FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I had a dream on Saturday afternoon where I was in an audience watching an elementary school play.  The young actor got so nervous and scared that he forgot his lines and threw up.  I shook my head is disbelief.  I wanted to help but couldn't.  I'm standing up screaming "You can do this!  You practiced!  You have a great cast!" 

Then reality kicked in.  It wasn't a dream.  I was watching Purdue play Michigan.  No one was throwing up but they were tossing up the ball in fumbles and interceptions.  The game was over by half time.  Thirty one points in a half was the most points given up in a half under Joe Tiller.  There wasn't much to be said about Purdue's performance except there is something about the Big House that makes Purdue nervous.  Want to know who was the last Purdue quarterback to win in Ann Arbor?  It was Bob Griese in 1966. 

There are still five more weeks of conference play left on the Purdue schedule.  Despite two weeks of poor performance, Joe Tiller says Curtis Painter is still the starting quarterback.  Joey Elliot replaced Painter late in the game and posted impressive statistics against Michigan's defensive reserves.  Blogs and fan sites are beginning to chatter about quarterback changes.  Tiller doesn't listen but it sure isn't helping anyone's confidence.

This week the Iowa Hawkeyes come to town, fresh from an upset victory against the Fightin' Illini.  Iowa has been having a rough season and the victory against Illinois was their first against a Big Ten team this year bringing their conference record to 1-3.  Iowa was supposed to get scalped by Illinois but the Hawkeyes had other plans.  Don't think this was some special victory.  This wasn't the Ron Zook team people have read about so far this season.  Illinois starting quarterback was sidelined with a knee injury and red-short freshman Eddie McGee was behind center.  When you have an offense playing as effectively as Purdue played against Ohio State or Michigan, something bad is going to happen.  And it did.  With a final 10-6 score, the Hawkeye victory was a place to start their run for a bowl game.

Purdue's defense has been a bit of a surprise this year and this week against Iowa, you can expect them to carry a shaky Boilermaker offense trying to ride the rails again.  Iowa's offense features a first year quarterback, and injury plagued offensive line, and reserve receivers filling in for injured or ejected starters.  Iowa's offense ranks 114^th in the nation.  Curtis Painter has the opportunity to find the force once more at Ross Ade.  Against the spread offense, the Hawkeye defense is suspect.  There will be open Purdue receivers to throw to.  The question will be whether or not Painter can hit his targets. 

Special kudos go to Purdue's punter Jared Armstrong.  Armstrong was nominated to the final list of candidates for the Draddy Trophy, college football's most prestigious academic award.  Armstrong is second on Purdue's career punting average list with 43.1 yards per punt (50 punts for 2,154 yards).  Armstrong is one of only 20 special teams semifinalists on a list of 153 football scholars who will be judged for academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

It's been a rough two weeks for Purdue football fans.  This week there's more promise but consistency hasn't been in the cards for the Boilermakers yet this year.  Let's hope the team gives a full game and plucks the Hawkeyes.