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Sat 09/04 | 3:30 PM EDT |
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Let's get it on! Big Ten Picks for Week 1
by BoilerTMill on Sep 2, 2010 12:00 PM EDT
in Football
2 comments
Finally, it is game week
It seems a little strange to get back into game mode after almost five months without an actual contest to write about. The first week of football season is a long one too because it seems like almost everything possible has been written about the first game. I did my Notre Dame preview a few months ago. They haven't played at all so there isn't a ton I can add to it. All we can really do is go out and finally play this thing. I am thankful there are games beginning on Thursday night because I don't know how much longer I can wait.
It's time to do some picks for week one in the Big Ten.
Marshall at #2 Ohio State
This is not the Marshall with Randy Moss, Chad Pennington, and Byron Leftwich. Instead, it is a mediocre Thundering Herd team that was 7-6 last year and won the Whatever-the-hell-they're-calling-it-now-Little-Caesar's Bowl in Detroit. They will find out there is a big difference in playing Ohio State as opposed to Ohio. It's about the same difference as Little Caeser's (crappy pizza) vs. Garcia's Pizza By the Slice. Ever since Garcia's closed to be replaced by first Pizza King, then Hot Box, I have been jonesing like a crack addict needing a fix. I am sure it is a similar response to many OSU fans wanting to see the Buckeyes play. I would be happily sated with some Garcia's right now, as will Ohio state fans after a convincing win.
Ohio State 31, Marshall 6
The Handsome Hour w/ T-Mill
Now up over at Boiled Sports.
2 Days to Purdue Football: Justin Siller and Gerald Gooden
by BoilerTMill on Sep 2, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
in Football
1 comment
Patience
It has taken patience to write this series over the last 3+ months. It has also taken patience for one of these two players today to return to the field. I am glad to have Justin Siller back, while Gerald Gooden should have a good season with teams paying so much attention to Ryan Kerrigan.
Justin Siller - Jr.
Hometown: Detroit, MI (St. Mary's HS)
Quarterback/Running Back/Wide Receiver
6'4", 223 pounds
2010 Projection: He's going to play SOMEWHERE
Welcome back, Justin Siller.
I have to say that because I am very impressed that he has returned to school. After the 2008 season Justin Siller was caught cheating on an exam. His status as an athlete did not exempt him from punishment. Purdue University (not the athletic department) kicked him out of school just like any other student. He was officially banned for a year, and he very easily could have never returned and fallen by the wayside as a player that dazzled us for a short time, but flamed out.
He didn't quit. He went to Ivy Tech in Lafayette to get his coursework back on track. This summer, he was reinstated to the University, and the football team welcomed him back. While he won't be the starting quarterback that some projected him to be had the academic issues not gotten in the way, he will play. In a way, his suspension might have led to Robert Marve transferring here. Now that both will play, it makes us a better team.
Siller made headlines by winning his first start at quarterback at Michigan. He became the first Purdue quarterback to win his debut since Brandon Hance (unless Brandon Kirsch won his first start in 2002). He threw for 266 yards and three scores against the Wolverines as Purdue won a dramatic game and officially eliminated Michigan from bowl contention for the first time in over three decades.
He is listed as a starter at wide receiver, but seeing as how he has played at running back and quarterback we are going to use him in a variety of ways. He is going to be our official "fun player" We may line him up in the backfield in a dual back set with Marve and Al-Terek McBurse. We may run him out of the wildcat. We may run a trick play where he does a halfback or wide receiver pass. Remember, with him, Marve, and Keith Smith on the field we have three former quarterbacks. Just because he gets the ball doesn't mean the play is over and he's the guy to tackle, or it might mean that. It's going to be a lot of fun to see how we use him, and I think Siller will have fun being used in those different roles.
Gerald Gooden - Jr.
Hometown: Hooks, TX (Hooks HS)
Defensive End
6'3", 235 pounds
2010 Projection: Starter at defensive end
After all that on Siller, it almost seems anti-climactic to write about Gooden. Gerald may have a good year by default simply because teams will be geared to stop Kerrigan on the other side. If they double team Kerrigan, Gooden will have single coverage and, supposedly, and easier route to the quarterback. If he can have a good season we should have one hell of a pass rush, thus helping our young secondary.
Gooden started all 12 games last year and earned 4.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, and 37 tackles total. He had 2 sacks in 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2008, so he is one of our more experienced players on defense. He did earned a fumble recovery at Oregon last year.
As I mentioned last week with DeVarro Greaves, Gooden volunteers his time off the field with freshman Bruce Gaston to work with Lafayette's Urban Ministry Emergency Shelter. He was also a high school teammate of wide receiver Cortez Smith. The music aficionado in him enjoyed Funky Friday back in 2009.
Boilermakings Notes:
THE FULMER CUP SEASON CLOSES, AND GEORGIA IS YOUR CHAMPION - Every Day Should Be Saturday
Georgia wins the Fulmer Cup
Crisis Averted - Big Ten Gets Division Splits Right - Off Tackle Empire
Don't blame the Commissioner for your own nearsightedness.
As Purdue nears, Irish boiling with excitement - Chicago Colleges Blog - ESPN Chicago
Oh really? Someone's going to get exposed? God, I want this game.
Thoughts on the Big Ten Divisions
by BoilerTMill on Sep 1, 2010 7:12 PM EDT
in Football
17 comments
I think one of the things that has bothered me in this whole divisional process is that people act like only six teams matter when it comes to the divisions. All the talk was how Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin would be divided. It was as if Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois, and Indiana were going to be relegated as afterthoughts that had no hope of contending no matter what. It was all about separating the "traditional" powers properly. A few thoughts on that:
1. Before Kirk Ferentz, Iowa was a middling program for decades, with a few great years under Hayden Fry.
2. Northwestern has three Big Ten Championships in the past 15 years (1995, 1996, and 2000). That's more than Iowa and Penn State.
3. Before Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin had done very little for decades. Purdue, Northwestern, and Illinois have also won championships since their last one.
Ultimately though, I think they got it right. Nebraska, Penn State, and Michigan have each had bad periods of late where even making a bowl game didn't happen in some years. Only Ohio State has been continually dominant, and even they missed a bowl in 1999. Bear in mind that these divisions only currently apply to football. Basketball will not have divisional play. If you're going to break the league up as follows, they did it right:
Big Ten Divisions announced tonight
by BoilerTMill on Sep 1, 2010 2:27 PM EDT
in Football
11 comments
As per press release from the Big Ten:
BIG TEN NETWORK TO AIR ANNOUNCEMENT
OF BIG TEN FOOTBALL DIVISIONS
Commissioner Jim Delany to appear exclusively on 90-minute special
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network will air the official live announcement of the Big Ten football divisions with Commissioner Jim Delany at 7 p.m. ET tonight. The show will also be streamed live at BigTenNetwork.com
Lead studio host Dave Revsine will host the football special and be joined by analysts Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith. Confirmed guests will include athletic directors David Brandon of Michigan, Mark Hollis of Michigan State, Gene Smith of Ohio State, Tom Osborne of Nebraska, and other Big Ten Network analysts.
More Q&A: Inside the Irish talks Notre Dame
by BoilerTMill on Sep 1, 2010 12:00 PM EDT
in Football
1 comment
I promise I can do some original content this week. As usual, things are busy as I had to go to Kokomo yesterday and help a friend move. it does allow me the chance to fire off some questions to some rival bloggers, however. Today Keith Arnold of NBCSports.com's Inside the Irish blog stops by with some answers to my questions. My answers to his will be posted sometime today at Inside the Irish.
Quality, sane Notre Dame discussion. I like that.
3 Days to Purdue Football: Dwayne Beckford and Waynelle Gravesande
by BoilerTMill on Sep 1, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
in Football
3 comments
I like the perseverance that both of today's players have shown. Dwayne Beckford had to overcome an eligibility hiccup, but he still came to Purdue. Waynelle Gravesande has seen players younger than him get more time, but he still has found a place.
Dwayne Beckford - So.
Hometown: Irvington, NJ (Irvington HS)
Linebacker
6'1", 228 pounds
2010 Projection: Starter at linebacker
It is hard to believe that Beckford is only a true sophomore. He originally committed as a member of the 2008 class, but some issues with a high school course did not get him eligible in time for the season, so he sat out much like Gabe Holmes did last year. He enrolled in the spring of 2009 and went through spring practice, allowing him to play as a true freshman last year. By the end of the season he was practically a co-starter with Chris Carlino in the middle. He ended up with 34 tackles, having a big game at Michigan with 8.
With a pair of spring practices under his belt he has emerged as the starting middle linebacker on a defense that is loaded with good players at the position. He came to us from Irvington High in New Jersey where his number-mate Gravesande also played. He had first-team All-State honors with 104 tackles and 17 sacks as a senior. Michigan State also showed some interest in him, and I can't imagine their defense with him and Greg Jones right now.
Beckford earned the most improved award in spring practice this year, making a big season that much more possible. At Middle linebacker you need playmakers. It is his time for Beckford to be one.
Waynelle Gravesande - Jr..
Hometown: Irvington, NJ (Irvington HS)
Wide Receiver
6'0", 189 pounds
2010 Projection: Punt returner
Gravesande is an interesting player. He has had a slow progression each year, playing just a little more than the last. He redshirted his first year, then had just two catches for 13 yards in the massive blowout of Indiana in 2008. Last year, as a redshirt sophomore, he made a splash because he could catch punts. That doesn't sound like much, but when we struggled to find someone who could actually catch punts for most of the season it became a big deal. He had one 11 yards reception against Ohio State, but returned 11 punts for 51 yards over the course of the season. He is expected to be more of a punt returner this year, but a leg injury has slowed him. Antavian Edison may pass him too as he has a little more speed.
As a senior in high school Gravesande had a big year with 52 catches for 797 yards and 10 touchdowns. He gives us a steady, safe presence on the field with good hands, so I can see him having a 10-20 catch season this year even given the depth we have at the position.
Off the field, Gravesande is a contributor as well. He does mentoring for the Play It Safe Program put on by the National Football Foundation.
Boilermkaings Notes:
Your E'Twaun Moore stat of the day - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
More on The Assassin.
Purdue's Moore an unknown, unless you're paying attention - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com
Gary Parrish give The Red Button some love.
Packers football: Rookie Mike Neal is making a name for himself
Former Boiler Mike Neal is making an impression for the Packers.
NBC Sports - College Football - Inside the Irish
Here's what we're up against: Notre Dame's week 1 depth chart.
Boiler Bits: Joe Holland | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN
Stacy Clardie up in Ft. Wayne talks with Joe Holland
PROCEEDS OF EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND DREW BREES TEES WILL BENEFIT INDIANA PALS PROGRAM | Original Retro Brand
More Drew Brees shirts.
A belated birthday to Hammer & Rails/Off the Tracks
by BoilerTMill on Aug 31, 2010 5:38 PM EDT
in Boilermakings and other Purdue sports
9 comments
I forgot to mention this on Saturday, but we passed another milestone. On August 28th, 2006 I launched what was then called the Purdue Football Blog. It took me awhile to even get one comment, but in the four years since this site has grown beyond anything I could have ever dreamed for it, and it has continued to grow.
It is because of you readers that I am here at SBNation.
It is because of you readers that I was credentialed for the Big Ten Tournament.
It is because of you readers that I will be credentialed this weekend at Notre Dame.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys are the reason that I get to do what I do here.
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