FanPost

Some facts & rants



I have been a Purdue fan since I was about 8 years old. Ironically and unfortunately that was around the same time Tiller and Brees got involved. To be clear my first Purdue game was in 1995 when I think Purdue lost at home to o$u 42-14 after getting the lead 14-0. Anyway back to the main point. After yesterday, I have read almost every Purdue site's opinion and gathered some interesting facts about what we are currently watching on Saturdays in Ross Ade. So here we go. Purdue has played football since 1887. Between 1887-1997 (110 years) Purdue went to 5 bowl games. FIVE. Sure rules and the times in that span have changed and variables are different blah blah blah. Long story short before 1997 Purdue football was a joke with some pretty good seasons and players mixed in. Joe Tiller, during his tenure, won 87 games in 12 years and went to 10 bowl games. That is a little over 7 wins per year on average and he tripled Purdue's total bowl games in the process. Simply put, we got spoiled (especially me being a new fan who was ignorant of the past). Since Tiller left it has been a slow death up to this point. Sure, some still blame Tiller for the situation we are in. That is fine I guess, but if you consider where Purdue football would be without Tiller it gets real weird. There is so much blame to go around with Hope, Hazell, Shoop, Burke, Daniels, and Santa Claus.

The thing that attracted me to Purdue football as a kid was that it was entertaining. Sure basketball on grass is long gone but damn if it wasn't fun to watch even with some tough losses here and there. Also, the players back then had true grit and seemed to really play with pride and creativity. Today's product on both sides of the ball lack both but you cannot blame the kids because it is a direct result of the coaches etc. Some people blame Shoop for the train wreck on offense, while others remind them that he is Hazell's guy and he need to act and fire him to fix things. Some people blame Hazell for the struggles and people remind them that Burke hire both Hope and Hazell. Then people remind the Burke haters that Purdue has the worst athletic dept. in the conference. What gives? Is this not the biggest cluster f*** (outside of Rutgers, really glad they joined by the way..) in college football? Sure some teams are struggling in the country right now including schools that shouldn't i.e Michigan & Texas. Keeping things in perspective though, historically Purdue sucks at football and this is the worst stretch in school history.

That fact is, given the terrible past and the terrible hire in Hope, this current stretch is the worst in the school's long football history. The WORST in 128 years of football!!! Darrell Hazell's overall record at Purdue is 5-22.... Danny Hope (while having some of Tiller's players mind you) went 22-27. Someone mentioned that Hazell would have to go 17-5 to match ol' Danny's overall record. That really puts things into perspective. I'm the kind of guy to really tries to act logically and not emotionally, but facts are facts. Something has to change and I don't know what could fix this mess. If we fire the OC, HC, or the AD would Purdue really be in a better situation? Could they get someone better or would this trend just continue. This is the most bleak the future has ever looked as a Purdue fan and I see no end in sight. Honestly, from what many older fans say, I think Purdue is just Purdueing the football program because they don't know any better. Like what I read earlier, 1997-2004 was the exception and not the rule. Considering the past again, 2013-until now is also the exception (sigh), but becoming the rule real fast.

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