There are a lot of thigns to discuss today, but the first is the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many of you heard my story before. i was a senior at Purdue when the attacks happened. I had worked a late shift int he production studio the night before and did not have class until noon, so I was up even later and slept in. I got up around 10am, turned on my TV and immediately knew something was amiss because it was on ESPN and the World Trade Center was collapsing. Everything had already happened.
Because of that, I will forever associate my time at Purdue with 9/11. Singing the Star-Spangled Banner with Bruce at the Cactus two nights later was cathartic. Hearing Roy Johnson's "I Am An American" at the first home game a few weeks later was among the most chilling moments of my life because of the dead, reverent silence that came before it, especially since it was broken only by a baby crying somewhere in the stands. It was so divergent from the previous time I had heard "I Am An American": At the Rose Bowl nine months previous.
Feel free to share your own stories below, but as I stated: Purdue and 9/11 will be forever connected for me because I was on campus and remember everything about that day.
On to happier things for the moment: Here is this week's final blogpoll.
Results for Week 2
SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Rankings 2011
After the jump we have more depressing things, then the links:
Because I am a curious individual, I made a list last night of all the different ACL injuries I could think of that athletes related to Purdue have suffered since 2006 alone. With the help of former women's soccer player Lauren Varnau, the total is a staggering 37 ACL tears. Not only are these injuries devastating, they have possibly cost Purdue as many as four National Championships in various sports. Here are the grisly details:
Football:
Robert Marve x3, Ralph Bolden x3 (one in high school), Ishmael Aristide (in HS), Jonathan Linkenheimer (kickoff specialist that was a HS teammate of O.J. Ross and Ricardo Allen. He tore his, never played, then left the program), Brandon Cottom, Keith Smith, Rob Henry.
Men's Basketball:
Robbie Hummel x2 (possibly costing us the 2010 and 2011 titles), Carl Landry, David Teague
Women's Basketball:
Natasha Bogdonova, Lindsay Wysdom-Hilton, Jodi Howell x2 (both in HS), KK Houser, Drey Mingo
Volleyball:
Anna Drewry (possibly costing us the 2010 NCAA title since it happened during the tourney, she was a key player, and we lost in the Elite 8)
Women's Soccer:
Parrissa Eyorokon, Jill Sarbaugh (according to Varnau, both were key players on the 2007 team that won the Big Ten Tournament and was ranked No. 4 in the country before the NCAAs. This is lost title No. 4), Alex Jenkins, Alexis Tryba, Kaitlyn blacha, Hadley Stuart, Mollie Kuramoto, Michelle Devilbiss
Former Purdue athletes as pros:
Kara Patterson, Joey Elliott
Other:
Scott Martin x2 (The Traitor tore his twice at ND after transferring), Kyle Mollock x3 (basketball recruit that decommitted, then tore his ACL three times).
Clearly, something needs to be done, because this is an average of almost six ACL tears per year.
On to better news:
Post Week 2 - 2012 Bowl Projections - Off Tackle Empire
Bowl Projections following two weeks of NCAA college football action with an emphasis on Big Ten teams.
Courage in Sports
If Purdue's Drey Mingo does not win this there is no point in having such an award.
Topic: Updates on Today's Basketball Recruiting Visits | The Black Hammer
A look at who visit Purdue this week.
SB Nation United: the big rebrand | Vox Product
SB Nation United: the big rebrand SB Nation. It’s a big-ass network of awesome. Awesome sports blogs.
'Holy Crap' Saturday--Welcome To The B1GMAC - Off Tackle Empire
Off Tackle Empire looks at Saturday's carnage.
Neil Armstrong: Ode to Trustmarks - Forbes
Remembering Neil Armstrong Neil Armstrong presents Sully with the Neil Armstrong Medal of Excellence Reprinted with permission Purdue University/Mark Simon Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip ice cream. I took my first bite at the insistence of Neil Armstrong, while visiting him to discuss the management of his endorsement requests. He promised it [...]
Bowl Projections: Dienhart’s list post Week 2 " Big Ten Network
Gator Bowl!
2012-2013 Clemson Tigers college basketball preview
A young Clemson Tigers team doesn't figure to make a lot of noise in the ACC.
Big Ten Review: Week Two - Black Shoe Diaries
Black Shoe Diaries examines a rough week two for the Big Ten Conference.
Is Purdue Now The Favorite To Win The Big Ten Leaders Division?
A strong defense, a favorable schedule, and a weaker-than-expected rest of the division (plus Ohio State's ineligibility) has Purdue looking like the team to beat in the Big Ten Leaders Division.
Instant analysis: Notre Dame 20, Purdue 17 - Big Ten Blog - ESPN
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Here's a quick recap of a strange one at Notre Dame Stadium, where Tommy Rees led the Irish on their game-winning drive.
B1G 2012 // Margin Call - The Rules - Off Tackle Empire
What are they up to at Off Tackle Empire? Trading teams like stock? Come check out the competition.