Lindsay, several others given conference honors
Season Report Posted: September 03, 2008 05:46
Ten players were named to the All-Conference team today. Three players were named to the first team and four were named to the second team.
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Greg Orton was arguably the team's MVP this year as he finished with over 1,000 yards receiving this season despite being in an offense that spread the ball around to several receivers each game. Orton finished in a tie for sixth in the nation with 14 touchdown receptions, and was named to the Big Ten first team.
The coaching staff seemed most excited that sophomore outside linebacker Jeff Lindsay was named to the first team.
"He's a young guy and at first it seemed like he was just a speed guy, but he has gradually learned the game and started making big plays early in the season for us. He ended up making as many big plays for us as anybody, and to think that he has two years to get better is just scary," said defensive coordinator Brock Spack.
Also making the first team was defensive tackle Alex Magee. Tight end Kyle Adams, defensive tackle Mike Neal, middle linebacker Kevin Green, strong safety Torri Williams rounded out the players named to the All Big Ten second team.
Boilers claim 10th win, Outback Bowl
Game Report Posted: September 03, 2008 02:41
Pre-Game Notes:
#23 Alabama (9-3, B, B+, B) vs. #25 Purdue (9-3, B, B+, B)
Lee picks Purdue, Kirk picks Bama
55 degrees and rainy with light winds - Alabama loses the toss and Purdue elects to kick it away.
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There were several turning points yesterday on a soggy morning in Tampa. Purdue stopped the Crimson Tide on their first possession, but sputtered during their first chance and had to punt the ball away. Unfortunately the defense gave up a big play which resulted in a touchdown.
After allowing a touchdown one play after a 52-yard run by Alabama, Purdue pieced together an 8-play drive that featured a 29-yard pass play from Curtis Painter to Waynelle Gravesande. Gravesande was also the recipient of the short touchdown pass to cap off the drive, which tied the game at 7-7.
Purdue then stopped the running back for a five-yard loss, stopped the quarterback on an option attempt for negative two yards, and then stopped a wide receiver screen pass for another negative two to get the ball back.
Another big play by Gravesande led to an eight-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Desmond Tardy.
Alabama untracked the offense once again as G. Coffee broke off another long run for a touchdown. Joe Tiller could be seen pulling his hair out on the sideline.
Purdue kicked a field goal and Alabama responded in kind with 52 seconds left on the clock. Then Desmond Tardy fielded a punt at the one, stepped inside one block before powering through an arm tackle attempt and into the clear. He scored on a 99-yard kickoff return just before the end of the first half, and Purdue received the second half kickoff. A 33-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Greg Orton made it 31-17 Boilermakers. It looked like this one would become a blowout.
Yet the Purdue sidelines needed their share of antacid yesterday as the defense never quite stopped the bleeding (get it, Crimson Tide?)
'Bama fought their way back into the game with a short run, but then missed the extra point attempt. After a field goal by Purdue, the Crimson Tide scored on a 3-yard pass from John Parker Wilson to N. Stover, but the successful two-point conversion only put them within three points rather than two, due to the earlier missed extra point. Of course, they wouldn't have tried the two-pointer if the earlier had been successful, but let's not make a molehill out of a mountain!
With just under a minute in the game, Purdue's Kyle Adams recovered his third onside kick of the season for the Boilers, adn Painter led a final drive that resulted in a short field goal to put the game out of reach with six seconds remaining.
"I'm proud of my teammates today," said Curtis Painter following the game. "We fought hard and you could tell we weren't going to lose this game no matter what."
Painter finished just shy of 4,000 yards on the season (3,943) and offset ahd 38 touchdown passes which tied Texas Tech's Graham Harrell for seventh in the nation. However, it wasn't all roses for Painter as he also threw 24 interceptions, "good" for fourth in the nation along with Mark Sanchez. Only Stephen McGee, Harrell, Darron Thomas (Oregon) and Sanchez threw more picks. (note these are all user teams).
Joe Tiller went out a winner, finishing with 10 wins for the first time in his impressive career at Purdue (He had 10 wins in 1996 in his final season as head coach of Wyoming).
"This was one of the best teams I've coached," said Tiller. "The only team I might place above this one was the 2000 (Rose Bowl) team. These kids impressed me every week by bouncing back after difficult periods and always keeping the faith. In the end, we finished in the Top 25 and had 10 wins. You'll take that every year. I'm just thankful to leave the program on a high note, with some good recruits on the way."
Hoosiers, Boilers go down to the wire for Oaken Bucket
Game Report Posted: September 02, 2008 05:26
The Indiana Hoosiers (9-3) came within a yard of scoring a touchdown as time expired. A touchdown would have put the Hoosiers within two points, needing a two-point conversion to tie the game. Instead, Purdue tackled R. Fisher on the 30-yard gain at the one yard line.
It was a hard-fought win for Purdue, who led 21-10 at halftime but were only able to watch as the Hoosiers started to come back in the second half. The Hoosier defense held Curtis Painter to just 251 yards, the lowest total of the season in any game in which Painter played the whole game (He had fewer than 230 yards and was pulled in the third quarter in a blowout of Northwestern).
A key to the game was in the third quarter. M. Thigpen scored on a four-yard run with 19 seconds to go until the fourth quarter. The score made it 21-16, Purdue. Indiana coach NYJuggalo45 elected to go for the two-point conversion. The running back was pushed out of bounds just short of a conversion, leaving the Hoosiers with an eight-point deficit going into their final drive.
Michigan powers past Purdue, 42-23
Game Report Posted: September 02, 2008 03:53
Michigan threw the football just nine times all game in a 42-23 victory on the road against Purdue.
Two turnovers by the Boilermakers did not help the cause. Michigan, in response, played mistake-free football and ran for over 225 yards.
There were fireworks early. After a long drive resulting in a five-yard touchdown pass for Purdue, Michigan scored on a 72-yard scamper by B. Minor on the next play from scrimmage.
The Boilers responded with a 97-yard kickoff return by Brandon Whittington. The Wolverines couldn't get anything going right away, but a great punt by Z. Mesko resulted in Purdue with their backs to the wall near their own goal line.
Curtis Painter responded by making a horrible read, throwing to a receiver who was well covered. Defensive back D. Dutch picked it off and returned it a mere 11 yards for a touchdown.
After that, Purdue was completely ineffective on offense the rest of the game.
"He might be a senior, but he looked a little shell-shocked after that one," said Joe Tiller after the game. "I think he felt he gave the game away a little bit."
The Purdue run defense fell apart, allowing four additional touchdowns on the ground before the game was over. Normally stout, the Boiler defenders looked exasperated - and beaten - after the game.
Purdue bests Notre Dame on the road
Game Report Posted: August 25, 2008 01:30
Curtis Painter threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, which were enough to offset his two interceptions, in a 27-9 defeat of Notre Dame.
Painter's biggest play of the game came with the team leading 10-0. A ten-point lead is a nice start, but Notre Dame was scheduled to receive the kickoff in the second half. Painter was able to find tight end Kyle Adams on a 10-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining in the half, giving the Boilermakers a 17-0 lead.
The defense was stout all game, not allowing a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Notre Dame tried a two-point conversion, and it was unsuccessful.
Wide Receiver Brandon Whittington had the finest game of his career, an 8-reception game for over 110 yards. He also scored a touchdown on a 20-yard reception, his longest of the day.
Penn State blows out Purdue in conference opener
Game Report Posted: August 25, 2008 04:20
Purdue opened the season 4-0 with wins against a ranked Oregon team and Notre Dame. If they could find a way past the Top-10 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, the team and the fans knew they might have something special on their hands.
It wasn't to be, as Penn State scored at will throughout the contest. And though they had a tough time stopping Purdue as well (neither team punted) they were able to force two crucial interceptions which tipped the balance of the game in their favor.
Penn State won the toss and elected to kick. Purdue marched down the field but was forced to kick a field goal. Game over.
Penn State came back and scored on a two and a half minute drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Darryl Clark, one of three one-yard Touchdown plunges on the day for the burly signal caller.
Purdue managed to come back and take the lead for the last time of the game on the subsequent drive, as senior QB Curtis Painter found his favorite target, Greg Orton, for a 35-yard touchdown.
Penn State came right back and scored on another 1-yard TD plunge by the quarterback, taking a 14-10 lead. By the time halftime, it was 35-24.
To sum up Purdue's defensive performance, Painter and the offense scored with 47 seconds remaining in the first half to make it 28-24 Penn State. The Nittany Lions required just 22 seconds to score their next touchdown.
Joe Tiller might have worried about the explosive athleticism of the Lions a bit too much, as he instructed placekicker Chris Summers to kick the ball straight up in the air on kickoffs. This kept the damage on kick returns to a minimum, however the Lions were routinely starting at their 45 yard line.
"You never know," said Tiller when asked to second guess his decision. "If we kick it to Williams or even Butler, they probably would make us pay. We paid for every other mistake we made today, why not that one?"
In reality, despite the fact that the game turned into a blowout, it still was not as close as it appears. And despite what Tiller said, Purdue did not pay for every mistake. Painter had two or three errant throws bounce off enemy hands.
End zone INT in OT saves game for Ohio State
Game Report Posted: August 31, 2008 05:28
When the Purdue Boilermakers' 34-31 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes was concluded, the stench of regret was strong in the air.
"To play like we did on defense today and still lose the game is something that is flat-out embarrassing," said assistant head coach Danny Hope."
To a man, each of the coaches and players said something similar. The Boilermakers' defense forced six turnovers, but the offense gave away seven.
Purdue led 13-7 at halftime on the strength of two field goals and an interception that was returned for a touchdown by cornerback David Pender. The Bucks scored their only points of the half on an interception return.
OSU scored on their first possession of the second half to take the lead, and added a field goal five minutes later. Then Fabian Martin intercepted Boeckman (one of 6 interceptions thrown by the senior) and returned it for a touchdown to give Purdue the lead.
Purdue scored on a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State went on a run, scoring on a five yard run, then intercepting Painter for the sixth time to set up another touchdown. This gave the Bucks a 31-23 lead with less than a minute remaining.
Painter composed himself (momentarily) and drove the Boilers down the field. They scored on the sixth play of the drive, a 6-yard pass to Kory Sheets out of the backfield with six seconds remaining in the game. Painter then found Kyle Adams for a two-point conversion to send the game into overtime.
The Bucks only gained a couple of yards before being forced to kick a 45-yard field goal, which was good.
Purdue appeared on their way to glory as two crisp passes by Painter landed them on the two yard line. Tight end Kyle Adams made a cut and appeared open over the middle, but Marcus Freeman made an incredible play and snagged the ball to give Ohio State the win.
It was Painter's seventh interception of the game, but to hear him tell it, he wouldn't do anything differently.
"We executed the offense and it just didn't work out today," said Painter. "They're an incredible defensive football team. The coverage was suffocating, and if it looked like it was open, it probably wasn't."
Purdue back in the winning column against Northwestern
Game Report Posted: August 31, 2008 06:18
A week after committing seven turnovers, Curtis Painter committed none and threw four touchdown passes against the Northwestern Wildcats.
"That adequately sums up the difference between the two teams," said Tiller after the game. "Ohio State is just that good."
Purdue rolled up 429 yards of offense while the Wildcats mustered just 116. Purdue led 35-10 at halftime, then coasted to the win as Painter was pulled in the third quarter.