Hopefully Our Final Post Re Selwyn Lymon

You may recall an unfortunate incident where then-Purdue football players Selwyn Lymon, Jonte Lindsey, Stanford Keglar and Dustin Keller got into a bar brawl with a couple of civilians in 2007. We really weren't sad to see Lymon go.

To close the loop on that story from more than five years ago, while Keglar and Keller settled out of court with the plaintiffs, Lymon and Lindsey did not and found liable for $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, pursuant to default judgements.

The moral of the story, of course, is don't push women while tying to enter a ladies restroom or beat up a guy in a parking lot while you're drunk and parked in a handicapped spot. You know, the basics. 

We're all entitled to our day(s) in court, but neither Lymon nor Lindsey showed up for theirs.

Which makes this story just like their on-field days at Purdue.

Purdue Basketball & Football Notes

In an effort to get you, oh loyal visitor of BS, off of the topic of baseball, I have decided to fight through flu-like symptoms to report/comment on something close to all of our hearts- Purdue football players being looked at in their underwear. Yes, it's that time of year...you know, when old guys gather in Indianapolis to look at young, in-their-prime, male athletes wearing next to nothing. No, I'm not talking about a yearly tradition at my parents' house, I'm talking about the NFL Combine.

While the league tries to make it as scientific as possible using precise measuring techniques, standardized questions multiple tests, I still feel that this exercise is a bit of a crapshoot.

Why? Well here are a few reasons:
-Jerry Rice ran an unimpressive 4.7 second 40 yd. dash
-Maurice Clarett ran a 4.72

You know the rest, Jerry Rice, arguably the best receiver in the history of the league, Mo Clarett never made a regular season NFL roster. Sure, you can bring up the fact that Mo was a crazy person who loved "to get his goose on" and Rice was a ridiculously hard-working player who tirelessly worked on his routes and had the intangibles.

Second case in comparison- Peyton Manning v. Ryan Leaf. Coming out of the combine they were neck-and-neck. I can remember that in Indy, many, myself included didn't know which way the Colts would go and most thought both would both be fine, if not great NFL QBs. Well, the combine couldn't measure the rage in Leaf's heart nor could it foretell the beautiful relationship that would blossom between Manning and Harrison.

Closer to the Purdue family, many, myself included, wondered aloud if Drew Brees might be a "system quarterback" back in '01...and he slipped to the second round and made the rest of the league wonder "what in the hell were we thinking"...Brees isn't an imposing guy, physically, he isn't the fastest guy...but the guy is a leader and a winner. They don't have a test for those traits yet.

Alright, back to Purdue in '08.

The write ups about Avril & Keller talk about their impressive physique and muscle tone...and both mention their soft, large hands (you know what they say about guys with, nevermind)...conversely, Dorien Bryant is all but laughed at for the shape of his chest, his small frame and his work ethic. Keglar, who must have been busy the day everyone was supposed to assess his assets, is reviewed as a guy whose gym numbers don't translate well on the field.

Honestly, I agree with all of the statements, except the hands part...but would love to find out, if you know what I mean.

Keller absolutely blistered the rest of the TEs with his field day results...and his stock is now soaring. Conversely, it looks like Bryant might now go undrafted and have to earn his way onto a roster a la Vinnie Sutherland.

So while not all guys coming out of college can look like this (the guy on the left, mind you):
and some look like this:

(no, that's not bobby mcferrin)

My point is, it takes a pretty wise old sage to predict the future...My wish as the draft draws closer is that all Purdue players involved find homes in the NFL and have long, productive careers...but not for the Patriots.

Basketball Notes
Alright, the last seven days sans Purdue basketball have got me Jonesin' pretty hard to see the Boilers. First off, I still have the bad taste in my mouth from the IU loss, but also, I simply can't wait to see what unfolds with this young group of "new veterans".

Reports out of God's country tell us that our Boilers have been focusing on defense...and intensely, at that. That's good, because the way this team tends to shoot from the field at times, they need as many possessions as possible and defense makes that happen.

Here's the deal, nobody thought our Boilers (click the link and watch the 5:00 video, if you have a chance...a lot of respect for the Boilers) would string together 11 wins in a row during the Big Ten season, but they did. I'm all for these guys starting up another similar winning streak.

If my math's right, at the end of such a streak, they'd be Big Ten regular season champs, Big Ten Tournament champs and the run would come to an end in San Antonio...Not bad for a bunch of guys that will all be back next year.

Back in early January, I got a chance to talk to Cuonzo Martin while attending a high school basketball game at my alma mater. I told him, I loved the team and couldn't wait 'til next year...he responded, "What about this year?" I thought it was just rah-rah rhetoric, especially with the taste of the Wofford loss still lingering in my pallet. I was wrong and they knew something I couldn't have predicted.

As Matt Painter says, "Why not us, why not now?"

Boiled Sports Season Wrap-up Round Table: Boilerdowd Speaks

1. What was your biggest surprise of the season (positive)?
Honestly, answering this question is a difficult proposition for me. Very few things positively surprised me, sadly...But, Chris Summers was not only consistent this season, he was flat-out good. So good, that I forgot we had a kicker...That's the way I think it should be.

2. What was your biggest disappointment of the season?
The offense. No doubt about it, I thought that this unit with its many weapons would be close-to-impossible to defend. Sadly, it wasn't. In fact, as the season progressed I waited and waited for the playbook to expand and "set up" plays from earlier in the season to create new wrinkles for opposing defenses. It never happened. And, once again, the offense couldn't compete with good defenses.

3. What are you excited about for the '08 season?
I'm excited to see what a healthy Jaycen Taylor can do again...Plus, he makes Sheets better. They should be a pretty good tandem next season. Man oh man would I like to see Purdue use Siller in short-yardage situations (but it won't happen).

4. What are you least looking forward to in the '08 season?
Another Joe Tiller "never-too-high, never-too-low", "managed expectations", "only gotta win by one" season. All that crap has been old for about three seasons.

5. What effect, if any, will a bowl have on Purdue's football program?
I don't think it will change anything...things are what they are right now. This bowl is fitting for a team that underachieved. A win will not move the program forward a loss will only remind us that we're not what we used to be.

6. How and when will Joe Tiller's career end at Purdue?
Tiller will resign after Purdue's last game next season triumphantly holding a record that should belong to Fat Jack.

7. Who frustrated you the most this season?
Many frustrated me...Sheets fumbling early in the season while jumping for extra yards, Spack's defense bending and breaking v. good teams. But I really thought Painter would progress to a greater degree this year; especially with Keller, Orton, Lymon & Bryant all as targets, I thought he'd be the best, if not one of the best QBs in the league.

8. What team and/or player opponent of Purdue this season was least impressive to you?
Minnesota was pretty lousy. Heck, they couldn't even score when unabated to the end zone.

9. Despite all the grousing we do, is Purdue football on the right track (If not, what would get the program back on track)?
No. I used to think another gritty, tough-competing quarterback with a fire in his gut would make Purdue great again...Sadly, that guy wouldn't be allowed to see the field because Tiller probably wouldn't allow it. He likes system guys (ref. Orton & Painter). Stinking Brees called too many audibles!

10. Looking at next year's schedule, what's your early thought on critical games?
Honestly, I think they're all critical because it's a much more difficult schedule. We'll be playing CMU for the third time in a calendar year and then Oregon and Notre Dame. This isn't the cream-puff-filled pre-conference schedule that we saw in '07. Tiller's calling card losing streak may actually begin the season rather than end it in '08. That could put a ton of pressure on the Boilers who will be trying to return to Detroit at the end of next season.

11. Does it ever get old making fun of Fat Charlie the Manatee?
Absolutely not...not even a little. There was one point, when UND was 0-2 and Charlie was acting somewhat humble that I said, "Hey, this guy is an OK loser." It seemed like he heard me because the very next week he got back on to his normal asshead comments and I got back to firing across the bow of the God's School and its arrogant coach.

12. Will Purdue win a football national championship in our lifetime?
No. Sadly, as long as people like Burke & Tiller are making decisions, the idea that Purdue is a red-headed step-child in the ranks of the teams in the NCAA will have a strangle-hold on the program. The more I talk to wealthy JPCers the less I think a change is on the horizon. That said, maybe when those who graduated between 1997 & 2000 are old and rich, maybe they'll change the corporate culture of Purdue's athletic department.

13. What is more likely for the Boilers and why: a football championship or a basketball championship?
Basketball...it's a basketball school, afterall! Back in 2000, I really thought Tiller would be able to contend for a national title before he left. Sadly, he didn't...but Painter will, probably in the next 3-4 seasons.

14. After Tiller retires (or is fired), would you rather get a coach that is a better recruiter or is a better game day coach?
I guess it'd be pretty neat to actually have talent that was as good as anybody's. I honestly can't remember a Purdue basketball or football team that wasn't forced to overachieve to win a league championship. So, for a change, let's get a good recruiter in here...but nothing in the least bit questionable (ref. Zook, Tressel, et al.).

15. If you had to choose another coach from the Big Ten to coach Purdue, who would you pick?
I like Beilema, Ferentz & Dantonio for different reasons...But, I think I'd like to see Beilema and Tiller switch places. Beilema builds around defense and big uglies...you win and lose games in the trenches, so I think he'd be my pick. Plus, wouldn't it be refreshing to see Purdue as the tougher, more physical team on the field?

Boiled Sports Season Wrap-up Round Table: Tim Speaks

We posed eachother some questions and are all going to weigh in on our opinion of Purdue's football season...Here's your first entry, Tim:



1. What was your biggest surprise of the season (positive)?
Notre Dame sucks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. With a big, big crunch and a big, big bite. (sang to the tune of Honeycomb's jingle)

2. What was your biggest disappointment of the season?
Finishing the season 7-5 after a 5-0 start. Pathetic.

3. What are you excited about for the '08 season?
Right now? Not very much to be honest.

4. What are you least looking forward to in the '08 season?
Another positive start against marshmallows and then a complete collapse once the "real" teams show up.

5. What effect, if any, will a bowl have on Purdue's football program?
A terrible bowl will not have any impact on the program. It's good to go to a bowl game, but the Dominos McDonalds Boeing Everyone Goes To A Bowl Game Bowl won't do anything for the program.

6. How and when will Joe Tiller's career end at Purdue?
Tiller will retire next year after taking over the all time wins lead.

7. Who frustrated you the most this season?
This is a close one. I'm going to vote for Joe Tiller though. The play calling was downright ridiculous at times. In a close second though are the Big Ten referees. They were as atrocious this year as the play calling.

8. What team and/or player opponent of Purdue this season was least impressive to you?
Iowa. They sucked! Specifically their quarterback Christensen. He was awful. Really really bad.

9. Despite all the grousing we do, is Purdue football on the right track (If not, what would get the program back on track)?
No. It's not on the right track. The spirit is gone. The fight is gone. If one bad thing happens in a game, the team gives up. That all starts with the coach. The coach needs to be replaced and someone with passion and fire needs to come in and take over. Thats the only hope.

10. Looking at next year's schedule, what's your early thought on critical games?
My early thoughts on critical games? Purdue will lose every one. I see them losing to Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Iowa. Basically, any team that has a shot at being good, they will lose to.

11. Does it ever get old making fun of Fat Charlie the Manatee?
No. The slurping of him by the national media nearly makes it a requirement.

12. Will Purdue win a football national championship in our lifetime?
No. I think it's much more likely that they'll fade back to obscurity rather than rise to national prominence.

13. What is more likely for the Boilers and why: a football championship or a basketball championship?
A basketball championship is much more likely for Purdue. They don't need to be the best or second best team in the nation in order to get invited to the tournament, and once they're in, anything can happen.

14. After Tiller retires (or is fired), would you rather get a coach that is a better recruiter or is a better game day coach?
I'd rather get a coach that is a better recruiter. The game day coaching can always be done by the coordinators anyway.
Talent overcomes a lot of coaching problems and can make mediocre coaches look great.

15. If you had to choose another coach from the Big Ten to coach Purdue, who would you pick?
I'd take Ron Zook. If he can recruit and turn around Illinois from a doormat into a legitimately good team in a few years, I'd like to see what he could do for a mediocre Purdue team.