Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Danny Hope: Chessmaster?

I'll give Danny Hope this: he's got the Purdue fanbase talking.

And it really wouldn't be Purdue football if there wasn't uncertainty in the air, would it? Sure, there's a QB available who just had a better statistical game -- by far -- than Caleb TerBush has ever had on the college level. But then there's the caveat that, hey, it was against EKU.

Okay, fine, but do you think Caleb would have carved them up the same way? If so, you're certainly entitled to that opinion and hey, you might very well be right. Let's remember a few things here...

For one, Danny Hope has been unwavering on the fact that Caleb TerBush is the number 1 guy and has looked like the number 1 guy since the spring. A lot of us have a hard time believing that -- including media members who are there to see it with their own eyes all the time -- but there are times when you have to say, hey, the coach knows best.

Caleb TerBush started 13 games last year, plus he had a mop-up role in a drubbing up in Madison two years earlier. Saturday was Marve's 26th game where he saw action on the college level. That's nearly twice as much game experience, which can go one of two ways -- either it strengthens the argument that he should be the guy, or it could give you pause about criticizing the selection of TerBush.

Maybe -- maybe -- Caleb TerBush used that experience gained last year and actually has developed as you might expect an upperclassman QB to develop. If he is the guy and Coach Hope and Coach Nord say he's the guy, do we as fans owe it to give him a chance? I think so.

Understand something here: Just because we've publicly supported giving Marve the chance to show what he can do as the healthy starter doesn't mean we don't like or support Caleb TerBush. We do have a problem with him making poor decisions, be it nearly flunking out of school and losing a year due to academics or getting himself suspended just prior to the season opener this year.

However, we also respect him for stepping up and taking the reins as he was asked to do last year with practically zero college experience and a full year of inactivity between his last time in uniform and taking the field against Middle Tennessee. TerBush answered the bell and did exactly what the coaches asked of him. Let's not forget that. And let's also not forget that he wears the same black and gold as Robert Marve, Rob Henry and everyone else out there. If you read here regularly, you know we don't advocate blanket support of the players -- sometimes they do deserve your unwavering support, but other times they do things that we can not and do not support.

All that said, if a guy has "paid his dues" or done his punishment and the team and coaches have deemed him deserving of being back on the field, I think the fanbase owes it to that guy to back him. Caleb is a student at your University. He represents you. Yes, we would rather see Robert Marve starting, but that doesn't mean we don't support TerBush.

Hope's announcement that Caleb was going to be the starter vs Notre Dame set the Boilermaker faithful abuzz. I think there is still some support for Terbush out there, but Marve's game on Saturday has certainly gotten people scratching their heads about this decision. However, before you run off calling for Coach Hope's head, you have to keep it in perspective -- this was just an announcement. What does that really mean? Caleb was the starter last week, too, until about an hour before gametime, and then he wasn't. I'm not saying that will happen again, but I saw a reader make an astute point that got me thinking. He asked why you would announce any starter at all -- let Notre Dame plan for two QBs, or even three. That byproduct of an unsettled QB situation is one we can all live with... if it even gains the Boilers a tiny advantage, I'm fine with it.

And what if this "starter" talk actually is all subterfuge? What if Caleb starts and plays two conservative series and then Marve takes over and suddenly Purdue attacks like an angry dog? What then, Boilermakers? If Purdue does something like that and actually wins in South Bend, does Danny Hope become crazy like a fox? Or just a lucky dog?

The point is, none of us know what is happening or what the plan is for Saturday. I hope the coaches and players do. If so, that's good enough for me.

11 comments:

zlionsfan said...

I think if TerBush starts, plays two series, and then Marve takes over and Purdue pulls off the win, then my questions will be a) why would Hope think CTB is the starter and b) why play games with him? If Marve demonstrates that he has the skills to be starting, then either CTB should get enough snaps to prove he's equal or close to it, or Marve should be the unquestioned #1.

Do QBs really care about token starts? I would think they would care about playing time and team success, nothing more.

I totally agree about supporting CTB - at worst, if people don't agree with the decision, they shouldn't make it personal about TerBush or Henry or whoever is involved. I just can't find any rational explanation for starting someone other than Marve right now.

CalTravelGuy said...

Everyone please keep this in mind... The winningest coach EVER at Purdue won ONE game in South Bend. It took a QB like Kyle Orton who was ON HIS GAME to beat ND up there.

Now, do any of you really think that Danny Hope and Caleb Terbush are going to win in South Bend on Saturday? If you answered yes, get honest with yourself.

Forget about the ND game. There are nine more winable games in the remaining 10... we won't win in Columbus. Let's win 7 of 10 after ND and go to a decent Bowl Game. We'll worry about beating ND at home next year.

CalTravelGuy said...

But... I will be tuning in to watch on Saturday. You can always count on a Danny Hope team to be unprepared and sloppy... But, they can also be irritatingly pesky so I won't be surprised if they make it interesting. (Assuming ND makes a couple mistakes)

BoilerRick said...

I can't wait to see the new and improved TerBush. I'm think Heisman material if he is as good as Hope says

BoilerByBlood said...

CalTravelGuy…
How can you call yourself a Purdue fan with a shitty attitude like that? You’re exactly the type of fan that disgusts me. A non-believer; a negative Nancy with no faith. Why wouldn’t we be able to win in South Bend? Both teams have only played a single game this season, and for some messed up reason you seem to believe that’s enough evidence to write us off this Saturday? Maybe if more folks like you would buy a ticket, get off your lazy asses and go support the team, there’d be a more positive outlook across this great Boilermaker Nation of ours! You make me sick!

jbrunner said...

Forced sarcasm is forced, BoilerRick. Give the guy a chance.

boilerdowd said...

Rick! Long time no talk!

BoilerRick said...

jbrunner I have no choice but to give him a chance. and I really hope he does great - Boilers need a big win

boilerdowd - I have trouble proving I'm not a robot

BoilerBloodline said...

After reading other posts, I want to make it clear that I am not rooting against my own players at all. I only root for the best players to be on the field at all times. I will be rooting for whoever is under center, no matter what. BUT...like many others have stated, I just find it hard to believe Terbush has surpassed Marve with his "improvement" in the last eight months. I hope it is some sort of ploy or decoy to throw tarnished domer's off balance enough to snatch a win. Nothing wrong with dreaming:)

boiler80 said...

When is the next handsome hour?

Purdue Matt said...

Then Hope would have wasted two offensive series in a game against a heavily favored opponent. That is stupid and doesn't constitute a strategy. Give the best QB 100% of the snaps, anything less is not playing to win.