Herd Overcome By Boilers' Bush

If you read our predicto post yesterday, you saw that we had somewhat divergent opinions on how things would go down in Ross-Ade today. Well, if it was possible for us both to be right, this was the game, as the Boilers won a shootout with Marshall, 51-41.

It was, once again for the Boilers, a tale of wildly different halves. This has been something that has been an issue during the Danny Hope era and it continued today. The Boilers really could not have looked better in the first half, putting together sustained, creatively called drives and, in the second quarter, some stellar defensive play.

Marshall's hotshot soph QB Rakeem Cato looked decidedly like an underclassman, as he threw three picks, including back-to-back pick-6s to Ricardo Allen and Josh Johnson. Allen's made him the Purdue record-holder with four pick-6s. Johnson's looked as though he'd been in the Marshall huddle, as he appeared to break on the ball before Cato even released it, catching it in stride and sprinting 76 yards the other way. As halftime arrived, it was 42-14 Boilermakers. My co-editor looked wise.

And then the Boilermakers had their customary, celebratory raviolis in the locker room, followed by turkey legs and mashed potatoes. Or at least that's what I assume they did, as they came out for the third quarter flatter than my 8th-grade girlfriend. The Herd had a TD drive and then blocked a punt and returned it for a TD. Suddenly, it was 42-28 and was a ballgame. The Boilers managed a FG at the end of the quarter and then, thankfully, some old friends came to the rescue.

After Coaches Keady and Tiller led the crowd in B-dowd's favorite tradition, Shout, the Boilers began to show signs of life again. Despite being outscored 27-9 in the second half, the Boilers did salt the game away late. Which brings me to this... let's look at the positives:

The Boilers built a huge lead by playing solid, creative offense, executing extremely well...as well as opportunistic, hard-nosed defense. TWO interception returns for TDs coupled with a blocked FG by Kawaan Short and an additional INT and fumble recovery says that this defense actually did come to play. Don't be overly concerned with the yardage Marshall put up -- for starters, they're one of the most prolific offenses in the country. For another, they were down four touchdowns in the second quarter, so they needed to be on the open attack for the majority of the game.

Also on the positive side was that the Boilers put a game away in a manner and at a time when good teams do just that. They'd allowed their opponent to chip away and get back into the game, as the score was 45-35 with 12 minutes to go in the fourth. Still a two-score game, but everyone was clearly getting nervous among Boilermaker supporters. Caleb TerBush came out and calmly led the Boilers on a six-minute, 13 play, 78 yard touchdown drive. That made it 51-35 with just 6:38 to go. And as B-dowd texted to me, they just did what good teams do .That is, close the door.

Another positive for me today was the play of Caleb TerBush. Robert Marve warmed up but wound up not dressing for the game. Maybe that played into it -- hard to know -- as Caleb played with a confidence and, dare I say, swagger that I've never seen from him. He looked sure of himself, he looked like a leader and he hit his targets. After a sizzling first half, he cooled off a bit, but still wound up going 27/37 for 294 yards and four TD passes, three of them to Gary Bush. For the record, those are career bests for Caleb in completions, attempts, yards (he'd only ever been over 200 yards once before, with 220 in the opener last year vs. Middle Tennessee St.) and touchdown passes (doubling his previous best of two, done three times). Understand, folks, this was a career game for Caleb TerBush and might well have been his coming out party, as they say.

Yes, we should temper excitement about the offensive output by reminding ourselves that Marshall's defense is positively atrocious. However, that said, you still have to make the plays, you still have to make the throws, and you still have to hold onto the football. The Boilers did that today and did it well.

I know a lot of people want to get Gibboney's head on the pike whenever something happens on special teams that's bad, but I don't put the punt block no the coaching. It looked to me like Marshall just sold out to bring the house and block it. I think that could happen more often than it does, but teams don't always do it because it leaves their returner unprotected if the punt is made. If you want to argue that Gibboney and company should have anticipated Marshall coming after it like that since they were losing, well, that's a legitimate point. I just think it's worth pointing out that Cody Webster has been a marksman on punts this year, dropping punt after punt deep in opposing territory, and nobody has given Gibboney credit for that.

Other guys had terrific games besides TerBush, too. Obviously, Gary Bush was a touchdown machine, hauling in three of them among his seven receptions for 83 yards. OJ Ross had a career-high nine catches, for 69 yards and Antavian Edison continued his strong play with six receptions for 99 yards and another TD. Edison now has a catch in 25 straight games and TDs in every game this season.

So what do we take from this game? The Boilers cleared 50 points for the second straight week, something they only did once last year and zero times against FBS level foes. Heck, they only put up over 40 twice all last year -- they've done it three times already this year. The Boilers also already have more 40+ yard plays this season than they had all of 2011. These are good signs and suggest that the offense is truly rounding into form.

I could sit here and try to tell you that you shouldn't get too excited since those offensive outbursts have come against inferior, non-conference foes. But hey, that's what the non-conference is for, right? And previous Danny Hope teams didn't pound non-conference opponents they way we wanted them to. So given what's been put in front of them, the Boilers have done exactly what we've all asked of them. That's a very good thing, not to mention refreshing.

The Boilers have done what we've all asked of them so far and have taken care of the team's they're supposed to take care of. Now they move into conference play against a suddenly vulnerable-looking Michigan team, followed by Wisconsin, both at Ross-Ade. Could this be the most critical start of a Big Ten football season for Purdue in more than a decade? I think so. A lot rides on these next couple of games. If the Boilers can get through their first three conference games 2-1, you are hereby allowed to begin expecting to win the division. If they fall on their faces, you're entitled to refer to them as the "same old Purdue."

First things first, though. Next up are the Wolverines at home next Saturday, with a gametime of 4 PM. So you've got plenty of time to tailgate, enjoy yourself, soak up the college football atmosphere, and then move inside Ross-Ade for a game that matters a whole lot. There will be lights, there will be a buzz and let's hope there will be a lot of Purdue fans.

The train is a-comin'. Choo-choo, muthas.

The Tampa Kid Finishes Strong: Another Look at Yesterday's Win

I promised J that I'd post last night, but after heading straight out of West LaFiesta after the most-recent shocker of aOSU, I had plans back in the Indy area.  At the end of the night, I was exhausted. So if you got a few minutes and are still jonesin' for some flavor from yesterday's game, this piece is for you.

This morning, my throat hurts and my voice is still gone as a physical reminder of yesterday's OT victory. Ohio State fans called the '09 game "Purdue Harbor" as the Buckeyes were physically superior, highly-ranked and fully expecting an easy win in Ross Ade...but there's the rub, right? Purdue has taken Bucknut teams to the brink before- easy wins are the exception, not the norm in this series over the past few decades...and I have no idea why.  Both Joe Tiller and Danny Hope had and have no fear of the scarlet and gray.  (Kinda wish we could say the same for some other color combos.)

My older brother and I got to go to the game...and BS's good pal Ed down in Texas provided the club level seats.

I had never sat in that section...I had toured the facility, but and marveled how this didn't look like Purdue football years ago, but yesterday I got to watch from it.  It's a bit cloistered, but not as much as the super-high-end Buchannan Club.  You've heard me complain about Purdue fans not being enthusiastic enough...and I'll still do that because as a group, we're not vociferous-enough on gameday, in my opinion.  But the people around me in Section C-2 were pretty great...with one exception.

There was a young kid down to my right who kind of was the section leader- probably 12 years old, this kid was more situationally-aware than any Purdue coach on the sideline or QB on the roster...and along with the young guy, there were old wealthy alums and families around our seats.  And the best part- not one of them told me to sit down all day (that's all but guaranteed to happen usually, sadly).

A Jerk Guest on the Purdue Tailgate Show

I had the chance to stop by the Purdue Tailgate Show prior to the game...and neither of the hosts, nor myself felt good about this one. If you came by this site on Friday, you heard the same thing at that time...and not just from me.  But as I said following the Illinois game, I love being wrong in the way I was this week.

Let's be honest for a moment though- this year's Purdue team is enigmatic.  As aOSU comes off of three straight victories (two v. ranked opponents) and Buckeye fans were predicting a run at the B1G championship, Purdue was coming off of two of the ugliest losses in recent memory. Purdue had no offensive rhythm the past two weeks...couldn't run the ball...couldn't stop the run...and looked like a gradeschool team in really nice uniforms at times versus a bunch of grown-arsed men.

Sexy Beast
KK Short played large v. Bucknuts

But from the kickoff under a beautiful sky in God's country, yesterday's game was different. Purdue's front played resolute on defense getting into the backfield and hitting Boom Herron immediately after he got the ball. And on the other side, the offensive line was giving TerBush time and Bolden space to do what they needed to do.  And at the end of the first quarter, the good guys were up 10-0 and the RA faithful let the team know how much they appreciated the effort.

But as it's been in many games this season, the second quarter was different...at least it felt that way.  aOSU now had the stiff wind at their backs and Purdue was heading directly into it...and the Bucks could at least move the ball. They put points on the board as the TerBush-led offense struggled to get into rhythm.  Then late in the quarter, Marve came in and led Purdue on a drive that was mostly on the ground, but earned our Boilers 7...and the score was 17-7 at the half.

While the score didn't look like it, it kind of felt like aOSU had figured some things out...and the third quarter showed that.  Even with Herron unavailable after being dinged up by the stingy (at times) Purdue defense, the Buckeyes began to move the ball...and everyone was getting involved in it.  Miller looked tough creating time as Purdue would collapse his pocket, their wildcat offense was extremely-effective and they chewed up yards in the way I expected the Bucks to do coming into the contest.  In fact the only thing that wasn't working was vertical routes, but that didn't stop the coaches on the evil sideline from calling the plays nor did it deter Miller from overthrowing his receivers by 7-10 yards with regularity.  Watching Miller in person showed me a few things though. If he had a better system to play within, I think he'd be a pretty damned good QB.  He's no Pryor in the fact that he makes good fakes, actually reads the defenses, has a better throwing motion, keeps his eyes downfield and doesn't seem at all lazy. This makes him a potentially-great quarterback, in my opinion (eventually).

So while the Buckeyes weren't lighting up the scoreboard, they were definitely winning the field position battle...and at the end of three, they had drawn the game to just a three-point margin.  I think the whole stadium felt rightfully-antsy as the fourth quarter started and aOSU climbed back into the game.  And even with the wind at their back, Purdue couldn't get back into the rhythm we had seen in the first quarter.  Other than Ralph Bolden's shiftily chewing up the Buckeye defense, Crank being efficient when given limited opportunities and Siller playing a very solid game, there wasn't a whole bunch of production out of the good guys.

So after a decent drive stalled in aOSU territory, Wiggs put the final Purdue points on the board in regulation in the fourth quarter and the good guys were up by six points.

Herron came back in the game and made a difference earning tough yards.  aOSU's wildcat was effective again and each time Purdue's defense needed a stop on 3rd and long, Purdue's defense couldn't come up with it.  Ohio State got down deep into Purdue territory as the clock ticked down to inside 2:00 and aOSU decided to try to put the game in Miller's hands.  Purdue's front collapsed the pocket and Miller narrowly escaped a costly sack as he rolled right and threw off of his back foot across his body.  The pass fluttered over Johnson and into the hands of a Buckeye receiver tying the game and seemingly-sealing Purdue's fate.  All it would take was a simple point after to put the nail in Purdue's coffin.

I actually had given up, as a fan.  I saw this movie a few years ago in the Holy Buckeye game.  Sure, that Tressel-coached team had firepower for days, and the Tiller-coached squad had a ton of pros on defense, but this one felt pretty heartbreaking too...even though the game wasn't yet over.

It's easy to avoid the view on the field when you're 5'4" and everyone's standing around you.  So I didn't watch, but I heard the kick get blocked and felt my brother grab and yank me to the side as Purdue still had a pulse.  One of Purdue's never-say-die DTs, this time it was Gaston, squirted through the OSU line to get his big paw on the kick...and with the unexpected block, the good guys were alive!

After a decent Mostert return (he didn't get many chances to get his hands on the ball due to deep, wind-aided kick offs...and bad offense) Purdue started the drive with Marve at the controls.  And they drove into OSU territory.  It looked like Purdue's mega-legged kicker would get a chance to set a record and win a game in the process.  Purdue had to avoid the sack or turnover though.  But Marve made yet another awful throw when he merely needed to manage the game.

At BS, we like Marve a lot.  But as his pass drifted into the hands of the Buckeye safety, I couldn't help but think of a pal of mine's words that said, "Nothing good happens when Marve's in the game".  It looked like that might be true yesterday.

But as the Fightin' Fickells decided to run out the regulation clock, we knew that Purdue would at least have a shot at winning in front of the small, but passionate home crowd.

aOSU got the ball first and chose to have the wind at their backs and the Purdue students in their ears.  The Boiler defense got tough yet again and forced the 'Nuts into a fieldgoal.  So Purdue would take over.

And here's where it gets weird- Robert Marve would get the call, again.  I think many Danny Hope detractors were pissed at this point (I could hear a few of them).  Purdue struggled against the statistically-stingy Buckeye defense for a few plays.  And on third and short, needed to grind out a few yards.  And in his first success of the abbreviated drive, Robert Marve finished a run like a halfback a while grinding out a first down...and Purdue again had a pulse.

Again, Purdue was shut down up front and faced a third and long, this time from around OSU's 13.  Marve rolled right and found a streaking Gary Bush coming from the left side of the field and put the ball in the right place.  Bush controlled the ball and went out of bounds on the one...but the officials wanted to review it.

As Purdue fans, we thought the worst- Bush had bobbled it and there would be no completion...but as they showed the replay on the board, we saw Bush not only control the ball, but extend it toward the pylon and perhaps break the goal line? Hell, we didn't know, the RA video people didn't give us too much to look at...but we all raised both hands to inform the officials that the game should be over.  It wasn't...and my favorite football team would have the ball inside the 1 with 4 cracks at earning an improbable victory.

Marve broke huddle in the gun, with Bolden to his side.  After some hand signal theatrics, Bolden split wide, the bunch goal line formation flexed out to a spread and Marve got under center.

Number one!!
(At least it felt like it...for a few minutes)

I began yelling, "Run this damned thing in, Robert...Put 'em away!!" I could see what was coming...but it seemed the Buckeyes didn't know...and they didn't.  Gary Nord's not-so-sneaky attack playcall was about to seal the victory.

Marve kept the snap, pushed to the left and broke the imaginary plain with the Nike pigskin...and something very good had happened with Marve under center- The good guys had beaten the unlikable Buckeyes in overtime...and if for just one afternoon, Robert Marve's transfer to Purdue had paid off.

The place erupted, my usually- not-too-emotional brother ran up and down the aisle high fiving...as was everybody...except one guy who had disappeared.  The one unpleasant person in our section- a foul-mouthed Buckeye had evaporated.  His game-long antagonism had earned Purdue fans the right to put him in his place...but he wasn't there (predictably)...so we enjoyed the victory ourselves.

Walk of Shame
(I'm sure the Buckeye near me wasn't the only one in the stadium who was running his mouth during the contest)

Up Next
J will be attending a BS summit in God's country next Saturday.  So we'll have the chance to meet a couple of you guys (as promised).  And once again, we'll be sitting in the higher-brow section of RA thanks to our friend Ed.  So you'll get an eye-witness account of Purdue either getting into a bowl game for the first time in four years or forcing a one-game self-imposed playoff v. the lowly Hoosiers in Bloomington.

Marve-lous Ending

But, I can assure you one thing- I'll be wearing my Marve-lous T-shirt and lobbying for the Tampa Kid to be starting the game at QB.  If nothing else, he's earned the chance to potentially end his career as the starter on Senior Day. (While we hope Marve will get the one-year of additional eligibility, we're not taking anything for granted)

Nice job Boilers......and congrats to the beleaguered Robert Marve and Danny Hope...But don't savor this victory too long- you guys now have a couple of important football games in front of you...The type of games that could change the trajectory of your Purdue careers.