Yes, you. You're the reason for the Purdue season becoming rather disappointing.Oh, sure, I know. The Boilers' offense didn't show up in a home loss to OSU and most of the team apparently missed the bus to Ann Arbor in a shellacking to Michigan, but I could have overlooked those. In the second quarter of this past Saturday's game at Nappy Valley, the Boilermaker offense was clicking. You guys were driving, leading 10-3. Summers has been making his kicks and continued doing so in a venue I never thought he'd be solid in. Bryant had managed to hold onto the ball all game and had even returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. Things were actually going Purdue's way.
Then, on about the two yard line, your number was called to punch it in and give the Boilermakers a 17-3. And I have to tell you, Jaycen, a two touchdown lead against an Anthony Morelli-led offense would have felt pretty damn good, especially considering that the defense was playing some decent ball and the offense was playing steady. In other words, exactly what you need in a tough road game.
So you get the ball and decide to carry it like a fricking loaf of damn bread! What the F were you thinking? Seriously, dude. You stuck the ball out in front of you and it was dislodged because you knocked into Sean Lee, a linebacker who the ESPN guys and PSU radio guys kept insisting made "a great play." No, he didn't. He happened to be there and Taylor banged the ball against him and, surprise surprise, it popped loose.
So instead of being up 17-3, it allows PSU to regian momentum and march down to tie the game 10-10. I knew it was over there. Seriously. I think on some level, we all did. And this is what it's like to be a Purdue fan.
With a chance to go up 17-3, at that precise moment, the idea of a 10-2 season actually seems possible -- almost likely. And then just like that, with a brain fart, it's gone.
If it's not Jaycen Taylor (and what the hell is with that name, Jaycen?), then it's Kyle Orton fumbling with Purdue leading another ranked team and being #5 in the nation with GameDay being there and trying to move to 6-0....
It sucks that this kind of stuff keeps happening. Sure, sure, I realize Purdue wasn't ranked when Taylor fumbled away 2007, but he had the opportunity in his hands to change what we've all begun to expect of Purdue football. Winning at State College would have been huge -- on senior day, no less. It would have gotten us attention, it would have moved us to 8-2, it would have meant a lot even with PSU unranked, too.
And that opportunity disappeared, yet again.
Dammit.
13 comments:
If we win these last two games plus a bowl game against what will likely be a weak Big 12 opponent will 10 wins still be considered a good season?
Purdue led in the third quarter...long after (two quarters) the fumble ocurred. Was it Taylor's fault the defense couldn't sack up and stop PSU's running attack?
Was it Taylor's fault Painter couldn't lead the offense to one offensive touchdown the the remaining three quarters?
Was it Orton's fault that Kyle Smith couldn't hold onto a game-clinching interception versus Wisconsin?
My point is this is a team game. Purdue loses games that are winnable because of a culture that exists in the program.
I for one would give Taylor the MVP on this team; he about single-handedly beat Northwestern, he clearly motivates Sheets to run harder and he came back from two broken bones in his arm in an unhuman 4 weeks. If you watch the sideline, Taylor and Bryant are the two guys who get after the rest of the offense as Painter continues to sit on his hands.
Travis- Of course it's a good season if they win out...why would you or anybody else believe they are going to do so? Our Boilers will be playing a quality opponent in the bowl game...history is strongly against it happening.
I have no confidence that we can win another bowl game under Tiller. His teams have always looked unprepared and undisciplined when bowl time rolls around. You always see these interviews and quotes: "Well we're just really enjoying the sun and atmosphere here in Orlando..." F that, did you come to play football or lay in the damn sun!
It obviously goes back directly to coaching and an environment that breeds mediocrity. If Joe won't go, than at least shake up the coaching staff a little. Get some guys that believe we can win every game and teach mistake free football.
Would I be happy with a 10 win season? Sure... not that it will happen. But even if it did, it would still be hollow. Until we start beating quality opponents ONCE IN A WHILE there's just nothing to get excited about. The script has already been written every season, you almost don't even need to tune in. The fact is, J Money got it right: I knew right when the fumble occurred that we would lose that game. I've seen that, and a million other "brain farts" happen far too many times to mistake it for an isolated incident.
It's a way of life for Purdue football.
Man, you read my thoughts exactly. Eeerie. I don't have as much venom for Jaycen, though. But I pretty much sat there slumped in my seat for a while after that fumble because I knew we wouldn't recover. Yes, we regained the lead later on. But based on the history of this program, you just knew we wouldn't recover. We don't have the talent or attitude to make up for those mistakes. Later in the game Morelli threw a blind pass downfield with three Purdue DB's all around it and we stil couldn't get the INT. The writing was already on the wall after that fumble.
P.S. Orton had his face mask grabbed before that fumble. Watch the tape. So another famous fumble game with crappy officiating.
Of course not, boilerdowd. But let me vent, will ya?
I know he's your boy but still... that play turned the game. It was a stupid thing to try to do in traffic, and there's no way to defend it.
Also, my point was simply the deflated nature of this... I know Taylor's a good guy and I know Orton was a tough as nails kid. I never claimed otherwise. I guess my comment was more as a Purdue fan, this is the kind of stuff that always seems to happen.
Let me quote you to you-
"You're the reason for the Purdue season becoming rather disappointing."
That's pretty broad...you can keep venting, but come on. I think the chubby old guy with a big mustache is probably the reason.
That's bullshit to call out Taylor like that. It was a huge turn for the game, I agree. If we punch that in, we win going away. But Taylor shouldn't have gotten the carry, bring in Halliburton. At least he has the bulk to hit people hard and carry his momentum into the goal. But you do not put the loss in Taylor's hands. The kid has been great for us and he's got a cast on still.
This was meant somewhat in jest, boys and girls. I guess I have again failed to convey that.
HOWEVER -- yes, he deserves some blame and no, I won't back down from that. Yes, he's a horse and yes, he's done some nice things this year and YES, he's tough as nails...YES, Tiller and the staff deserve blame as well. I admit all of this. But his brain fart and AWFUL decision with the ball cost us a two-TD lead in a game we ultimately lost by 7.
And he's a team leader so yes, I'm looking at him for that mistake. Just as I look at Orton's fumble against Wisco as critical and Bryant's fumble that same season against Michigan. Sure, they're leaders and guys we will always appreciate as Boilermakers, but that doesn't make them impervious to receiving some criticism when it's warranted.
Criticism is fair...but I think many take umbrage with him being called the reason our Boilers are disappointing.
Like you've said before, it's a blog it's your opinion...Good place to put it down; It's not like you work for the New York Times (sarcasm).
Opinion away, young man! Too bad your opinions are wrong if they don't agree with mine!
It was frustrating indeed. He did the same fucking thing in the Northwestern game too.
Let's look at this for a moment!
You're the reason for the Purdue season becoming rather disappointing.(I don't think so, remember Jaycen missed a couple of games in which Purdue lost those games!)And when he did return they WON TWO!!!
Let's look at this for a moment!
What the F were you thinking? Seriously, dude.(I believe he was trying to Score, it wasn't a smart thing to do, but nevertheless shit happens.
Let's take a Real Hard Look At this ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it's Jaycen Taylor (and what the hell is with that name, Jaycen?) Jaycen name is Unique just like He Is. You will never find another kid with his Spirit, Heart,Strenght and Courage like Jaycen Taylor. Don't ever question this Young Man's Heart, don't ever doubt his abilities and never ever Blame one player for a Lost of a Game when it's suppose to be a Team Effort, many mistakes were made in that game. That fumble was not it......
Let's look at this for a moment!
You're the reason for the Purdue season becoming rather disappointing.(I don't think so, remember Jaycen missed a couple of games in which Purdue lost those games!)And when he did return they WON TWO!!!
Let's look at this for a moment!
What the F were you thinking? Seriously, dude.(I believe he was trying to Score, it wasn't a smart thing to do, but nevertheless shit happens.
Let's take a Real Hard Look At this ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it's Jaycen Taylor (and what the hell is with that name, Jaycen?) Jaycen name is Unique just like He Is. You will never find another kid with his Spirit, Heart,Strenght and Courage like Jaycen Taylor. Don't ever question this Young Man's Heart, don't ever doubt his abilities and never ever Blame one player for a Lost of a Game when it's suppose to be a Team Effort, many mistakes were made in that game. That fumble was not not the game changing play.
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