The Non-Winner Mentality

In the wake of our commentaries over the weekend, we've received some very nice feedback from many of you, who seem to feel we're publishing what your heart and mind have been feeling for quite some time. While we're selfish bastards who do this for our own entertainment and catharsis, it is always a nice ancillary perk to know we've hit the mark with so many of you.

Naturally, there were some who disagreed with our takes, but it's interesting how few actually took umbrage with it. We put forth some pretty forceful opinions and by and large, the responses were "right on, handsome devils."

Believe me, it gives us no pleasure to acknowledge how futile the direction of the football program is. But it was something that we felt needed to be addressed.

I've been thinking about it more in the past couple of days and I think I know what part of the problem is. It's a mindset issue that exists among the fanbase and, most likely, also among the athletic department and coaching staff. I'm sure nobody would admit it, but I certainly will.

I don't want to call it a loser's mentality, because that sounds a little too harsh. Maybe it goes back to that word I kept landing on over the weekend -- mediocrity. Once mediocrity becomes acceptable, you're toast. If excellence is the goal and you fall short, you might still have something to be proud of. If mediocrity is your goal and you fall short, you're sadly raising a pizza bowl trophy over your head in front of a 60% full, cold-weather venue on a Tuesday in late December.

The issue here is that so many people associated with Purdue athletics look at things from the "Look, it's setting up for us!" perspective. How many times have we heard that the division is there for the taking this year? How many times have we heard people talk about Purdue "sneaking" into the Big Ten championship game? Why can't the Big Ten title game be the goal no matter what kind of foes are on the schedule? That's the goal for good teams in all conferences: Win. Be better than everyone else. Work harder until you are.

It is not "Win some games, maybe surprise a couple teams, write off the hard ones, and hope to back into a nice finish to the season."

Yet, at Purdue, isn't that what we're all cheering for? That Purdue can somehow beat a good program like Michigan or Wisconsin, avoid anyone being hurt at Ohio State (Hey! We'll sacrifice our pride, though!), and then hope to cling on to a 4-4 or 5-3 conference record to squeak into the Big Ten title game? Is that really what we should be cheering for? To get lucky?

This is a problem that has seeped its way into many programs. You get used to your place in the order of things. You accept that you'll never be a powerhouse. You put out of your mind the idea of competing in ways we haven't seen in decades.

I, for one, reject that out of hand. Sure, it would take some serious re-evaluating of what's important in West Lafayette. It would take a complete and utter mindset change. And along with those things, it would most likely mean a change of mentality from the very top on down.

Well, President Daniels takes office in January. And while there are some people who naively think that he's going to cut funding and budgets because of his deficit hawk ways as Governor, the fact is that you have an aggressive, success-minded leader coming in who knows the value of a dollar. Mitch Daniels the Purdue University President will be a different man than Mitch Daniels the Governor of a state with an $800 million deficit when he took over.

Let's hope he starts by evaluating everything and deciding how to make Purdue stronger in every way.

Cup 'O Gumbo for Thursday

On Twitter, message boards and this site, the reaction to Daniels' appointment to Purdue's presidency has made a splash.  National news outlets have picked up the story, and this state's news is ablaze with the story.  Some Purdue alums don't like the appointment- for those of you who think the president should have a doctorate; hey, I can see that point...but to you guys, check the resume and the ability of the man to lead.  For those of you who just don't like the guy because of his politics, I'm not sure if anything will get you guys on board with our new man, Mitch.  But, it was made official about an hour and one-half ago...like it or not.

Anyone who was named to this post would garnered some grumbling and angst; I'm sure of that.  Purdue's alumni association, professors and TAs, current students and fans are too large of a group to be homogenous in their opinions.  But, Purdue went big with this...and I love that.  And if you think this was a publicity stunt, I think you're off-base.  The trustees and Daniels said that his contract would be a five agreement...If this was just to be a splashy hire with no meat to it, I'd think it would be a two-year deal.  And yes, I am aware of the 65 year old rule for Purdue presidents...and I'm sure you're also all aware that that rule can be over-ridden through exceptions made by the board; which they're correctly making in two years.

My favorite part of this appointment is the reaction that I've heard with my own ears from my friends who are IU alums and fans.  This kinda sums it up: "The day Daniels is announced as Purdue's President will be an awful day for IU."  Indeed. Purdue caught a big fish...one that IU would love to have.  Well done, search committee.

So long, Doug.  We Hardly knew ye.
Sophomore RB, Doug Gentry is not returning to Purdue, according to GBI and EsPN. Gentry had a solid Spring and Black/Gold game (based on stories...not my eye witness account because I wasn't allowed to watch) and looked to be around the third man on the depth chart, at least to start the fall.

Purdue's running back stable looked to be jam-packed in '12 before Bolden went down v. IU.  And even then, things still seemed pretty solid.  But, this defection, as inconsequential as it might seem to some of you, does matter. I think he would have carried the ball quite a bit, especially in the first few months of the season as Bolden mends.

So Shavers and Hunt will enter the season as the clear 1 & 2.  After that, Nord might have to get creative. With both Bolden and Cottom trying to get back to 100%, the third back in the rotation will probably be a committee of slot receivers...but, if one of the speedy incoming Freshman shows a knack for getting to the second level, they might see the field a year early.

I look for Edison, Mostert...and even Henry to play a little running back this fall...and the Freshman that I like? I wouldn't be surprised to see Anthrop, Knauf or even one of the dual-threat QBs to make some noise in the backfield.  If nothing else, these guys have speed to burn and great vision.  Regardless, camp could be interesting. At this point though, it's all speculation.

In Case you missed it...
The current, and crappy, BCS system might be replaced with a 4-team mini tournament, starting in 2014. The two games that will lead to the championship will be current bowl sites...and the Championship will revolve, much like the current final four in basketball.

The only hurdle in front of the change is that all of the university presidents need to sign on to the new agreement at the end of this month...but that looks to be all but a formality at this point as the big conferences are already on board.

One thing that still might wreak havoc with this is that some conference re-alignement is still possible as a few schools are flirting with potential suitors...but the B1G doesn't look like it will be directly affected by any of those potential shifts.

Don't get me wrong- I love a group of people and computers deciding who the best two teams are; I don't know why every league in the world doesn't adopt that brilliant methodology for deciding who the true champ is.  BUT, a four-team mini-tournament should do OK too.

In all seriousness, I'd love to see a bigger tournament; 8-team, perhaps...but this is a step forward, and will eliminate some of the murky water that surrounds the lousy system that exists.

The Twittermaphone says...
The Purdue basketball team has been working out and getting ready for the Italian tour and (in the long view), the season next fall/winter.  The new guys, specifically AJ Hammons, have noted how difficult these off-season workouts have been...and many are learning what tough love from Matty is about. Good.

Last season, Painter's hellish workouts weren't attended by as much of the team as usual because of a ton of guys coming off of surgeries and injury...this year is different.  And while Purdue lost a legend in #4, this team might be a more-cohesive unity come November, due to the sheer amount of healthy bodies that are able to take the punishment now.

Good Riddance.
I've never been much of a club or bar guy...so you can take this with a grain of salt. But, I'm pretty happy with what I just read on the Exponent's website.

Where Else?, the West La La hangout and arrest location bar, will be demolished in favor of apartments in the near future.  No word on if Where Else? will be rebuilt in a new location...hope not.

I've been there about 5 times...and didn't like it...and all of the stories I hear about the place range between meh and it stinks. Plus, it seems to be the place where more Purdue athletes are arrested than any other locale.  Sure, that's not the bar's fault...but maybe, just maybe, guys who play football and basketball for Purdue will decide that an apartment is a suitable place to throw back a few pops in the future? One can dream.

Mitch Daniels to Move a Bit North

France Cordova's time as President is nearly over...and I'm kinda "meh" about her time in power (at best). Her predecessor, Jische, only held the post for 8+ years, but raised an immense amount of money for Purdue and spearheaded some large building projects.  I believe the campus changed more in those 8 years than it had in the previous 25.  And the guy who was there for 13 of those 25, the president when I was on campus, Beering seemed to be more of an administrator than fundraiser and politician-type.  In fact, Beering reminded me a bit of a principal of a large high school- everyone knew who he was, not many knew him or saw him around campus, and not many liked him either.

Definitely not going to be a VP candidate

Now, the current Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels is set to follow Cordova after nearly six years at the post.  Daniels is a guy that most people in Indiana either love or hate...but I think he'll be a pretty good fit for one of the most conservative educational institutions in the Midwest.

Political views aside, Daniels record is pretty conservative*...and personally, he's been known to call himself "cheap".  Plus, I think it'll be easier to believe he's actually interested in basketball or football games than Cordova.  That might have been the biggest rub to me about Purdue's current Pres- it always looked forced to me when she was at a game...but at least she tried; not all University presidents do that.

No one will ever question Cordova's intelligence...in fact, she's an academian's academian who spent most of her career on or around a college campus.  Daniels though, is a politician...and most of his career has been either in office, or working for someone who was elected.

The big question is: How does this affect Boiled Sports? Probably not at all.  Just like the previous presidents, unless you're looking for something to complain about, it won't matter much to you.  BUT, Cordova and the Board of Trustees have taken a higher percentage of the BTN TV contract money than any other institution in the conference.  That, at least to me, is garbage...and as the arms race for bigger and better facilities in the B1G allows even IU and Northwestern to build sizable, high-end football offices and training rooms, Purdue's athletics can't afford to take such a hit...in the long term.

But, the decision of how the funds are taken and allocated is probably going to be out of Daniels' hands.  But one thing is sure- the next president will probably help decide who the next AD is since Burke probably won't keep that office for the next decade...so this decision will have an effect on the athletic department, and most-importantly, Boiled Sports.

We're pretty critical when Purdue screws things up...so it's only fair to throw down some praise when the university does something right- My opinion is that Purdue got this one right.  The guy knows how to lead, has a tremendous resume and has a recognizable name that much of the state knows and respects. Well played, trustees...now put some more money back into the hands of the athletic department.

*conservative meaning he doesn't spend a ton of money