FanNation - The Republic of Sport

            There are some games you just don't cheer as loud as others.  For me, this week's Ann Arbor away game is one of those times.

            It's not because I'm unsure about what Purdue team will show up:  the one that beat Ohio State or the one that barely left a mark in Madison last week.  What is different about this week's game is the city of Ann Arbor and the 100,000+ fans funneled into a hole in the ground to watch football.  That "hole" is Michigan Stadium, affectionately known as the Big House.  Ann Arbor has a soft spot in my heart.  That's where I was born and raised.  My first paying job was working in the stadium parking lots on football Saturdays.   While I can't remember Purdue's last victory in Ann Arbor since I was only four years old, I do remember receiving free tickets to other games in the late 1960s and early 1970s because I was a Boy Scout and on the school's safety patrol.  Free tickets were given away to fill empty seats, back when the stadium only seemed to sell out for Ohio State.  No doubt Purdue was one of those games I saw, along with Northwestern, Navy, and Minnesota:  games the rookie Michigan coach Bo Schembachler worried about.

            Purdue has only won four times in my hometown.  This week, Purdue faces a Wolverine team fighting the same demons:  turnovers, penalties, and bad play calling.  The victor on Saturday might not be the one who plays better but the team who commits the fewest mistakes. 

            The Boilermakers' Madison outing last week was a disaster.   Purdue suffered its first shut out since 2006, losing 37-0.  According to Coach Danny Hope, the game's early problems snowballed on the Purdue offense.  Forced to throw the ball down field to receivers already troubled with catching, Elliot forced throws and made even worse choices.  Defensively, the Badgers ran over a defense already plagued with poor tackling finesse.  Badger running back John Clay ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns behind some powerful blocking that snowplowed the way through the gold and black drifts.   

            If Purdue wasn't having a bad day, then the Wolverines weren't exactly having a happy Halloween in Champaign's Memorial Stadium, against the Fighting Illini.  There, the Wolverines let a half time lead get away eventually losing 38-13.  Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier fumbled twice inside the Illinois 20 yard line and failed to punch in another score from the goal line late in the third quarter.  With that loss, Michigan's record is 5-4, and 1-4 in the Big Ten. 

            It's anyone's guess as to what will unravel in the Big House on Saturday.  It's safe to say the momentum lies with the maize and blue.  For whatever reason, a curse or the pressure to perform in front of 100,000 fans seems hard for Purdue to overcome.  For men: think of a full bladder, two urinals, and you're at the one with another dozen men waiting for you to finish while the guy next to you is sighing in relief.  On second thought, no one gave Purdue a look during their upset win against Ohio State.  Indiana almost beat Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this season.  Purdue alums can dream sweet things to come true. 

            What can be expected is Michigan running and throwing the ball in equal balance.  That's the way they've played all year.  Michigan uses two quarterbacks:  Forcier and Denard Robinson.  Both are freshman and as a rule of thumb, Forcier is known to be the throwing quarterback and Robinson the running quarterback.  However, both are fast and very capable of moving the ball forward with their legs.  Senior running back Carlos Brown is the big ball carrying threat.  Combine them together and you have the Big Ten's top rushing offense and the 27^th best in college ball.  Purdue is going to have to tackle better or play keep away with its offense.  If not, it's going to be another long bus ride back to West Lafayette. 

            Offensively, Purdue fans won't see many changes.  Expect Joey Elliot back behind center.  He is still one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten in passing efficiency though last week's game really hurt his overall statistics.  Let's hope the Madison performance was a fluke.  Elliot was benched in the third quarter by redshirt freshman Caleb TerBush.  It was TerBush's first start behind center in what Hope described as "mop up" time.  The game was beyond reach at that point and Hope made many substitutions to provide game time experience and a varsity letter jacket to seldom used players.

            Purdue has a chance to bolster up their offensive statistics this week against an atypical Wolverine defense.  The Wolverines are in the bottom half of many of the conference descriptors including red zone defense, and scoring defense.   Another good sign for Purdue:  Michigan's defense has forced only 11 turnovers this year.  That could be a big factor given Purdue's propensity to hand over the ball on passes and fumbles.

            The Boilermakers and Wolverines are looking for the proverbial silver lining to salvage some respect in a season gone bad.  Purdue alumni hope the Ohio State victors will show up and keep the Michigan game close.  Combine two fast moving offenses with relatively weak defenses, fans can expect a high scoring affair like last year's grid iron battle.  Purdue came out victorious with a game winning touchdown from a hook and lateral surprise play.  Purdue will need more of those to hold off the home town Wolverines.  If Purdue holds onto the ball longer that the Wolverines, a painful losing streak in Ann Arbor can be another streak erased like the one about defeating a ranked opponent.  Boiler Up Purdue fans!  Three games left in the season and please, please, please hold onto the ball!?