still, Purdue moves the ball well which is a testament to both Bolden and Elliot.  Oh, it also means Purdue is doing more with less.  The offense has run 73 fewer plays than opposing offenses this season.  Blame costly turnovers for that offset. 

            The first big thing Purdue needs to do this week:  stop Gopher wide receiver Eric Decker.  Pass defense is not a strong suit for Purdue and this player is the key to the Gopher offense.  Last week, he became Minnesota's career receiving yardage record-holder. Earlier this season, Decker set a new record for career receptions and for consecutive 100-yard receiving games. For two straight seasons, Decker set the Minnesota single-season record for receptions.  He will likely have another 100-yard game against Purdue unless Coach Hope has a special defense in place. 

            Decker can thank Gopher quarterback Adam Weber who has taken nearly every snap for the past two-plus seasons. He set the Minnesota single-season records for passing yardage (2,895), TDs passing (24), completions (258) and attempts (449) in 2007. Earlier this season, he became the Gophers' career completions leader and currently has a total of 604.

            Minnesota's special teams are special, indeed as well.  Minnesota ranks No. 9 in the nation in punt return average, going for 19.0 yards per return.  The Gophers are No. 11 in the nation in net punting, averaging 40.43 yards of field position per punt. Finally, Minnesota ranks 14th in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 27.23 yards per kick return. They returned five kicks, averaging nearly 30 yards per return, last week versus Wisconsin.

            Like Purdue, what talent Minnesota has on paper isn't always reflected on the final scoreboard.  This year, Minnesota has played five consecutive games that were still anyone's game late into the fourth quarter.  The Gophers defeated Syracuse 23-20 in overtime, came from behind to defeat Air Force 20-13 and pulled away from Northwestern late in a 35-24 win. Minnesota was tied 21-21 with California

midway through the fourth quarter and fell by just three to Wisconsin last week.  Given the Gophers and the Boilermakers' propensity to stretch out the final decision, don't expect this week to be any different.

            On paper, it looks like this week's game is going to be another shoot out.  Purdue has the ammunition to hit the bulls-eye and start the season's road to recovery.  Don't count out the Gophers, though.  They were victorious last year and they'd like to even out the last decade of competition that's tilted heavily in Purdue's favor.  If Purdue can erase some mistakes in the turnover and penalty department, don't expect Minnesota to chalk up an easy victory.

            Boiler Up Purdue faithful.  Whack a Gopher and pass the stick-um.  This Purdue team needs to hold onto the ball and change this season around now.