Hey, it's about time we posted something relating to Purdue sports around here. Sure, we're not exclusively a Purdue site but we do like to delve into the Boilers as much as possible. But, hey, it's May...what do you want us to post about? The baseball team?Recently, Scout.com released their season preview for the 2007 Boilermaker football team. Now, we can't really get much comment on this from the team since Joe Tiller has declared war on pseudo-media types like those golsh-darn blogs.
However, we can take a look at what Scout.com says and of course encourage you to read it for yourself and let us know what you think.
I was hoping boilerdowd would weigh in with a post about this and hopefully he still will. But in the meantime, you get me, analyzing Purdue football from 800 miles away. And really, maybe that's a good thing. b-dowd is too close. It's like he and Purdue football are lovers -- he can't be objective.
As he pointed out, however, this preview reads like Dorien Bryant's mom wrote it.
...now the offense should be unstoppable with everyone back, led by underappreciated star receiver Dorien Bryant.
Really? He's underappreciated? I think we appreciate his skinny, fumble-prone ass plenty. But I am digressing.
On the list of Purdue's "ten best players," which is stupid in itself because it's hard to rank the value of a good WR against a good OL but whatever. Bryant is listed first there. Fine.
Later there's this:
Best Offensive Player: Senior WR Dorien Bryant. Over the last two seasons, just one player in America has caught more passes than Bryant, a sure-handed gnat of a route runner who’s got the speed to go the distance on short hitch routes. A lethal all-purpose threat, he’s also scored six rushing touchdowns in his Boilermaker career and is very dangerous on kickoff returns.
Wow, get a room, you two! And... "a sure-handed gnat of a route runner..." Wha? He's a "lethal" gnat anyway. Shall we start calling him "The Lethal Gnat"? I think we should.
Anyway, the writer of this article, Pete Fiutak, starts out with this:
There was a time when Purdue was the Big Ten’s rising star. Thanks to Drew Brees and a thrilling passing attack, the Boilermakers went to the Rose Bowl and had Big Ten folks worried about trying to keep pace with the high-octane offense. Somewhere along the way, however, the idea of generating more balance and more of a running game kicked in, right about the time when the Purdue defense went completely into the tank.
Wow, man, very topical. Drew Brees? Do you realize his last season was 2000? Seven years ago. And yes, yes, high-octane offense... let's just call it basketball on grass, you know you want to.
I also wouldn't say our defense "went into the tank" -- I'd say our defense has never lived up to its potential under Brock Spack. And I'd leave it at that.
The team didn’t take advantage of all the experience it had over the last two years, and it really didn’t make the most of the monster scheduling break, missing Michigan and Ohio State.
Oh, holy hell. I am so glad we're playing Michigan and Ohio State this season because I am SO TIRED of hearing about how we didn't have to play them last year and it was our chance at a great season. Fine, we get it, they're good. Of course, the last time Purdue played them both, in 2004, they lost by two on the road at Michigan and beat OSU. So, there's that.What I kind of don't get is how his overall thoughts are that this might be the year that Tiller has to break through and that with the overall experience coming back, that just might be possible. So that would lead one to believe that Purdue football is at a critical time and perhaps needs a 10-win season to climb the ladder to a bit more relevancy... would you agree? Let's see what Pete Fuitak says:
The season will be a success if ... Purdue wins eight games. That might be setting the bar way too low for a team with an offense like this, but the defense is still extremely suspect, and the schedule is potentially too nasty to expect any sort of flirtation with double-digit wins without a few big upsets.
Alright, his points after his prediction are valid but then how could this be a "successful season"? I'd say this is more "A likely season," or "What Pete Fiutak expects from Purdue this season." I think we can all agree Purdue has been in the 7-9 win range for a while and needs to bust through. Will it happen? Probably not. But with Curtis Painter a junior and The Lethal Gnat a senior you just never know.
I took the liberty of looking at the 2006 Purdue Preview as well -- also written by Pete -- and noticed that he said last year that it would be a successful season if Purdue could win eight games. Which they did. And then this year he talks about how Purdue's been a disappointment recently. I agree that they have been, but then why keep saying eight wins is a "success"?
I do also like that with Notre Dame, Michigan, OSU and Penn State on the schedule, the key game is.... Sept 22 at Minnesota. Hmm, yes, that will be critical. But I think the next three (ND, OSU, Michigan) are FAR more critical. If Purdue has lost before them, then whatever, we just hope for some fun this year. But if they're 4-0 and can plow through those three games and only lose one, well, then we might have a special season on our hands.
What do I think? Well, I'm glad you asked. Even though you didn't. Let's look at the schedule:
Sept. 1 at Toledo -- Win. It's on the road and they could lose focus but you simply can't lose to this kind of team at this point in the season with this kind of upperclassmen leadership.
Sept. 8 vs Eastern Illinois -- Win. If we lose this game... I don't know what I'll do.
Sept. 15 vs Central Michigan -- Win. Not a pushover but should be a win.
Sept. 22 at Minnesota -- Win. It's going to be tough now that Tubby Smith is coaching.
Sept. 29 vs Notre Dame -- Win. If we don't beat Fat Charlie's team this year, we don't deserve to ever beat them. I also want to see gay blade Jimmy Claussen face down as much as possible. And not in the way he likes to be face down. (Thanks to Every Day Should Be Saturday for the pic.)
Oct. 6 vs Ohio State -- Win. This is where I don't know what to say. I don't think OSU will be as solid this year, obviously, without their own Lethal Gnat, Troy Smith. But beating OSU is always an albatross for the Boilers. However, as I pointed out earlier, they did beat OSU at home in 2004. I'll say win because I'm an optimist.
Oct. 13 at Michigan -- Loss. Almost no chance we win this game. Lloyd Carr could prove me wrong and give us the game but Tiller wets his pants whenever he even sees a picture of the Big House. Of course, if Purdue is really 6-0 at this point, who knows? GameDay could be there.
Oct. 20 vs Iowa -- Loss. Should be a win but the Boilers always manage one complete stinker at home. This will probably be it.
Oct. 27 vs Northwestern -- Win. Come on, it's Northwestern.
Nov. 3 at Penn State -- Loss. Another place where the Boilers just don't seem to be able to get past a mental block. The Nittany Kittens will be marginal this year but it's still a tough road game in the hicksville fields of Nappy Valley.
Nov. 10 vs Michigan State -- Win. The Boilers seem to simply have MSU's number. Sure, they won't have John L. Smith to kick around anymore but this game is in West Lafayette, so there will be less thug MSU fans in the house than if this were up in E. Lansing.
Nov. 17 at Indiana -- Win. Purdue will have more fans there than IU and if we want to take your lame-ass rock, we will.
So that brings us to 9-3, which sounds about right to me. I mean, doesn't this just sound like a Purdue season that starts with high hopes? A blazing start only to lose a couple tough games and perhaps at least one that they shouldn't lose? With this schedule, ten wins would indeed be a fantastic season and, truthfully, I think 9-3 would be excellent as well and I would not be disappointed. I mean, unless we were 9-1 heading into the MSU game. Then I'll be pissed if we wind up 9-3.
Truth is, I am being optimistic about our start. The liklihood is the Boilers will cough up one of those early games so I'd say my official prediction is 8-4, with 9-3 being a good season and 10-2 (or better) being outstanding.
I welcome your thoughts on this subject, gentlemen.
21 comments:
The only prediction I could make is that in the unlikely event that Purdue made it on a GameDay broadcast, they will get beaten. Badly. On national television. And the SEC will laugh.
I'd love to see 9-3...but what reason do we have to believe that our Boilers have turned any corners?
Sure, everybody beside two O-linemen & 49 are back...but I've seen this routine before under Ole Coach Brimley.
I'm a season ticket holder who about got to the end of his rope last year during the PSU & Wisconsin games...8+ wins would shut me up and make me happy. 6-7 wins (which is likely) and a mediocre bowl loss (again) would have me begging for Joe to head off to Wyoming.
You guys seriously think Purdue will beat IU this year come on... Look at the Hoosiers this year... we have Trent Green at QB, Vaughn Dunbar and Anthony Thompson in the back field, Antwan Randle El at WR/Slash position.... how are you guys going to stop that?
Any of you boys old enough for a drinky drink?
Hazel, are you drunk yourself?
Here's my prediction:
Purdue will finish with a record barely above .500, lose 2-3 close games, and bitch for years and years about how nobody respects them. Oh wait, that's the story of Purdue athletics in general.
On the other hand, I can't blame Purdue fans for their paranoia. When you live in a state where Indiana Basketball and Notre Dame Football are king, Purdue fans have no choice but to whine until they are heard.
Purdue is the Jan Brady of Indiana collegiate athletics. Go back to your shanties and stop whining about a lack of respect.
Interesting analysis, bobbybeingmanny. Except for the fact that it makes no sense.
Nowhere in this analysis do we say anything about a lack of respect. In fact, I think we show a clear lack of confidence in the leadership in our team and we lament the fact that this team can't seem to get over the hump. (I know "lament" is probably too big a word for you, so maybe your mommy can look it up for you when she gets home from her shift at Bob Evans.)
But I know I can't expect mentally-challenged IU/ND supporters such as yourself to actually, you know, READ...
I'll tell you what, I wish I would have thought about my sports allegiance a bit more before I decided to simply root for my alma mater. Stupid me- If Purdue's bad, mediocre or good, I just have to live with it. It must be really nice to have a comfy reversible jacket with a shiny gold side as well as a crimson side. That way you have a choice for whom you can root.
In the fall, you can pretend to be a silver-spooner and root for a team based on the fact that you went to a Catholic gradeschool...Then, when November rolls around, you can hang out with all of your racist buddies and reminisce about the good ole days when Bobby ran the show. Man that sounds sweet!
Oh well, I can't change now. I guess I'll just act like a man instead of a fickle little b*tch.
By the way J, I'm pretty sure Hazel's already toasty.
Hey guys:
Thanks for the sarcastic post. I bet you feel like bigger men using sarcasm. For the record, my mom does not work at Bob Evans. I actually have a job myself. I work for an accounting firm in London (PSU grad, not ND or IU). While you never actually come out and say you don’t get any respect, your blog gives off that overall attitude. Example #1:
http://boiledsports.blogspot.com/2007/02/little-purdue-history.html
Secondly, here’s the point of Purdue being Jan Brady. While this is my opinion, Purdue fans (such as yourself) have always been known as delusional. Here is a perfect example from your post. I guess the part about PSU, MY ALMA MATER, got me a little riled up. Example #2:
Nov. 3 at Penn State -- Loss. Another place where the Boilers just don't seem to be able to get past a mental block. The Nittany Kittens will be marginal this year but it's still a tough road game in the hicksville fields of Nappy Valley.
Penn State, though not where they once were, is by far and away a better program than Purdue and should beat them at home. Rather than rely on opinion, I’m using facts. For the sake of time, I’m not sourcing all of my facts as they should be painfully obvious.
• They have better talent (see below)
• a better coaching staff
• more national titles
• a more recent Big Ten title (2005)
• most college football analysts to be better than Purdue next year (I know they’re not always right, but the majority of the time they are pretty close)
• Purdue plays the game at Penn State
• Purdue was shut out by Penn State last year
• Purdue’s last trip to Nappy Valley was a 33-15 shalacking, kinda like the Notre Dame game that same year. But Charlie Weis is fat, so that shouldn’t have happened. Those 49 points his fatass hung on your team must have been another “mental block”
• they return 15 of 22 starters from a team that went 9-4, played Michigan and OSU tough, and convincingly beating Tennessee in a bowl game. How could they be marginal?
Again, how is never beating them a mental block? Could it be that Penn State might have better talent? While not always spot on, the higher a recruit is ranked, the more likely it is he’ll be better. Here is a chart of where each program’s class has been ranked nationally, since 2004 (per scout.com):
2007- PSU 19 PU 70
2006- PSU 6 PU 54
2005- PU 26 PSU 28
2004-PSU 12 PU 32
Yes, you predict a loss. But instead of saying any one of the following reasons that make sense, you blame it on something else other than WE ARE BETTER THAN YOU ARE. Again, there you go Jan Brady.
Sorry for my post, it was too long. This youtube clip does a better job than anything I could ever type. This characterizes Purdue fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anAD4Wp0DgA
Sounds like you're a big fan of this site- a bit of a love/hate relationship. We appreciate your patronage. But, instead of picking and choosing to strengthen your argument that all Purdue fans are paranoid whiners, you might want to look at all of the posts. Since you have time to write a page response on a blogsite that isn't affiliated with a team that you're a fan of, you obviously have time. Here are a few that show what I think-
http://boiledsports.blogspot.com/2006/11/purdue-football-its-wac.html
http://boiledsports.blogspot.com/2006/11/weekend-college-pigskin-round-up.html
I'll sum it up- My favorite team, my alma mater is not a very good team right now. What once was a feared offense has become a bit of joke v. quality opponents...and what once was a scrappy, opportunistic defense has become a unite regularly ranked above 100 in the NCAA. That's plain horrible.
Congratulations on pointing out that Penn State is better than Purdue right now...Is that saying anything? To me, my Boilers have been one of the bottom 5 teams in the conference since Orton graduated...and have been lucking our way into crappy bowls. And even when KO was at the helm, the team choked in big games.
Lastly, I hope you're not reading into recruiting rankings too, too much. Those magazines touted Brandon Kirsch and Anthony Morelli as some of the best in their classes. I think you might look into how these guys are at the end of their careers. Let's be real honest- JoPa & his staff simply do not develop talent the way they did 10-15 years ago.
Dowd:
This will be my last post on this godforsaken blog. I originally found this after comparing fan sites of teams such as you, Michigan State, Pitt, Cal, etc...basically teams with large inferiority complexes. That is, teams who aren't the best in their respective conferences/areas. I've found one thing in common. You all trash others if your team isn't doing so hot. Kelvin Sampson and Charlie Weis seem to be get the most of your hatred. Same thing at the other schools. MSU fans hate Lloyd, Pitt fans think JoePa is old, and Cal fans are convinced Carroll is cheating. The reason I originally posted was because you trashed Penn State with no real analysis or insight whatsoever. I'll let you go on your merry ways, but please don't try to act mighty by calling us the "kittens" or "nappy valley.” Please, again use factual information.
Finally, here is another "stat" that might debunk your talent argument. I'd assume talent development would include getting players drafted into the NFL. In my book (and it the eyes of a recruit), developing talent is getting a player from state A (high school player) to state B (NFL player). Is this a perfect measurement? NO. More often than not, a program is doing a good job if it puts players in the NFL. Here is the breakdown of Big 10 players drafted from 1992-2006 (10-15 years, per nfl.com/draft/history/drafts):
OSU 88 players
PSU 70 players
MICH 66 players
Wisconsin 56 players
Michigan State 48 players
Iowa 44 players
Purdue 33 players
Illinois 28 players
Northwestern 26 players
Minnesota 21 players
Indiana 16 players
I’d say Joepa is doing just fine on developing talent. Continue bashing coaches/other programs for being “fat”, “old”, or “cheaters”. I might stop back when Jimmy Clausen hangs 50 on you in the future or when Eric Gordon drops 40 at Mackey (oh Mike Dunlea....err Rob Hummel will stop him). I’m sure the hatred will continue. I’m out.
JoPa IS old- There is no debating that. Kelvin Sampson HAS cheated. Documented fact. Charlie Weis IS very fat- he even tried to change that through surgery. - is this getting old to you?...
If you're an accountant, surely you understand numbers, statistics and logic. Thus, you realize that your NFL comparisons are skewed to favor your argument, to say the least. The point has been made that Purdue was AWFUL prior to Tiller (we're not debating Colletto's development of talent). AND, Penn State was consistantly great prior to 1997 (we all know Paterno was an amazingly good coach earlier in his career). Revise your NFL draft numbers to the years of 2000-2007. During that period, Purdue's much more respectable.
Your closing is so very brave. I respect your moxy. You'll come back and see us when Purdue loses v. IU or UND?? I'll do the same to your site the next time Purdue kicks Penn State's ass in basketball...Oh wait, you have no site, no way to contact you...really nothing concrete at all. You might be an accountant in London...or you might be a teenaged boy in the third bedroom of his parent's house. I'll never know.
So, cheerio! Have great fun rooting for the brilliant Man U squad...OR, have a great summer and enjoy the 8th grade next year.
We'll still be here...and I guarantee you, If JoPa yells "Get outta eeeeer!" to the camera on national TV, It'll be back up here on our site. That is hilarious...and if that's what started this whole thing, you need a sense of "humour". If JoPa chooses to run an official down in the tunnel (AGAIN) and attempt to rough him up(AGAIN)...yep, that'll be on here too. And you know what else? If Purdue disappoints us by winning 7 and losing to a MAC school in the Motor City bowl...that'll be on here too!
Thanks for stopping by and imparting wisdom upon us. I hope your crusade against the villainous fans of Cal, MSU, Pitt, Purdue et al is successful and you set all of us straight. I know I'm a changed man!
Ryan Dowd
Purdue University
School of Industrial Design
Class of 1997
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=london&daddr=manchester&sll=51.500197,-0.126197&sspn=0.103228,0.31929&ie=UTF8&z=7&om=1
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=london,+UK&daddr=happy+valley,+pa&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.823846,101.337891&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=44.715514,-34.892578&spn=45.875697,101.337891&z=4
Pardon my interruption while I make my own prediction for the season.
I'm going 6-6 officially, but I could see them winning a game I have them losing, so 7-5 is a possibility. I honestly don't see anything more than that.
Sept. 1 at Toledo - W
Sept. 8 vs Eastern Illinois - W
Sept. 15 vs Central Michigan - W
Sept. 22 at Minnesota - L
Sept. 29 vs Notre Dame - L
Oct. 6 vs Ohio State - L
Oct. 13 at Michigan - L
Oct. 20 vs Iowa - L
Oct. 27 vs Northwestern - W
Nov. 3 at Penn State - L
Nov. 10 vs Michigan State - W
Nov. 17 at Indiana - W
5 loses in a row???
Minnesota???
If that scenario plays out, let's hope we see a change in the offseason.
It's very possible since Tiler's teams have a tendency to take a month-or-so off each season.
I love how this guy was looking for a way to attack us even though I said we'd LOSE to PSU. Yes, they've been a better program but what does that have to do with anything?
Yes, it's hicksville, USA at Nappy Vally, and the PSU friends I have admit it! It even smells like effin' MANURE when you're near the stadium! These statements are true, too.
And yes, we have a mental block there. Maybe it's the oh-so-clever "roar" from the Nittany Lion or the oddly homoerotic "Love ya Lions" on the scoreboard. I don't know. But the Boilers have had equal or better teams in recent years that have gone in there and just not looked like themselves. THAT's what I was basing my "mental block" comment on -- the fact that Purdue can be playing well and looking better than PSU in a given season and still not go in there with much chance to win. That was all I was saying. And do you REALLY think PSU is that much better this year?
And yes, PSU is 3-2 against Purdue in their last 5... wow, what dominance.
As for the what have you done for me lately crowd, since 2002:
PSU: 36-25
Boilers: 36-27
I don't know... sounds like parity to me over five years. And so yes, our inability to win in Happy Valley has more to do with PSU just being better all the time since, you know, they're NOT better all the time.
All that said, this was a nice back-and-forth and yes we're sarcastic bastards, no doubt... but you came here to pick a fight, bobbymannywhatever.
And Tim's a putz. We won't lose five in a row. If we do, Tiller should be fired midseason.
But thanks to Tim's prediction, at least we won't get angry Minny fans on here berating us... oh wait, Minny football fans? Are there any?
I think we'll lose 97 - 91 to Minnesota. We just won't be able to break the 100 point barrier that we'll need.
Whenever we play Minnesota in the dome, it's either a shootout or the Gophers seem to be closer than they should be. Neither of those factors give me a warm-fuzzy about that game.
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