Detroit, Michigan, received the distinction of being named America's most dangerous city this weekend based upon FBI crime statistics. But, what can you expect from a city who presented Saddam Hussein the key to the city in 1980? This is important information for all Boilermaker fans, though. Though not finalized, it looks like the stars are aligning where the Boilermaker Special will be chugging north to the Motor City Bowl on December 26 to play the Mid-American Conference champion Miami of Ohio.
What a difference a few weeks and bad football can make.
It's no surprise now that Purdue let Indiana get away with the Oaken Bucket this weekend, losing by a last minute field goal, 27-24. A fourth quarter rally gave Boilermakers hope when Purdue's Kory Sheets scored a game tying touchdown with 3:39 left. It looked like the bar tabs were going to be settled early in the second half when Indiana went up 24-3 but the staunchest Boilermaker fan either hoped for a comeback or refused to leave a half-filled pitcher of beer on the table. They got what they wanted...a comeback. Unfortunately the final score didn't go Purdue's way.
Indiana's win came about with one ingredient that seemed lacking on the Purdue sideline: emotion. Let's face it, the Hoosiers wanted this win more than Purdue. The late Hoosier coach Terry Hoeppner promised the team and students a bowl game three years ago when he was hired. Cancer robbed him of the chance to see his Hoosiers beat Purdue on Saturday. There wasn't an Indiana student or alumnus who'd deny Hoeppner was looking down (or maybe up?) at Saturday's final score.
Indiana ran an inspired offense tallying 435 yards. Hoosier Marcus Thigpen rushed 19 times for 140 yards which was more than half of Indiana's rushing offense of 219 yards. Purdue had another poor rushing day chalking up only 78 yards! Fortunately most Purdue fans I know love a good Hollywood ending and this game had it all. What better story that a "death bed" promise come true after a last minute field goal? I can almost imagine Hoosier coach Bill Lynch telling his team at half time: "Hoeppner said to me before he went in for surgery, 'when the team is up against it -- and the Boilermakers are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one. That will make us bowl eligible and wherever I am, I'll be happy.'"
So Indiana gets the bucket this year and a trip to the bowl game as promised three years ago. Now, the bucket wasn't part of that deal but for the sake of Hollywood script writing, we'll let that slip by. Indiana could go to Tempe, Arizona, for the Insight Bowl and Purdue will probably go to the Motor City Bowl. Bowl selections are still at least a week away but Purdue lost their last three games. In the event teams have identical records, bowl game officials like to pick a team that's hot and on the rise. That team would be Indiana. There are still a few other factors that could change Purdue's bowl chances. First factor, where is everyone else going? Ohio State is Rose Bowl bound and Michigan will likely go to the Capital One Bowl in Tampa. There's even a chance Illinois can sneak into the mix if other conference teams stumble in the next two weeks. Illinois is a hot team and is generating a lot of interest. If this happens, Purdue's chance of improving their bowl selection goes up. Another factor can be the number of bowl eligible teams in the Big Ten and conferences being unable to field their requisite number of bowl teams because of win-loss requirements. The Pac 10 and Big 12 may not be able to fulfill all their bowl commitments because of team records. Purdue finished 7-5 and ninth overall in the Big Ten. There are seven bowl games slated to host Big Ten teams, if they have the requisite record. Since there are more bowl eligible teams in the conference than dedicated bowl games, technically two teams could be left at home. With a three game tailspin, Purdue would probably be one of those teams. Some sports prognosticators pick Purdue going to the Las Vegas Bowl to play Brigham Young (CBS sports); and Orlando's Champs Sports Bowl against Virginia (Fox Sports).
So what does this mean? There's still college football left to play and the season isn't over for Purdue...yet. This is one production where credits aren't ready to roll yet. And I still owe the club a weekly blog until it's over.
Jessica Hart
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I hate to disagree, but Purdue's sideline really did have a lot of emotion. I was at the game, and they were more emotional about that game than any other time this year. Not only that, but Indiana may have had an emotional edge for the first 5 minutes or so, but for the entire second half, the crowd, as well as Indiana's sideline was very uneasy and you could tell Purdue had a clear edge. I realize they came out flat, but a lack of emotion wasn't what cost them the game. I can honestly say, I have never seen the team as dejected after a game.
mrgopher11
West Lafayette , IN
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Yeah, although I thought Tiller has done little to shake this team's offense up, I still want to see them in a bowl - any bowl.
krish
New Hartford, CT
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