Purdue v. Minnesota Prognostications

This week's game is a blessing and a curse...It's a blessing because Goldy is probably a year away from being a legit ranked opponent, so they're beatable. It's a curse, because they're still ranked...and Tiller's teams are still sans-victory in the last 17 contests versus teams that have earned spots in the national rankings.

Let's all be very honest though- If Purdue played a well-coached, mid-sized high school team...and made the amount of mistakes they did last week, they'd get beaten. I know, I know, the coordinators have done a good job and only someone as intellectually mature as Joe himself could really understand that it's more about effort than wins and losses at this point...But our Boilers looked simply lousy last weekend...Not like the Coletto Era, but like the Akers Era, friends.

The question is- Was what we saw in Evanston the bottom of the recent nosedive? Here's what we're thinking about this week's Homecoming Matchup v. Minny.

Tim says:
Good for Purdue
-It's been 18 seasons since the Gophers won at Purdue.
-Purdue hasn't dropped five in a row since losing six straight in 2005 (has it really been that long? *rolls eyes*)
-It's Minnesota

Bad for Purdue
-They're Purdue
-Purdue has a 17-game losing streak to Top 25 opponents
-They suck

At this point it doesn't matter who the f Purdue plays. They're done. Should they win this game? Absolutely. Will they win this game? Absolutely not.

They freaking should win 45 - 10. They will, however, snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory.

The wheels are off the train and the train is on fire and the conductor is taking a nap. F you conductor!

Minnesota - 38
Purdue - 20

J says:

Purdue hosts a ranked team this week. Uh-oh.

While none of us here think Minny is THAT good, their record is 6-1 and you have to give them credit. Whatever Tim Brewster is doing to get quality football players to come to the land where it's hard to tell the co-eds from the livestock, it's working (and he hasn't been caught yet). So good for him and good for them.

Another thing that's probably changed -- this isn't your father's Glen Mason Minnesota program anymore. Joe Tiller owned Glen Mason and would take him off the shelf and toy with him every fall before crushing Mason's hopes and dreams and putting him away for another year. Purdue-Minnesota's history has many interesting games, almost all of them shootouts... even back when both programs were terrible. And then there's of course the famous Brandon Hance comeback that's still kind of ridiculous.

Thing is, though, I don't think Minnesota fears us anymore -- if they ever did. Brewster has them thinking bigger and winning bigger games than they've won in many years. This team reminds me of those early Tiller teams -- they're talented but are also playing over their heads and catching teams by surprise. Does that mean there's a chance they could let down against a 2-5 Purdue squad and get beat? Sure it does....Purdue has the talent to hang with most teams in the Big Ten, as we've said over and over -- they just haven't gone out there and executed.

Talent-wise, this should be a great game, probably another shootout. But reality-wise, with the way Purdue simply hasn't shown up lately.... I can't imagine why I would pick them to win.

The defense shows up and plays hard against two of the better teams in the COUNTRY in OSU and PSU, and then goes into the crapper against Northwestern when the offense finally awakens and at least gets 20+ points on the board. There's just no telling which wheel is going to come off from week to week. But one thing is usually pretty consistent -- Purdue doesn't beat ranked teams anymore. I really hope I'm wrong.

Minnesota 27

Purdue 16

boilerdowd says:
This game is a lot like last week in that part of me believes Purdue wins...Sure, that's the completely illogical part because this is not the same Minnesota team of last season...So, I'm going with logic. Tiller-coached teams of late have played way-down versus poorer competition and risen to the challenge for close losses versus good teams (awesome sports psychology, by the way).

Until they prove otherwise to me, I don't know how I can pick my alma mater. I'm seeing flashbacks of Reggie Fogie-era greatness from Goldie...I mean Tony Dungy-era greatness...and on the other sideline, Fred Akers and his gigantic hat might once again be stalking the sidelines of Ross Ade...or at least it will feel like it. (Put in Downing!) You have to figure Minnesota is due for a victory in West Lafayette...

Will Tiller end his career with a 19-game losing streak versus ranked opponents? It certainly looks that way right now. The magic formula of (Purdue<30pts=loss) continues...

Minnesota 34
Purdue 28

Thoughts from Purdue's visit to Evanston

I haven't gone back and watched film of Saturday's game...nor will I. But, here's what I gather in the wake of Purdue's visit to the land of purple.

-Things aren't as bad as I thought they were weeks ago, they are much, much worse. Coach Tiller, Spack and Z got together to create one of the worst gameplans in the history of football...and at halftime, following Purdue's customary meal of doughnuts, various pastas with cream sauces and White Castles, our Boilers took a nap...and came out flatter than ever. Honestly, do you think Tiller sings lullabyes to his team before leading them back on the field?

-Sounds like Siller is being moved back to QB...now let's see him at quarterback next week...let's also see a new offensive system. Perhaps we'll run the Wildcat every play...leave the ball in Sheets hands; let him throw it. Whatever our Boilers do, they should definitely throw out the old system...outside of junk TDs, Purdue simply doesn't score anymore. Let's play the wing-T or run the old Jim Coletto offense (run right, run left, incomplete pass, punt)...oh wait, we already do that.

-Ken Plue looked monsterous on both of Sheets big runs. He literally ate the opposing linebacker on both plays and sealed a hole for Sheets to run through that a fat old guy, like myself could have done the same (until fainting and/or getting the crap knocked out of me by a safety).

-Purdue made another mediocre team look very, very good. My advice to NU fans is before using this one as a barometer, look at UND this season...you're very similar. Just like the Irish, you kicked the hell out of a lowly Purdue team, but haven't beaten anybody else...temper your moxy before talking trash in a few weeks when you play another real opponent. It only gets easier this week for you in Bloomington.

-One of our regular visitors apologized because he now sees that Tiller is the root of the woes, not Painter or anyone else. For every other Purdue fan who wants to admit they were wrong, please don't...none of us are happy about what's unfolding each week in God's country. Facts are facts though...and with each week, Tiller buries the remnants of his old "basketball on grass" and the rest of the program he built beneath a steaming pile of oatmeal-laden excrement. I really believe it's going to be a good three years before I can sift through this stinky mess to see the beauty of what once was...History might judge Joe well, but it's going to take me a while to do the same.

-In the recent past, Purdue fans, myself included were upset with giving away games in the closing minutes...When we asked for things to change, we weren't asking for the games to be completely out of hand with a quarter left to play; but thanks for trying to change things for us, Coach! We appreciate the sentiment.

-Kory Sheets lambasted the effort of the team and coaches and quietly expressed his discontent with the coaching as well following the game...Am I angry at him? Not really...he's stayed pretty quiet much of the season...and he's flat-out right. Now, if he wasn't a fifth-year Senior and this wasn't the last year of a lame duck coach's career, I might assess the situation differently...but it's good to see that he, Baker and Neal are all going down swinging. I'd much rather see a bunch of guys whose careers might be over acting like there's no tomorrow than simply watching it end with a blank look on their faces (a la Curtis Painter after being pulled). Like I've said before, these players are part of a system, a mentality and a program that is crumbling before our eyes. Danny Hope's work gets more and more difficult with each passing week.

-I heard Tiller sarcastically comment about how he hadn't seen fall leaves change color in 35 years during the telecast on Saturday...Part of the reason could be because he's been hybernating since 2004.

-One more thing- have you ever seen a kickoff return team look worse and make a worse wedge than Purdue's did late in the second half?