Its the week to beat your drum!! Tomorrow we play the Purdue Boilermakers and their “worlds largest drum” which isn’t but I digress. I got to get with boilerdowd from boiledsports.com to discuss somethings about Purdue.
MotSaG: I know its still early in the whole process with a new coach but do you think Coach Darrell Hazell is the right man to get things turned around?
BS: Not many coaching candidates that we had on our list had his credentials…and no one in America is better as a PR man than Coach Hazell…but the team’s play hasn’t reflected the change of attitude, yet. I still think he was the right man for the job…and am excited for the future. I’m still a bit bothered that so many Ohio State fans like the guy…but I’ll get over that with time, I guess. I know one thing that he could do that would make you guys like him a lot less.
MotSaG: This is the first time I have had to ask this question but whats Purdue’s secret at Ross-Ade Stadium versus the Buckeyes?
BS: Plain and simple- mind control. It’s odd that it hasn’t worked on any other opponent, but tons of subliminal messages are being broadcasted during the pre-game into the Buckeye locker room…it’s kind of a shame the same tactics don’t work versus Notre Dame or Michigan. Honestly, we have no idea…but hope the trend continues.
MotSaG: The last time you lost to Ohio State in West Lafayette the current freshman were in 7th grade, whats it like to have won four of the last six match-ups at home?
BS: That’s a silly fact…and pretty unbelievable. I can tell you that the day that Ryan Kerrigan got all touchy-feely with Tats Pryor was one of my favorite Purdue games of the last decade…glad I was there. I had six tickets given to me…and I had to beg people to come watch it with me. No one believed going in to that one, that the good guys would win…I’d say the feeling is eerily similar heading into this Saturday for Purdue fans. (Be afraid!)
MotSaG: What is Purdue’s biggest concern for this game?
BS: With the exception of last week’s strong performance by the defense versus a mediocre MSU offense, there has been reason for concern at every turn. Special Teams have struggled in different facets, the defense hasn’t been able to stop the run or the pass and the offense hasn’t been able to move the ball. Going into this one, it feels like the defense might be OK…but the offense has showed nothing; so that’s my biggest concern.
MotSaG: Do Purdue fans feel disrespected that the spread is like at 30 points?
BS: Not really…that number seems generous at this point. Our Boilers have been beaten by 30 or more way too many times this season by lesser teams.
MotSaG: Since this is one bad year of growing pains for Purdue fans, what is the Boilermakers biggest needs to get in recruiting?
BS: LINEBACKERS! Many of Purdue’s linebackers have been as soft as my midsection for about a decade…but Purdue needs DBs too. (You’ll see evidence in person on Saturday if you go.)
MotSaG: Ohio State historically travels well, will Boilermaker fans show up to try and drown out the Scarlet and Gray chanting O-H-I-O in Ross-Ade Stadium?
BS: I hate that cheer..it’d be no more dumb for Purdue fans to chant I-N-D-I-A-N-A..You guys do know there is a University of Ohio, right? You’re only helping advertise for them. But back to the question- no, I don’t think the crowd will be able to drown it out..there will be a lot of red in God’s country on Saturday, sadly. I liked the cheer better the last time you guys visited anyway.. O-H S-*-I-T
MotSaG: Since Purdue is a engineering school what do they have to do to pull off the upset Saturday?
BS: I think they’d have to change the contest to a Rube Goldberg type of thing…but on the football field, I’m not sure much can be done at this point.
MotSaG: Is the reason for the Purdue Boilermakers being 1-6 this awesome video (since it seems geared more towards the basketball team)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD6FAscGpoY Karma? haha sorry to easy!!
BS: Ugh.
Actually, Purdue loses too much because they haven’t gotten on the (played out) trend of alternate helmets…uh oh…a team from C’bus is in trouble.
MotSaG: What are your predictions for the game?
BS: Back when I was at Purdue, aOSU came into West Lafayette my Senior year ranked in the top-5…and Purdue was unranked and pretty lousy. The game started out awesome; two long touchdown passes to Brian Alford stunned the thousands of Bucknuts who had invaded the stadium…Purdue was up 14-0 in the first quarter.
The good guys lost 42-14.
I feel like Saturday will probably be worse for my Boilers because Brian Alford doesn’t play on the team any longer…nor does Ryan Kerrigan.
*I’ve attached a photo from the upset a few years ago…I like it because the Ohio State fan looks confused and lonely. I still don’t know what so many of you guys were doing on the field that day.
I really enjoyed working with boilerdowd this week. I think the Buckeyes get the “drum” off of their back this season and they put Purdue out of their misery early and fast tomorrow. Yesterday I shared with you my preview of the game and on paper this is a major mismatch. Last bye Urban motivated his guys by dangling off time in front of them if they won, i’m sure there is something besides the National Championship and a trip to their first B1G championship game that Meyer is motivating his troops with for the upcoming bye week. This week I’m not going to predict the score because what I really think will happen seems unfeasible and I rabble on to much and am never right!!
If you want to get involved and have questions about upcoming opponents feel free to send them in to me and I can send them on. Email your questions to AskMotSaG@gmail.com or MotSaG@gmail.com. Would love to know your thoughts on this post and hope you enjoyed it.