The Early Preview:
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 09/15/2009
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As I was walking out of the press box in Oregon’s Autzen Stadium at what my body told me was 5 a.m., I already knew what all my friends had said just after Purdue’s heartbreaking 38-36 loss to the Oregon Ducks.
“We totally Purdue’ed that!”
Yes, it is sad that Purdue’ing something has come to have, at least among my friends, two less than desirable definitions. First, let’s define our terms.
Pur-due (per-doo) v. 1. To lose in such a heartbreaking fashion you want to vomit. Ex. Last year against Oregon we totally Purdue’ed it by allowing them to come back from a 20-6 halftime deficit and beat us in double overtime. 2. To come into a game with a great deal of hype against a highly touted team and totally lay an egg. Ex. When we were 5-0 and ranked in 2007, we totally Purdue’ed it when Ohio State came to town and spanked us 23-7. (Note, this can apply to Purdue’s basketball team as last year’s game against Duke was a great example of Purdue’ing it).
Well, I am here to tell you that Saturday’s game was not your usual case of Purdue’ing it. Sure if one of five different unlikely plays would have not happened Purdue would have almost surely won, but there was a different feeling from this team after that bitter defeat, one of resolve and of togetherness. Rather than playing the blame-game and fragmenting, Purdue came together, each player and coach Danny Hope himself taking responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.
“We came together as a team in the locker room,” senior quarterback Joey Elliott said Saturday night. “In the past a lot of individuals would go off into their own corners and put their heads down. I think coach Hope did a great job of coming in and keeping everybody real close.”
That quote to me says what this team and every team Hope puts on the field will be about. Hope repeatedly referred to his team as a “football family” and you could tell the players, while upset, were excited about the potential of this team. Now it’s no secret I have been on the Danny Hope bandwagon, but after the way he and his team handled themselves following the Oregon loss, I am driving that thing. So here’s a super cheery look at the positives from Oregon and a preview of what to expect against Northern Illinois.
Purdue has a running game? I never thought I would see the day, but Purdue is lining up in the I-formation and knocking people back. Sophomore Ralph Bolden proved he is no fluke with a big day running and catching the ball. The line looked both quick and physical, while sophomore fullback Jared Crank continued to impress as an isolation blocker and senior Jaycen Taylor picked up tough yardage where he needed to.
Refusing to lose. There was a point, when Purdue fell behind 31-24 after Oregon scored 14 unanswered points, that I looked over at my editor and said, “This is where I’ve seen Purdue teams keel over and die.” I was sad to say it, but in my five years here, that is what has happened. This team, however, stood up to the challenge. When they missed the extra point and gave up another Oregon touchdown, they still did not quit, putting together the most memorable Purdue drive I have witnessed personally. A gutsy quarterback run, converting a fourth and one, and a Statue of Liberty pass for a touchdown on fourth and 11? Unbelievable. It’s a shame there still is not a push out of bounds rule, or that game would have gone to overtime.
Prediction. Last year I was wary of a MAC team coming into Ross-Ade after a tough loss to Oregon, this year I feel much better about it. I do not expect a letdown at all. On the contrary, I feel sorry for Northern Illinois for having to face such a hungry Purdue team. Look for the Boilers to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and run over the Huskies. 45-17 Purdue, and the score will make it look closer than it is.