Here are a couple tidbits from a busy holiday weekend for Purdue.

• Baseball takes series at Penn State - Purdue got exactly what it needed on the diamond this weekend as the baseball game took two of three from Penn State on the road. Matt Bischoff threw a complete game on Friday for a 6-4 win in the series opener. Shortstop Nick Overmeyer drove in three runs on four hits for the Boilers to guide them at the plate. Purdue then lost Saturday's game 11-9, blowing an 8-7 lead in the eighth by giving up four runs. That set up Sunday's game, which Purdue won 9-3 behind Matt Morgan's complete game. The Boilers blew open a close game with five runs in the 8^th. Eric Charles and Eric Nielson each had a 2 run single in the inning. This win was also a milestone for Coach Doug Schreiber, who won his 300^th game as Purdue's head coach. The Big Ten race remains tight as Purdue (15-15, 5-3) is in 5^th place, but is only a game out of first.
• Softball's offense disappears - The softball team looked to be in good shape after taking two from Michigan State last Thursday, but its offense completely disappeared when it returned home to face Iowa this weekend. The Boilers failed to score a run in either game, losing 3-0 and 4-0 to the Hawkeyes on Saturday and Sunday. Not only did the ladies fail to score a run, they managed just one hit combined in both games. At 20-13 (5-4 Big Ten) Purdue is squarely on the bubble for it s second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
• New class inducted into Purdue Hall of Fame - Purdue inducted its latest Hall of Fame class over the weekend. This one was notable, as it contained Drew Brees and women's basketball star Katie Douglas.
• Spring football continues - I haven't written much on the subject of spring football because it would pretty much just be rehashing what GBI is putting out every day. It is hard to add much to that because I am not there to witness anything in person. I am planning on attending the spring game on Saturday though. Long story short: No one has gotten seriously hurt and we are still waiting for Al-Terek McBurse to get cleared by the NCAA.
• Boilers wait for the NFL draft - College Football News is starting to put out some of its draft previews by position and a pair of Boilers have been featured already. Kory Sheets is projected by them to be one of the top 13 running backs selected. Curtis Painter has a similar projection made for him at the quarterback position. It is highly likely that Sheets will have a more immediate impact as a kick returner and third down back. Painter could easily have a career much like Kyle Orton in that it takes him a few years to develop. There will be more previews for the draft as the week progresses, especially as we look for Alex Magee and Anthony Heywood to go somewhere.
• Robert Marve visits - It is not every day that our paths cross with Miami's. As a follower of both programs, I have been very interested in the Robert Marve saga. The transferring quarterback visited campus this past weekend, and it appears he would be perfectly inline to step in as the 2010 starter if he chooses Purdue. I am not sure I want him though. He was suspended twice at Miami after winning the starting job. He has clearly had some discipline issues and trouble with coaches. When I saw him in person last year (went to the Miami-Virginia Tech game) he really wasn't that impressive. Miami had some good young talent at receiver, yet he couldn't do much through the air. Marve was 7 of 16 in that game for 121 yards. He also ran 14 times for 44 yards. There is little question that he is a mobile QB, but I really question his attitude. I can't help but think of two other big name quarterbacks when I see him: Jeff George and Brandon Kirsch. If he does get his head straight, he could be a huge addition.
• Ukari Figgs returns - The Point guard from Purdue's only national championship team has agreed to join the women's basketball program as an assistant coach. She had a brief WNBA career after being named Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 women's Final Four. I like this move. She brings a great attitude and a championship mentality to a team that has been good of late, but has struggled to break through in the Elite 8 and get back to the Final Four. Purdue hasn't been since 2001, but has had four teams that were easily good enough but couldn't break through in a regional.