1. Right now, how do you feel about where the Boilermakers are as a team?
I feel pretty good. This team took a terrible situation into the bye week (no offense, loss to a MAC school) and has turned things around. The Northwestern win is a good one. It was our first win over a ranked team on the road in seven years. Beating Minnesota wasn't much, but we at least made sure there was no doubt and overcame a very subdued crowd since the Robbie Hummel news was spreading at the time. We're at least moving in a positive direction.
2. Guys like Kerrigan gave Ohio State problems last year, but who is the one person the whole team always builds around?
Offensively Rob Henry has done a good job of shifting our focus on the fly to a read option team. He has a lot of poise as a redshirt freshman with only two starts under his belt. Should Robert Marve return next year Henry may give him a run for the starting job again.
Defensively Kawann Short is a very underrated defensive tackle. A former basketball player and teammate in high school of E'Twaun Moore, he has mad hops for a defensive linesmen. this plays intot he pass defense as he leads the team in passes batted down and even has a blocked field goal. he's excellent against the run too.
Offensively Rob Henry has done a good job of shifting our focus on the fly to a read option team. He has a lot of poise as a redshirt freshman with only two starts under his belt. Should Robert Marve return next year Henry may give him a run for the starting job again.
Defensively Kawann Short is a very underrated defensive tackle. A former basketball player and teammate in high school of E'Twaun Moore, he has mad hops for a defensive linesmen. this plays intot he pass defense as he leads the team in passes batted down and even has a blocked field goal. he's excellent against the run too.
3. What has to happen for Ohio State to beat Purdue, and vice versa?
Ohio State is the better team, so they must simply exert their will and keep the defensive line away from Pryor. Purdue needs to get after Pryor and force him into bad decisions like last year. Kerrigan owns him. Pryor knows it too. If Kerrigan dominates as he has the past two seasons we have a chance.
Ohio State is the better team, so they must simply exert their will and keep the defensive line away from Pryor. Purdue needs to get after Pryor and force him into bad decisions like last year. Kerrigan owns him. Pryor knows it too. If Kerrigan dominates as he has the past two seasons we have a chance.
4. On a scale of 1-10, how mad are you that Kent State dropped Purdue from their schedule next year, to replace you with Alabama?
It's frustrating because I really don't want to fill that spot with another 1-AA team, but we may not have a choice. We have a much tougher conference slate next year, so we need to make sure there are three wins out of the non-conference schedule to assure a bowl bid. Now we might have to accept a second non-conference road game in addition to a trip to Rice.
It's frustrating because I really don't want to fill that spot with another 1-AA team, but we may not have a choice. We have a much tougher conference slate next year, so we need to make sure there are three wins out of the non-conference schedule to assure a bowl bid. Now we might have to accept a second non-conference road game in addition to a trip to Rice.
5. How will Purdue finish the season? (W/L, Bowl game?)
I am looking at 6-6 and a bowl game. I would take that given the injury situation because it would be an improvement over last year. I just want to beat Illinois and Indiana that rest of the way. Anything else is gravy. Of course, we are in first place in the Big Ten. A win this week will start some dreams of Pasadena.
I am looking at 6-6 and a bowl game. I would take that given the injury situation because it would be an improvement over last year. I just want to beat Illinois and Indiana that rest of the way. Anything else is gravy. Of course, we are in first place in the Big Ten. A win this week will start some dreams of Pasadena.
6. You upset Northwestern, and now get a #10 team to try and topple. What are your thoughts on our loss to Wisconsin?
(No Answer)
7. Do you like what Danny Hope has done for the program so far in his 2 years?
I am up and down on him. He has had some really dumb in-game decisions (the timeout against ND for one last year). I am certainly not pleased with two losses to MAC schools (which cost us a bowl game last year). Still, he does get the team up for better competition. Joe Tiller would have pissed and moaned about going to oregon last year. Hope took it as a challenge and damn near pulled out a win.
I am up and down on him. He has had some really dumb in-game decisions (the timeout against ND for one last year). I am certainly not pleased with two losses to MAC schools (which cost us a bowl game last year). Still, he does get the team up for better competition. Joe Tiller would have pissed and moaned about going to oregon last year. Hope took it as a challenge and damn near pulled out a win.
8. Jim Tressel - What do you think of him?
Hell of a coach. It is hard to have the run of success in this league like his. Of course, my wife (a Miami Hurricane alum) would deny his National title, but there is none better in Big Ten play.
Hell of a coach. It is hard to have the run of success in this league like his. Of course, my wife (a Miami Hurricane alum) would deny his National title, but there is none better in Big Ten play.
9. Ohio State may have a revenge factor in this game. Add to the fact we're coming off a loss, how do you feel about your chances?
I think we have a better chance than most people think, but it still isn't a great one. Purdue went out and wont he game last year. They forced turnovers and our defense played out of its mind. I am encouraged that six of the front seven from that game are back and can do a repeat performance. I am also encouraged that we're facing a banged up Ohio State team. Still, a lot has to go our way to pull the upset.
I think we have a better chance than most people think, but it still isn't a great one. Purdue went out and wont he game last year. They forced turnovers and our defense played out of its mind. I am encouraged that six of the front seven from that game are back and can do a repeat performance. I am also encouraged that we're facing a banged up Ohio State team. Still, a lot has to go our way to pull the upset.
10. Finally, who wins and why?
I think Ohio State simply because our offense hasn't face a defense this good yet. You have more talent and the better athletes. I think you guys win by about 10, but it is fairly close for a good portion of the day. If Kerrigan turns in a third straight All-World performance against OSU, however, all bets are off.
