I've sat with my family for the past eight years in the same seats...so when I was being cursed at within two minutes of the start of the game, while sitting around friendlies, I was surprised. Some bone-headed IU fan was sitting two rows back from me telling me to sit down, which forced me to stay standing. At the same time, Curtis Painter and the rest of the Boiler offense was marching with ease; before too long, the IU fan's alcohol-aided courage was fading to a whimper as I reminded him with each score how happy I was to have him visiting my section.
I have to say, IU's effort was the worst I have seen by any team in an Oaken Bucket Game...That includes some awful Purdue teams and laughable IU teams. From special teams to offensive play to defense, IU was drubbed...All by a Purdue team that seemed to be pretty lousy for most of '08.
One of the biggest successes of today's victory will be that we probably won't have to see any more ads by the IU's B-Grade athletic department focusing on their narrow victory of '07...conversely, do you think Purdue will air 1000 commercials bragging about the serious helping of whipped-ass that was prepared in Ross Ade for its '08 Bucket visitors? Me neither. Suck it, IU Athletic Department...Beating IU isn't enough reason to re-direct the marketing campaign...It's an expectation.
It was very cold too...frickin' cold to be exact, but the atmosphere was fun and the fans, with the exception of the rubes from Bloomington sitting near me, handled the inclement weather with smiles. It was great to see Painter, Baker and the other Seniors honor eachother by playing a complete game. After a very disappointing season, I think this sound beating of the Hoosiers will be what many first think about when asked about the Boiler class of '08.
After the game, Tiller gave an extremely emotional speech in which he called his legacy the memories his teams left for the fans as well as the young men that he had the opportunity to coach during his long career.
While it stinks that this team didn't put it together too many times this season, it's a good thing for everybody (except IU and its fans) that Tiller directed one last exciting, explosive effort by his BoilersWell played, Joe.
Boiler Ballers Roll
Our favorite basketball team was the second fiddle on campus for the last time this year as they handily beat Coppin State in their tune-up before heading to NYC to celebrate Thanksgiving. The Ostrich put in a double double, and Smooge nearly did also...I'm excited to see them play against some good and very good competition; we'll learn a lot about them this week.
Genius Takes Control
Earlier in the week we heard that the Manatee had taken back the offensive play calling for the overwhelming victory by his Irish against Navy last week...So he knew it was time to make that arrangement a full time deal heading back home to face the Orange(men). Clearly, his teams have a schematic advantage...errrrrrrrr. The good news is UND's fans are as crappy as they've always been, but now, they're turning on their own. Well played Domers!!!
Even Lou Holtz might be jumping off of the bandwagon...After the loss, he said that this season and the coaching situation is an issue that needs to be assessed and addressed by the athletic department and administration...and that it wasn't his place to comment on it. That's a shravesty. (note: on the late night College Gameday, Lou changed his tune a bit...and focused on how moral and ethical the administration was...and that they would handle it correctly...whatever that means.)
Weis said the loss and the effort made him "sick to his stomach" just like it did for their fans...he continued that if the UND players moped around this week, USC would embarass them on Saturday. Bad news, Chuck- Regardless of your team's mood this week, they will be embarassed by the Men of Tron next Saturday.
If anybody in America should be happy about the lousy economy we're immersed in, it should be the Manatee. UND boosters simply can't afford to purchase his enormous buyout at this point. I'm actually enjoying watching UND play...I say they keep him around as long as he'll stay. UND football is damned entertaining.
16 comments:
Notre Dame is playing the "Men of Tron" this week? Really?
But they turned a corner last week! When I was in Miami that GameDay wrap was all about how beating Navy was a huge step forward. As I said then (slightly drunk at the time) that was like me celebrating the fact there was no blood in my stool that morning. It happens all the time, but its no big deal.
Do you guys think Joe going out yesterday like that is better with no bowl game to potentially lose? I think so.
Has anyone seen the Men of Tron?
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Yes. I mean No.
I am sincerely looking to ND's matchup with the men of Tron.
How on Earth will Golden Tate get open against a motorcycle that leaves a concentrated wall of neon light in its wake?
Maybe Jeff Bridges will show up to play Charlie Weis in high stakes jai-alai.
Because you're all acting like arses, I'm not changing my typo. Suck on it for a bit.
Two of my favorite things from yesterday. First, the Boilers basketball squad only outscored Tiller's men by 4, truly a return to basketball on grass. The second was Lou Holtz's comment on the late college wrap-up crap time filler that ESPN puts out.
Holtz said that he understands what Weiss is going through with all the pressure and expectations at Notre Dame, and the disappointment Weiss must be feeling. Of course, Holtz was quick to point out that he could never remember losing to a team with a losing record when he was coach at Notre Dame. That's why they call him Classy Racist Senile Lispy Spitty Lou Holtz.
And back of Dowd, Tron's his favorite movie. Well, second after Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.
I cursed out loud when I saw the football score yesterday. I first asked where that effort was all year. Then I reminded myself that it was IU and that the Crimson and Cream probably rolled over and played dead as they were running out onto the field before the game.
I'm looking forward to catch a little Purdue basketball while I'm at home with the folks next week.
Paul and Chris, congrats on both of your other alma maters winning too!
We shall have lunch next week, Mr. Long.
Not a bad day at all-- Purdue taking the Hoosiers behind the shed and channeling Tiller's gunslinging teams of 8 or so and Notre Dame losing to a truly awful Syracuse team whose lame-duck coach was fired 5 days ago. Truly a feel-good day for any Boilers fan. Beating an archrival like a government mule will always take the sting out of any down season. This was nice. All is not forgiven and all is not well. But this was nice.
Coach Tiller, I thank you for returning this downtrodden program to relevancy. Enjoy your retirement Cowboy Joe. Happy trails indeed.
Gregg Z.
Nuremberg, Germany
PS: The leaked teaser for "Tron 2" (aka "TR2N")-- check the interwebs folks-- that's due to hit theaters in 2010 or 2011 looked positively awesome.
In the second quarter, I found myself feeling really happy for Curtis Painter, too. Sure, he was never as good as we all hoped and thought he would/could be... but he was a Tiller soldier and did his best. And when Curtis was on against mediocre defenses, holy crap, is he smooth. Granted, it's IU, but some of those passes were perfectly thrown and perfectly threaded needles... I just was so happy to see him get to play his last home game wiht a massive blowout of IU -- just like Drew and Kyle. A truly happy day after a season of poop. Something to build on.
Seeing the UND score later after I'd long turned it off was just another sweet dream maker for the evening.
That was the most fun I've had at Ross-Ade in a long time. What a great day. I'm sad that the Tiller era is over....so many great memories. It was hard not to get emotional when they did the video tribute. Tiller is all I've known as a Purdue fan. I became a Purdue fan in 1999 when I chose the school. I'll never forget going to the games in 2000 as a freshman, that exciting week in 2004 when we the center of the college football universe, or the many road trips in 2003 and 2004.
Thanks Joe.
Even if ND were playing the men of Tron, all I would have to say is:
"Let's go TRON!"
(clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)
"Let's go TRON!"
(clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)
Dowd - lunch or a game, whichever you can fit in.
I was at the Utah-BYU game. It was good, but when fans started going onto the field with 2 minutes left, it reminded me that I was not at a BCS school. Now Utah will get to play either an ACC or Big East school (two conferences that make me question the BCS) and we probably won't know how good they really are. Personally, I don't think they are as good as #7.
The question always needs to be asked- Where would Utah, Boise, Ball finish in the Pac-10, Big 10, big 12 or SEC?
Matt, your perspective is noteworthy; Tiller is important to Purdue and he's what you know...I've rooted for Purdue my whole life, but Tiller teams have given me more to cheer for than Burtnett, Akers and Colletto combined.
All that said, we simply must believe that the program can and will win in Joe's wake.
I like Tron because I love high-tech stuff.
My favorite comment from Saturday from an IU fan- "Just wait until basketball season." Yes, let the ass kicking continue!
We can't wait!
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