While sitting at the rain-soaked Notre Dame/Michigan game in South Bend on Saturday, I noticed the Purdue/Oregon score scroll across the scoreboard in the opposite end zone. Late in the 2nd quarter, it read Purdue 20, Oregon 3. At the time, I was pleased with myself for picking the Boilers during Friday’s show on nothing but a hunch. After slogging back after the game, I was able to watch the end of regulation and both overtimes at Ross-Ade Stadium. When Chris Summers (an excellent kicker by the way) was lining up for a potential game-winning 44 yard field goal, I knew it. When Curtis Painter had a first and goal at the eight-yard line needing a touchdown to win the game in the first overtime, and I knew it. Especially when Summers missed another field goal and Oregon got the ball back needing only a field goal to win, I knew it. The game was over.
It was reminiscent of every big game that Purdue has played over the past decade. The Boilers jump out to a big lead, and/or are in control in a crucial game, and at some point Joe Tiller takes his foot off the gas pedal and Purdue’s offense shrinks back into their proverbial turtle shell. Who outside of Tiller thought that running three dives up the middle with Kory Sheets to set up a 44-yard field goal attempt in a swirling wind would be Purdue’s best shot to win? The 32-26 heartbreaking loss to Oregon was a microcosm of the Joe Tiller Era at Purdue: Great start, horrible finish. Check out Purdue the last few seasons:
2007: 5-0 start, 3-5 finish
2006: 4-0 start, 4-6 finish
2004: 5-0 start, 2-5 finish
2003: 6-1 start, 3-3 finish
The loss to the Ducks was Tiller’s 15th straight loss to a ranked opponent. In fact, the Boilermakers haven’t beaten a winning Division-I team outside of the MAC since November 5, 2005, when they defeated a self-imploding Michigan State team in West Lafayette. By snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Purdue also cost itself a shot at nabbing a signature win and cementing their status as an upper-tier team in a year that the Big Ten (behind Ohio State) is as wide open as ever.
Is there anything scarier than a Joe Tiller team playing with a lead?
The recurring problem for this Purdue football program under Joe Tiller is that the Boilers never beat anybody that they aren’t supposed to beat. Sure, they rarely fall to the Northwestern’s, Indiana’s, and Illinois (pre-Zook) of the world. Then again, they never beat Ohio State. They never beat Michigan (Tiller’s lone win against the Wolverines came during the 2000 season). They’ve won five games against Notre Dame in the Tiller era, but in those seasons the Irish have had a combined record of 23-26. Under Tiller, Purdue only beat one ND team that even had a winning record (7-6 in ’97). I mentioned in my Boston College Theory article that the BC Theory also applies to Purdue football. The Boilermakers can win 7-8 games and go to a lower-tier bowl every year – but that’s the ceiling. You can’t fault Purdue fans for being restless. That’s why Tiller walking away and Purdue going to Danny Hope was the right move for all parties involved.
Purdue has never been able to shake their middle-of-the-pack status in the Big Ten
After Joe Tiller walks away this season, they should build a statue in honor of him somewhere outside Ross-Ade. After all, he was the man that resurrected the Purdue football program from Big Ten doormat to perennial bowl team. Tiller will forever be known as the man that made Boilermaker football matter again.
That being said, maybe it would be fitting if Tiller’s statue was left unfinished, like so many Purdue seasons during his tenure.
SHOOTING THE REST OF THE SPORTS WORLD:
Swish: USC
The only pro football team in Los Angeles made light work of Ohio State sans Beanie Wells in a 35-3 pasting of the Buckeyes. Unlike most of the national media, who are foaming at the mouth to pile on the Sweater Vest and his troops, I think the game was more an indication of how good SC is as opposed to how bad Ohio State is. The Trojans offense is explosive. Their linebacking corps of Rey Maualuga, Kaluka Maiava, and Brian Cushing is better than half of the teams in the NFL. They have by far the best coach in college football in Pete Carroll, and it’s not even close. For the first time in awhile, the Pac-10 is down. USC also gets the top three teams in the conference – Oregon, Arizona State, Cal – at home, and their only tough road matchup is UCLA (who just lost to BYU 780-0). I’m not a betting man, but I’d put up my Wii and my autographed picture of Lou Holtz on the Trojans going unbeaten.
Brick: New York Jets
Football is the ultimate team sport, and rarely does one player make a huge difference. Many of the experts forgot about that when they were saying that the addition of Brett Favre turned the Jets from a four-win team into a Super Bowl shoe-in. With a chance to claim their place among the AFC’s elite, the Jets were humbled in a 19-10 loss to the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots at home. In the loss, Favre threw for a pedestrian 181 yards with a TD and a pick. If the Jets aren’t able to beat the Patriots at home with Matt Cassel at Quarterback then how are they going to hang with the Colts, Steelers, Cowboys and other Super Bowl contenders? New York is still a playoff contender in the AFC, especially with the poor starts by Jacksonville, San Diego, and Cleveland. But, if you think this team is going from four wins to the Super Bowl, you’re not only wrong, you’re straight up delusional.
Sunday's loss will put the media slobber-fest on hold for at least one week
Air Ball: Ed Hochuli
Somewhere in the past 5-7 years, the word “fumble” has been redefined in the NFL. Whether it be the infamous Tuck Rule or Sunday’s Broncos/Chargers game, what used to be a fumble is no longer a fumble. What really irks me about this play was that it was ruled an incomplete pass based on a technicality. If the play wasn't blown dead, it would've been a fumble. If the play was a running play and not a passing play, it would've been a fumble. If the play had occured when there were three odd numbers on the game clock, the outside temperature was above 62 degrees, and John Elway was on the sidelines drinking decaf coffee while holding the cup in his left hand, then it would've been a fumble. Ok, maybe not the last one. But, can't you see how ridiculous the NFL rules have become? A fumble is a fumble is a fumble. Hochuli and a ridiculous rule handed San Diego an undeserved loss.
THAT was a fumble...
Swish: Carlos Zambrano
Big Z threw one of the most improbable no-hitters of recent memory, after blanking the Astros 5-0 in a “road” game at Milwaukee on Sunday night. Zambrano hadn’t pitched in 12 days and had been horrific in his past six starts (1-1, 7.26 ERA) but that didn’t stop Z from overwhelming an obviously distracted Houston Astros lineup. Zambrano threw 73 of his 110 pitches for strikes in completing the Cubs first no-no in 36 years. It was another special moment it what is shaping up to be a very special season on the Northside of Chicago.
Air Ball: Brad Childress
Minnesota is so one-dimensional it is ridiculous. You know it, I know it, and anyone that has watched a Vikings game the past two seasons knows it. However, apparently their own head coach Brad Childress doesn’t know it. Despite Adrian Peterson gashing the Colts porous run defense to the tune of 160 yards, Childress went away from his star running back, and put the game into Tarvaris Jackson’s hands. Credit the Colts defense for making adjustments and stacking the box in the 2nd half, but the Vikings lost this game as much as the Colts won it. Adrian Peterson had only 29 carries, which is about 20 less than he should’ve had. I don’t care if the Colts put 12 guys, a Siberian tiger, and an electric fence in the box. You give the ball to Adrian Peterson because he gives you the best chance to win. 40, 45, even 50 carries is what APete should’ve gotten. Instead, the Vikings tried to get cute with roll-out passes and naked bootlegs with Jackson, which were immediately snuffed out. One last thing note on the Colts: Sunday was huge victory. That’s the kind of game that good teams win, and the Colts are still a very good team.
The Shots Fantasy Update: Plax On, Plax Off def. The Spreitzer, 100-91
I sold my soul to the devil, and took Marion Barber and Tony Romo with my first two picks. I play to win, and I draft with my head and not with my heart - so far it's worked out nicely for me. Trailing by 33 points after Sunday, I wasn't feeling great heading into Monday night. But Romo (20 pts) and Barber (24) helped rally Plax On Plax Off to a 2nd straight victory. Nice week for the Buffalo defense (10 pts) which I was forced to use on Sunday with the Baltimore/Houston game postponed. I hate this team, but they are pretty f'n good.
Take a bow Plaxico - your namesake is a Week 2 winner!
Knocks Knockers def. Robinson Cano & Co. II, 7-2
This. Team. Sucks. 9th place game this week...
Fantasy NASCAR - 272 points, still in 7th place
I'm an idiot for sitting Greg Biffle at the last second in favor of David Ragan, who sucked for the third straght week. Carl Edwards netted me 96 points, but outside of that it was a bland week. It would've been a great way to catch up had I started Biffle, considering that all six teams in front of me started Ragan. 11 races left and there's no hope for this team.
Fantasy Golf - no tournament
Fantasy Golf play resumes this week with the Viking Classic.
The Shots What to Watch this week:
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, Tuesday-Thursday
The Cubbies reduced their magic number to six with a two-game sweep of Houston at Miller Park. Chicago could clinch the division with a Wrigley Field sweep of the free-falling Brewers this week. Milwaukee fired manager Ned Yost after dropping 11 of 14 and watching a 5 1/2 game Wild Card lead whittle to nothing in the span of two weeks.
LSU at Auburn, Saturday
I was underwhelmed with Auburn's 3-2 (no joke) win over a mediocre-at-best Mississippi State team on Saturday. Then again, the Tigers might have the best defense in the country. LSU is overraked #6, but they still have a top 10-15 caliber team. Tigers RB Ben Tate breaks up a scoreless tie with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th, Auburn wins it 2-0. In all seriousness, if Auburn wins the game, they have a great chance of running the table before the season finale at Alabama. Their road schedule includes games at Vandy, Ole Miss, and a West Virginia team that couldn't get in the end zone against East Carolina.
Tate swings and there's a drive to deep left... It is high, it is far, it is...GONE!
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Sunday
I know it's early, but I think both of these teams are among the top five in the NFL this season. The Eagles offense looks spectacular with a healthy Donovan McNabb, and the Steelers won't thrill you but they find ways to win. This is an important game for Philly, who can't afford to drop any home games when chasing the Cowboys and Giants.
The Shots YouTube Clips this week:
Sports related -
Seven fumbles (four lost), two interceptions, 35-17. Stick that in your yakety sax and smoke it.
Non-sports related –
This is probably not safe for work, and um, I don’t really feel an explanation is necessary.
The Shots Chick Pick this week: Cameron Diaz
For some reason, I think she's really annoying.
See you next week.
Listen to Derek as he hosts the Xtra Large Lunch, every weekday from noon to 1 PM on XL 950!
