Boiler Jim's Blog

Our Last Hope Week 12

Boiler Jim — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:51:54 GMT

Far removed in the southernmost reaches of Florida, little attention is paid to this week's "Bucket" game except for the few thousand Purdue and Indiana University alumni that reside here.

In Indianapolis, it's a different story for alums. There, this week is being called "Hate Week" because for three days out of the year, the two schools are on opposite poles: one football game and two basketball game days. As with many games in this series, the contest doesn't amount to much more than the ability to display a trophy in a prominent college location until the next time the football teams meet. But what endears year after year isn't so much the win and loss record or the number of metal "P"s or "I"s chained together but the memories of previous games. Hatred, manufactured or not, is what makes this week's game a rivalry. Some colleges will face each other in manufactured rivalries such as this week's Michigan State vs. Penn State. This week's bucket game with its own tradition and reverence can be compared to the likes of Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Auburn and Army vs. Navy, though acknowledged distaste between teams may be arguable.

Over the past decade, Purdue has pretty much had its way against Indiana with the exception of two games. Last year's huge 62-10 rivalry stands out as a testament to how far Indiana football has fallen more than how much Purdue football has improved. While alumni should not expect a repeat of last year's landslide offensive output, not much has changed on the Indiana sidelines that would warrant a huge swing of the pendulum back towards the crimson and white. The last time Purdue played in Bloomington, the Hoosiers kicked a field goal to win by three with 30 seconds left.

Purdue's loss to Michigan State last week was another heartbreaker but not entirely surprising as big Spartan plays, poor special teams play and a costly turnover snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Purdue showed promise and control throughout the game but when it came to really dig down and cash in on an obtainable "win", they didn't follow through. Disappointing yes, but fans have seen this before this season. Chalk it up as another coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Purdue's trip to Bloomington this week doesn't set the stage for a bowl game. Purdue does have the opportunity to achieve something they've never done and a milestone only achieved by 39 other college football teams: a 1,000-yard rusher, a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard receiver. Keith Smith achieved the first level last weekend by recording only the 12th 1,000-yard receiving season in school history. Running back Ralph Bolden needs only 69 yards rushing this week to break the 1000-yard barrier. Finally, quarterback Joey Elliot is 179 yards short of a 3000-yard passing season. The closest Purdue has come to pulling off the rare triple-quadruple came in 2000 when Drew Brees passed for 3,668 yards, Vinny Sutherland finished with 1,014 yards receiving and running back Montrell Lowe missed the 1,000-yard milestone by only two yards!

Despite Purdue's winning ways with IU over the past decade and the Hoosier's 1-6 Big Ten record, don't expect this weekend's game to be a cakewalk like last year. Indiana has remained competitive in games against Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Northwestern. Like Purdue, a few plays here and there, Indiana could be heading to a bowl game just as easy. Indiana is going to give Purdue more of a fight than other bucket battles in recent times.

Purdue boasts the best passing quarterback in the conference this year. Care to guess who is second? IU quarterback Ben Chappell, that's who. Indiana can throw and chalked up the most passing yards against Penn State this year than any other team. Indiana's receiver Tandon Doss has become one of the best receivers in the country, averaging 82 yards/game. That's good for the Big Ten's second best. But surprise again! Who is number one in the league? Purdue's Keith Smith. With offensive capabilities on both sides of the ball, this week's game can be a high scoring affair. On the flip side, Indiana has only been averaging a little more than 100 yards rushing per game this season. They play a multiple number of running backs and therefore don't feature a key player. Statistically, Indiana throws twice as many times as they do run.

The bucket game is often used to settle in-state differences and petty arguments over which school is better. For alumni, the Bucket game is not only about beating the other Indiana school but a way to recall great traditions and memories. It's this annual cycle of spirited debate settled by a scoreboard that makes this game different than the rest.

And it's that difference that makes this Bucket game the most important one of the season, bar none. Boiler Up Purdue fans! Let's put the bucket back on the bus for the ride north to West Lafayette Saturday night!

Hope For Two More: Week Eleven

Boiler Jim — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:33:23 GMT

Two games left in the "Season of Hope" and this game matters most.

Why? This game is the last home game of the year in Ross Ade-and more importantly, the last home game for senior football players. Michigan State arrives in town with debatable bowl game bona fides. While there is a "bucket" matter in Bloomington two weeks from now, forget about it. A true rivalry like that can turn a winless team into a champion in 60 minutes. There's other business to be accomplished now. This week brings the curtain down on the home town stage. For practically all senior players, dreams of playing on Sundays will always be just that: a dream. A victory Saturday will be a fitting hometown encore that will last a lifetime for them, students, and hometown crowd.

Purdue fans are still glowing from basking in last Saturday's Ann Arbor victory. The game featured many storylines such as the end of another notorious streak. Joey Elliot can now brag that he not only shares hometown claims with quarterback alumnus Bob Griese but two wins against Michigan including one in Ann Arbor and beating the Buckeyes in the same season. Another plot for next year arises if Rich Rodriguez remains at the helm at Michigan. Fans can expect next year's match to be even more intense. Rodriguez was called a "snake oil" salesman by Coach Joe Tiller after Michigan "stole" wide receiver recruit Roy Roundtree after he had all but committed to Purdue. Roundtree was impressive against Purdue with 10 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. Earlier this year, Rodriguez again grated the nerves of the Purdue coaching staff when he allegedly pointed out Zach Reckman's late hit against a Northern Illinois player to Big Ten officials. This complaint allegedly led to Reckman's one game suspension when Purdue faced the Irish. This must've irritated Hope and the Boilermakers since then. While shaking hands midfield after last Saturday's game, Hope seized the opportunity to introduce Zach Reckman to Rick Rodriguez and said, "Thanks Coach" in an apparent snub. Rodriguez, in disbelief, discussed Purdue's sportsmanship during the post game press conference. While little more has been said about the incident, be certain next year's Michigan-Purdue game will be a 53-yard sideline-to-sideline showdown if the two coaches are facing each other.

Michigan State is arguably the toughest team Purdue has faced this year. The Spartan offense and defense have evolved into well tuned units on both sides of the line. Michigan State's 49-14 victory against Western Michigan not only brought their season record to 5-5 but showed how explosive their offense is; garnering over 600 yards and a season high 49 points. Running back Ashton Leggett and quarterback Kirk Cousins are equals to Purdue's Elliot and Bolden. When the Spartans opt to pass, receiver Blair White has the ability to make defenders pay. Defensively, linebacker Greg Jones has led the Spartans in tackling in 21 of the last 23 games. He's fifth on Michigan State's leader board for tackles for a loss with 33.5 tackles. They allow opponents 22.5 points per game while they average 11 points better. With few exceptions, Michigan State lost to the many of the same opponents as Purdue (Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Central Michigan) and beat Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern and non-conference foes Western Michigan and Montana State.

After last week's win in Ann Arbor, Purdue remains relatively injury-free which hasn't been the case in past seasons. The offensive line remains essentially unchanged. Receiver Keith Carlos probably won't play. That puts Cortez Smith back in a position to stand up and make a difference like he did against Michigan. Smith's 54-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter put Purdue ahead to stay.

Ross Ade is an especially good place to be playing this weekend against the Spartans. The two teams are a reflection of each other. Both have similar strengths and approaches. What can be a game breaker is a 12^th player: the fans. Purdue has seen dwindling crowds during the last few games. The crowd who watched the miraculous Boiler upset of Ohio State was one of the season's smallest. The athletic department is going all out this weekend by offering discounted tickets to fill the stadium one last time this year. A roaring black and gold crowd could provide the necessary oomph to one more victory. For the Spartans, this week game is important as well. With a 5-5 record, Michigan State needs one more victory to achieve bowl game credentials. Next week they host Penn State. Michigan State would really like a road victory to take the pressure off next week's all but predictable finale.

Boiler up Purdue fans! This game is going to be a nail-biter to the end unless mistakes force an opening for one team or another. Forget the bucket for now, Purdue needs to hammer the Spartans back to East Lansing.

Let's Cope with Hope! Week Ten

Boiler Jim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:45:37 GMT

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!?

Any More Hope? Week Nine

Boiler Jim — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:18:15 GMT

When I was a kid, I always pondered the question of who would win a fight between Batman and Superman? Between a hippo and an elephant? A hobo versus a hippie? Santa Claus versus Jesus?

I'm grown up now but things haven't changed much. This week I'm wondering who would win a fight between Purdue Pete and Bucky the Badger? We'll find out this Saturday when Pete takes on Bucky at University of Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium.

Purdue heads north to Madison with two consecutive wins under their belt. Wisconsin, on the other hand, comes off a bye week with two consecutive losses against Ohio State and Iowa. With a week off after two losing fights, Bucky the Badger is eager to get back to winning ways. Though the Badgers come into Saturday's contest with a 5-2 record so far, their conference record is identical to Purdue's with two wins and losses. Wisconsin suffered losses to Ohio State (31-13) and Iowa (20-10).

Origami, the Japanese art form of folding paper into beautiful things, reminds me a lot about Purdue football. On paper, the Boilermakers look real good. Wisconsin is also beautifully folded with neat looking statistics of a similar fashion. But in the end, what's on paper is simply that: a piece of paper that anyone trained in origami can fold expertly. That's what sports information directors are paid to do with words and statistics.

On paper, Purdue and Wisconsin look very similar. Purdue scores an average of 27.6 points per game and Wisconsin isn't far off with 28.3. While Purdue rushes an average of 146 yards per game, Wisconsin runs more with 184 per game. Conversely, Purdue throws more with 254 yards per game average versus the Badgers 210 yard passing average. That should be no surprise. Of 120 NCAA football teams measured, Purdue ranks 41^st in total offense while Wisconsin ranks 48^th. More glaring, unfortunately, is the difference in total defense where the Badgers are ranked 38^th and Purdue is 30 slots lower, ranked 68th.

What are the things that tips the scales for one team this week? Financial advisors like to look at trends when offering an opinion. Purdue's nonconference schedule featured tougher opponents like Oregon and Notre Dame. Instead, Wisconsin edged out Northern Illinois by eight points in their opener, and spent two overtimes to beat Fresno State. For another, the Badgers soundly beat division II, Wofford.

As far as Purdue trends are concerned, turnovers and penalties continue to define the season. Against the Fightin' Illini, Purdue played their first game without a turnover. Compare that with a noticeable drop in turnovers against Ohio State, it appears the Boilermaker ball dropping tendency has changed. Likewise, penalties also decreased. If Purdue can keep these trends going, they're going to be very competitive against the Badgers.

This week's "trend" question: what's happening with Purdue's tacking challenges? Wisconsin has the Big Ten's rushing leader in John Clay who averages 102 yards per game. Clay has carried the ball 153 times this season for 716 yards and seven scores. The Badgers have run 350 offensive plays this year. Do the math and what is your answer? If it was: almost half of the plays are going to John Clay, you're right. If it was something else, let the instructor know and be prepared to show your work. But here's the kicker to that math problem, and I don't mean to mention Carson Wiggs or Chris Summers: Purdue running back Ralph Bolden has an almost identical accomplishment. Bolden has also carried the ball 153 times for 720 yards but only five touchdowns. Purdue's rushing capability is no different than the Badgers.

Who would win a fight between Purdue Pete and Bucky the Badger is a tough argument to settle on paper. Like Pete, the cartoonish Bucky the Badger character was drawn by the same California-based commercial artist Art Evans in the 1940s, under contract from a university bookstore! Along with Vegas line computations, it might appear the edge belongs to Wisconsin since they're playing at home. For Purdue, Ross Ade attendance dropped to a low of 47,000 fans, give or take a few hundred. Home town crowds haven't been as friendly or supportive as the past. Purdue does have to overcome a trend of road game losses that date back to 2003! The next three of four games are away games. Purdue also needs three wins to become bowl eligible.

It's going to be a fight Purdue fans. We're duking it out in Bucky's backyard. Keeping turnovers to a minimum and controlling the ball will work wonders in Madison. Boiler Up Purdue Pete! We know you can beat up Bucky!

There is Hope! Week Eight

Boiler Jim — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:21:55 GMT

Saturday's unbelievable Boilermaker victory over THE Ohio State Buckeyes provided a fairy tale ending worthy of a Disney movie script. But this week's game against the Fightin' Illini reminded me of a few cinematic moments.

Remember when Jimmy Cagney shouted "Top of the world, Ma!" in the movie "White Heat" right before the gas tank he was standing upon blew up?

Do you remember, "I'm the king of the world!" Leonardo DiCaprio screamed from the bow of an ocean liner in the movie "Titanic" hours before the ship sank and he drowned?

And how could you forget, "It's good to be King!" Mel Brooks said smugly as Louis XIV in "History of the World Part II." Of course it was this swagger that got Louis' head hacked off in a guillotine.

Last Saturday's victory sets the stage for an ominous encore if the Boilermakers aren't focused. As Illini coach Ron Zook told reporters Tuesday, the 1-5 Illini are in the exact position Purdue faced last week. And no one knows more than Purdue fans that on any given Saturday...yeah, you know the rest.

Purdue was showered with accolades and awards following the Ohio State upset. Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan and kicker Carson Wiggs were named the Big Ten Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week. The upset earned the team the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Champion of the Week. More importantly, alumni were congratulated by complete strangers either because of the impressive win or simply because some strangers cheer any team who beats the Buckeyes.

After passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns against the Buckeyes, Joey Elliott heads into Saturday's game against Illinois ranked first in the Big Ten in average passing yardage (265.1) and total offense (287.7). One of Elliot's favorite targets, wide receiver Keith Smith posted his fifth 100-yard game and is first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in receptions per game (7.7), and his 101.43 receiving yards per game average is second in the conference as well. Wide receiver/kick returner Aaron Valentin also remains a powerful offensive weapon as well. He leads Big Ten players in both punt return average (13.7) and average all-purpose yardage (138.3). The senior is 16th nationally in returning punts and 34th in all-purpose yards. As a receiver, Valentin is sixth in the Big Ten in receptions (5.57) and seventh in receiving yards (64.7) per game. Of course, these accomplishments could be due to defenses targeting running back Ralph Bolden who still owns the Big Ten's rushing record for a single game this season. This week he could get a chance to chalk up some big gains against a porous Illini defense.

Purdue's defense looked impressive against an Ohio State offense that only managed to gain 287 yards of offense, far below the Buckeyes' typical game performance. Big Ten sack leader Ryan Kerrigan will be licking his chops when lining up against an Illini offensive line that has allowed the most sacks of any Big Ten team this season. Linebacker Jason Werner continues to improve every game and should increase his season tally of 14 tackles for a loss.

The Illini average 358 yards per game, fairly balanced between the run and pass. Ohio State's quarterback Terrell Pryor was often compared to Illini's senior quarterback Juice Williams. However, this Illini team is hardly an image of the team that Williams led to the 2008 Rose Bowl. With the exception of a blow out against Division II Illinois State, the Illini have lost games by two touchdown margins or more. Last week, Indiana defeated Illinois 27-14 in a game that will likely determine the Big Ten cellar dweller. Had Purdue not won last week, this week's game could've dtermined that unpleasant honor.

The question on many Boiler fans' minds is whether or not Purdue has fixed their fumbling problems. Last week the team only had three turnovers, none of which Ohio State could capitalize on. More impressive was the lack of penalties committed. These are definite good signs and hopefully continue this week. There's some doubt as to who will quarterback the Illini: Juice Williams or freshman Najee Tyler. Williams has been banged up a few times this season and his presence will require a similar defensive strategy as Purdue devised against Pryor last week. Illini injuries have also hurt the defensive side of their line as well. Their defensive backfield lacks experience and that can be a big plus for Purdue's passing ability this week.

This week Purdue fans would like to believe what they read in the papers. The Ohio State game performance reconfirmed what preseason hype said about an experienced defense and Purdue being the best 1-5 team in college football. Believing what's on paper gives fans an expectation Purdue will win Saturday. But remember, turnovers and penalties can change all that as painful as those memories are. Purdue needs to control the ball offensively like they did against Ohio State and pressure Illini quarterback Williams or Tyler. Special teams play must be consistent and don't be surprised if it's improved further if Carson Wiggs picking up punting duties from an errant Chris Summers, as is rumored.

Let's hope Purdue fans get a bang out of this weekend's game. Purdue and Illinois compete for a cannon trophy, believe it or not. The cannon trophy dates back to some Purdue students who took the cannon to Champaign in 1913 to celebrate a game victory. However, the cannon was discovered by Illinois students and confiscated. The trophy didn't become an annual battled prize until the 1940s. Purdue has possession of the trophy, won two years ago the last time the teams met. Let's keep the powder and shot dry and hope last week's Buckeye upset wasn't a flash in the pan. Boiler Up! Scalp the Fightin' Illini!

Where is the Hope? Week Seven

Boiler Jim — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:01:28 GMT

Purdue is a school of engineers so perhaps it's no surprise the football team is dropping the ball.

In 1589, Galileo Galilei showed his University of Pisa students the error in Aristotle's theory that speed of fall is proportional to weight. He dropped two objects of different weight simultaneously from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to prove that Aristotle was wrong. Although Galileo was correct, he lost his job because he contradicted the faulty theory of the famous Aristotle.

What Purdue fans are learning is that dropped balls tend to occur deep in Boilermaker territory and opposing forces quickly weigh their side of the score board with points in an offsetting nature.

Have we learned enough from this futile experiment yet or are we waiting for another outcome? How many times must this team drop the ball to figure out it's not a good thing?

Okay, let's take a deep breath, hit the books, and review some constant variables.

Despite the record and the shrinking number of possessions caused by fumbles, there is evidence of some good offensive talent. Purdue outgains their opposition 410.2 yards per game to 379.7. Quarterback Joey Elliot is ranked first in the Big Ten in average passing yardage (262.5) and total offense (283.7). Believe it or not, Elliot is 15th nationally in total offense. Boiler running back Ralph Bolden is second in the Big Ten and 20th nationally in rushing average (99.8) and third in the Big Ten and 49th nationally in all-purpose yardage (128.7). Wide receiver Keith Smith is second in the Big Ten and tied for 17th nationally in receptions per game. Smith's 97.5 receiving yards per game average is second in league play. Finally, wide receiver/kick returner Aaron Valentin leads Big Ten players in both punt return average (13.7) and average all-purpose yardage (145.2). The senior is 17th nationally in returning punts and 27th in all-purpose yards. Defensively, linebacker Jason Werner only seems to get better each passing week. He has racked up 11 tackles for loss this season, a figure that averages out to 1.8 per game and ranks him third in the conference and tied for ninth nationally.

Purdue's talent needs the catalyst of an error free game if they have any chance of repelling THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State is undefeated in the Big Ten and suffered its only loss to Pac Ten rival USC. For a minute, forget about a Buckeye defense that only allows opponents 12 points a game. Don't think about an offense that scores almost 30 points a game gains and average of 338 yards. The free radical in this week's Ross Ade experiment will teeter on Ohio State's special teams ability to cash in like it did against Wisconsin last week when it guaranteed good field position and ran back a kick off.

According to Coach Hope during this week's press conference, any time a special teams unit can score twice, that team is likely to win 90 percent of the time. Sounds like the musings of a Purdue engineer that went to the moon and back.

Oh-oh.

What can you say about an opponent that has only allowed four touchdowns in the last 19 quarters of play, who won their last 16 previous conference road games, and whose head coach is 13-0 against first year coaches?

Then again, nobody gave Navy a chance against Ohio State in the opening game of the season in Columbus. A Middie mistake late in the 4^th quarter was the only thing that kept the Buckeye's from losing so a Boilermaker win on Saturday isn't out of the question. Mutations exist in biology, there are black holes in space, and the truth is stranger than fiction.

Simply put, Purdue needs to prevent turnovers and keep the ball away from the Buckeye offense.

This weekend's game "theme" is "Gold Rush." Purdue's 1-5 season looks more like a lump of lead. Centuries ago, alchemists tried in vain to turn lead into gold. It wasn't until Glenn Seaborg, a 1951 Nobel laureate in chemistry, claimed to do that very experiment. Scientifically speaking for Purdue engineers and scientists, lead is a stable element. Forcing an atom of lead it to release three protons to equal the atomic weight of gold requires a vast input of energy. Thus, the cost of transmuting greatly surpasses the value of the resultant gold. Yet on the football field, a resultant victory over the Buckeyes will also require exorbitant energy and sage coaching. That Purdue victory won't be worth its weight in gold. It would be priceless.

Season of Hope? Week Six

Boiler Jim — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:37:48 GMT

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.

Season of Hope: Week Five

Boiler Jim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:46:00 GMT

The best 1-3 team in college football? C'mon.

In the world of sports writing, some scrub scribe is tying to polish the accomplishments of a less-than-stellar performing team. The true value in football remains the game's final score.

Purdue's three losses were decided by less than a dozen points. In two of the games, final plays determined victor and loser. Unfortunately, Purdue painted the big "L" on their foreheads. But for now, those three losses are a thing of the past. Purdue starts with a clean slate this Saturday against the Northewestern Wildcats when their Big Ten season begins.

Yes, a trip to the Rose Bowl is a possibility!

Purdue comes into the Homecoming match-up ranked 32^nd in the nation in total offense. Joey Elliot is ranked #2 in the Big Ten in passing yardage and Ralph Bolden is still the top conference rusher despite becoming bore sighted by opponents. There's little doubt Purdue's pre-season conference games provided the necessary seasoning to what is the season's meat and potatoes.

There's little doubt Purdue's record would be better if mistakes weren't made along the travels so far. Fumbles in the Oregon game cost a victory and last week's heartbreaking penalties certainly shaped the outcome against the Irish game. But the biggest gaff of the season so far didn't occur on the field. It happened last Sunday after the Notre Dame game when Coach Danny Hope defended his decision to use a time out in the closing minute of the game.

Hope's call for a time out when Notre Dame was second and goal with seconds to play seemed reasonable. You want to make sure you have the right defense out there, right? Hind sight is a great educator. Upon further review, the best choice would've been to let Notre Dame run the clock without the benefit of any remaining time outs. In all likelihood, the Irish offense would've downed the ball to stop the clock and then play their last hand for the score. In stud poker terms, it was "all in" for the Irish. A wasted down and a stopped clock would've given Purdue the chance to check the defense for that one last play. Additionally, they could've used a time out just in case they didn't like the offensive line up. Instead, Hope's time out gave Notre Dame had two chances to score and they won on their second attempt.

Danny Hope defends his game time decision and is convinced it was the right thing to do. According to fan blogs and even Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss, it was a mistake.

In his defense, Hope explained the need for time on the clock so Purdue could counter the expected Notre Dame scored. His reasoning translates to a vote of no confidence in the Boilermaker defense's ability to stop the Irish from scoring in ONE PLAY. The odds of stopping Notre Dame from scoring on one more play was seemingly better than being able to run back a kick off and kick a field goal or score a touchdown with a couple dozen seconds remaining. If Pontiac wasn't cash strapped and still sponsored those "game changing" moment commercials, Hope's time out call would be one of this week's nominees. But In the end, all the blame can't befall Coach Hope. Purdue's entire game play must be more dominant so the outcome isn't decided on late game heroics.

This week at Ross Ade, Purdue's Homecoming features a familiar opponent for just such an occasion. Homecoming games for any school typically features a team that can be overcome, leaving alumni feeling good about alma mater. Facing off against Purdue is the Big Ten's best quarterback in passing yardage, Northwestern's Mike Kafka. Kafka was 32 for 47 last week with two touchdown passes in a losing effort against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Northwestern does try to run the ball but by and large, their passing attack is what keeps them in the game. The Wildcat scoring drives averaged 77 yards. Furthermore, Kafka doesn't have a favorite passing target. Six Wildcat receivers collected four or more passes each.

Kafka is vulnerable to a pass rush. He's been sacked four times in the last two games. His ability to throw and continue his record setting pace of pass attempts won't stop in West Lafayette. The true test of the Boilermaker defense will be whether or not they can put pressure on the quarterback. Purdue's defensive backfield has not panned out to be the experienced group hyped during the preseason by the black and gold sports information department. Fans should be confident in the Boilermaker's ability to shut down the run as they did in the second half against Notre Dame. For Northwestern, can their defensive unit stop a wily ball carrier in Ralph Bolden? Elliot is not in the passing leagues of a Mike Kafka but Purdue's offense is more multidimensional than the Wildcat aerial attack.

Northwestern arrives at Ross Ade with a 2-2 record. Both Wildcat losses were the result of last minute scores. Sound familiar? They could be riding the rails on Kafka's arm with a 4-0 record quite easily. Given the familiar game ending histories of both Purdue and Northwestern this season, perhaps the team with the most desire to win will be the true test.

A new season begins for Purdue as the conference opens at Ross Ade. The pre-season schedule wasn't exactly a University of Florida cakewalk agenda. Purdue is well prepared for what lies ahead. Eliminate mistakes and improved tackling will no doubt change the outcome of Saturday afternoons in Purdue's near future.

Season of Hope: Week Four

Boiler Jim — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:13:21 GMT

           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.

Season of Hope: Week Three

Boiler Jim — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:24:00 GMT

The bags are packed and the car is gassed ready for the trek north. Destination: West Lafayette where I'll be on hand to watch Purdue take on Northern Illinois.

This week's "Season of Hope" ramblings lacks the typical sage observations of someone who spent one too many college game days along Ross Ade sidelines tossing footballs underhanded to the referee after a play. Well, there was one fall where I sat in the press box scribbling down game statistics and eating free hot dogs!

But that was a quarter century ago and this year's Boilermaker team is one of the better ones I've seen. Last week, Oregon quacked past the Boilers in Eugene by two points, 38-36. Bottom line: erase two mistakes and Purdue wins the game. Not much more can be said. Elliot's throwing was strong and effective. Ralph Bolden's offensive yardage continues to grow at a school-record pace. This week, Bolden again leads the nation in yards rushing. He has a good opportunity to add to it this week against Northern Illinois. According to Hope, Bolden plays hard and is the focal point of the offense. Additionally, he is a pressure valve for a "first year" quarterback who isn't forced to throw on every down.

Unlike the University of Florida Gators, Purdue doesn't have a kitchen pass on non-conference games. If some think Northern Illinois is a scrimmage flavor team to help prepare for Notre Dame, "think again, my friend" as a former IU coach, now sports performer would say. This is a team that almost beat Wisconsin at Madison's Camp Randall Stadium two weeks ago. There were high hopes for the Badgers this year but given last week's two overtime victory against Cal State Fullerton, perhaps they aren't as good on the field as they are on paper.

Northern Illinois is a lot like Purdue. Sophomore quarterback who throws over 65% of the time and took his team to a bowl game is a worthy opponent. Purdue's defensive backfield is banged up right now and will feel some pressure this week. Northern Illinois will certainly score some points. But Purdue will, too. The question is whether or not mistakes and special teams will derail the Boilermakers.

Purdue fans saw something last week that they haven't seen in the past: a rugby style punt. No, it was no mistake. Purdue kickers will be kicking rugby style from time to time. According to Hope, it's all part of the "arsenal". At Tuesday's press conference, Coach Hope explained to reporters how this style of kick led to some unforgettable defeats he suffered in previous games. He said Oregon's ability to return them shouldn't be used as an example that the rugby style kick doesn't work.

I'll be in the Ross Ade stands this weekend. I expect Purdue to win one at home. This is a team full of surprises yet to be seen. Hope says Elliot hasn't thrown the long ball because he hasn't seen a need for it yet. There's a strong arm there but hopefully his misreads and missed cues are reduced. A game where he doesn't turn the ball over will be a career milestone for him.

Boiler Up Purdue Fans. It's time to mush the Huskies in West Lafayette, right out of town and down the Wabash.