Hazellball: Right Direction So Far

BS was on the scene at one of Coach Hazell's open practices last week and if you haven't read B-dowd's excellent write up on his observations, you should go do that. I'll wait.

Okay, you're back now.

The Spring Game is fast approaching (1 PM on April 13) and will be played rain or shine and will be four quarters. Well, no kidding, you might be thinking, but this sort of info is pertinent, as last year's Spring Game was on a day with lousy weather, so the Danny Hope Gestapo moved the proceedings indoors to Mollenkopf, and then Tom Schott's button men ejected interested parties from the premises. You know, the people who were so devoted to a mediocre program that they had made the trek to campus on a miserable day to get a little bit of a Purdue football fix. As was the norm at the time, solid PR work by the Purdue athletic department.

So Coach Hazell has decreed that the game will go on and will be a complete game. This is good. Click here for more information on the activities of the day surrounding the Spring Game. In addition, BTN has decided to grace the Boilermakers by streaming the game live via their BTN2Go app and the broadcasting it on real, actual television on April 15 at 9 PM. Unless Ohio State hires a new strength and conditioning coach or something, presumably.

You also see the photo above marketing the upcoming season. The marketing folks responsible got this one right, in our opinions. They also did well back when Danny Hope started at Purdue (the "ONE" campaign, which, at 1-5, scared us because, well, what if Purdue went 1-11?), so maybe all it takes to wake up marketing is a new coach. Let's hope winning soon follows and the program markets itself on the football field.

In addition to the Spring Game, this Saturday is another chance to see your Boilers on the field at Ross-Ade, as they'll put on a "Jersey Scrimmage" for all interested parties to attend. Purdue faculty and staff get to come onto the field beforehand with the team and then will be addressed by Morgan Burke and Coach Hazell -- this outreach is another nice touch. You can find the rules to the Jersey Scrimmage here -- it will be offense versus defense and while these rules may a seem a bit cumbersome, you can bet the players will know how to keep score and this will be competitive. Check it out if you have the chance.

One more item to note that you can find on the Purdue football page of Purduesports.com is Purdue Football 212, billed as a "behind the scenes look at Purdue football." I watched the first YouTube video they have up there and I already feel like I've seen more of Purdue football behind the scenes than I did in four years of General Hopeissimo.

Obviously, none of this means much once the games begin. However, it seems clear to us that Darrell Hazell is making the right moves in his early months on campus. There's a discipline and an intense work ethic already coming across, while at the same time welcoming us outsiders in to see what's going on.

The Hazell Era is off to a good start. 

Handsome Hour Returns to Video Format TONIGHT

You're in for a real treat tonight, as the boys will be in the same ZIP code for a change and thus will be putting on an exciting video Handsome Hour for the second time evahhhh!

You'll recall how awesome the last one started, with echo chamber effects, giggling, poor lighting, etc. Basically, it was like a slumber party in one of the many sororities that listen to the Handsome Hour on a regular basis.

We know many of you love to listen to the show, but since I would imagine the majority of you do so via your computermachine, you can do the same thing here.

We'll be streaming the show live at 9:30 PM, Eastern Time, at the Boiled Sports Ustream channel, and we'll also be recording it and posting it here on the site, as per usual, for your listening pleasure at your convenience.

However, we invite you to join the live stream as we'll have the chat stream going to the side and will be glad to take questions and interaction that way. It'll be a lot like Boilerdowd's Friday nights on Chatroulette.

B-Dowd Joins T-Mill And Others For Some Sweaty On-Camera Action

What? Is there something wrong with that headline?

Your favorite dunkerrific co-editor of Boiled Sports -- Boilerdowd himself -- joined H&R's Travis "T-Mill" Miller for a spirited two hours of sweating, panting and peeling off layers of clothing. And then they played basketball, too! Hey-yoo!!!

See Travis' video below for yourself. B-dowd is the square dude with the JJ jersey early on and then the gray, sweated-through muscle shirt later in the video. Strangely, they cut out the part where Travis hoses him down.

See the video, after the jump.

Get Up and Shout Now

For your viewing pleasure, and that of co-editor boilerdowd, below is a video I took this weekend at the Purdue-Iowa game. B-dowd and his brother were out in the john when this went on so they missed it, and I know how disappointed they truly were at that.



Okay, so it's a rip-off of sorts and it's kind of a questionable choice of songs (I think I heard boilerdowd suggesting "Move This" by Technotronic, or perhaps a rendition of "I Know What Boys Like"), but hey, at least it's something the student section seems to really get into. While some may not particuarly like it, it's not so hard (for me, at least) to think back to my early years at Purdue and to remember how terribly the student section was with regard to spirit or cohesiveness or, well, anything... anything besides throwing full plastic cups of soda after touchdowns (which might as well have been mortar shells when they traveled 20 rows and hit you in the temple).

Still, if you aren't a fan, so be it. But at least it's something, and that's a good start. I'm much more bothered by the fact that the wave is done at Purdue games than by "Shout."

The Electronic Brain

Maybe the genius of Bill Belichick (and, gasp, Charlie Weis) can be attributed to something other than gray matter.

I'm sure by now you've heard that a Patriots' employee was video taping signals sent from the Jets' sideline...What's the big deal?

Here's the big deal: If you record signals and cross-reference them to plays on film, you all of a sudden are literally in the head of the offensive coordinator or quarterback of the other team. It can also work on the other side of the ball to make a coach or player have complete understanding of a defensive formation or scheme...ultimately giving competitive advantage.

It's always been considered unsportsmanlike to steal signals, but it's not illegal. So, if you can "crack the code" in a method that uses no electronic aid, so be it...But video taping crosses the line. Alright, New England Guy, you say, "You're blowing this out of proportion..." Well, there's more.

Now, the NFL is investigating further methods of electronic espionage by the Pats. First, it's believed that various members of the defense might be "wired" to listen in to audibles and give the coaches an "ear" on the field. Also being investigated are radio signals being "lifted" in order to take the playcalling going from the coach to the player's helmet-mounted headset.

The Jets aren't the only ones who have complained about this. The Colts, Packers & others have also filed complaints with the league about suspicions of the above. Further, the league warned the Patriots on two occasions before finding proof in the form of the video camera confiscated last Sunday.

Here's to hoping that Goodell is as tough with the former world champ as he's been on others who break have broken rules and threaten the integrity of the game.