Who needs it more tonight?

Tonight, both the Gophers and Boilermakers play vital games on their Big Ten schedule. Both teams have slid a bit lately and both surely need a win tonight as they enter the home stretch of the regular season. Which team needs a win more tonight?  Neither team is very good, and at this point, the only thing I can think that separates the two teams is that Purdue beat Minnesota. But which team needs to win more tonight? I argue that it's Purdue.
Despite the fact that ESPN's Bracketology has Purdue in and Minnesota out currently, I would say that the truly "must win" game belongs to Purdue. It has more to do with the opponent each team is facing, rather than the situation for the team. Surely, Minnesota needs to win a couple of more games, but it would be hard to say that a loss to the #6 team in the country, Michigan State, would make things much worse for them.
On the other hand, Purdue is playing Nebraska. If the Boilermakers start losing to teams like Nebraska or Penn State down the stretch, they are in a much less enviable situation. The Gophers likely need to beat Michigan State, Indiana or Wisconsin (as well as their season finale against Nebraska) to remain in contention, but losing in any of those three games specifically doesn't make things worse for them. Purdue, on the other hand, would play themselves out of the tournament, perhaps, if they lose to Nebraska today.
I would say that would mean Purdue needs a win more this evening, right? Of course, I would prefer both teams win this evening. Let's hope both squads can make it happen.

My personal top 5 rivalries

Last night, Dick Vitale spent much of the evening saying how there was no argument that Duke-UNC was the greatest rivalry in the world. Well, I think there is an argument. First off, it depends on your definition of what makes a rivalry great. Is it the number of people involved with a rooting interest? Well, then it's probably an international soccer rivalry, like China versus Japan. Lots of people in both countries, and historic animosity. And really, more people hate both teams than pick a side with Duke-UNC. Is it the level of animosity between the two sides and their fan bases? More than 70 people were killed after a match in Egypt this past week. When was the last time there was that kind of an incident at Duke-UNC? (This is a good thing that this hasn't happened, for the record).
No, the greatest rivalries are all personal. I couldn't care less about the Yankees and Red Sox or Duke and North Carolina. These are rivalries I actually care about. Matchups that, when they occur, really get my blood boiling, because of my own personal experience.

5) Purdue vs Wisconsin (college football): This is a matchup that will likely only ever appear on my own personal list, but since I grew up in Minnesota and learned to hate Wisconsin, and then had the team rip out my heart in 2004, thanks to a Kyle Orton fumble and subsequent Wisconsin touchdown return, they have always been a source of anxiety, every time I see them on the field.

4) Purdue vs Indiana (college basketball): Purdue is a basketball school, first and foremost, and their annual games against the Hoosiers are always a highlight. I learned early that the Hoosiers are not to be trusted.

3) Twins vs White Sox (Baseball): The Twins are my favorite team in all sports, and I have a high level of disdain for all American League Central teams (and the Yankees, but that's not really a rivalry, so much as a complete destruction), but having lived near Chicago for a few years, and having a team that more or less is on the same overall success arc as the Twins over the last decade pushes the Sox to the top of my "greatest rivalry" list. Well, in baseball, anyways.

2) Wild vs Canucks (Hockey): Ever since Matt Cooke, I just can't ever take it upon myself to wish anything but harm on the Canucks. I actually hate Vancouver so much, that I am glad the NHL is realigning, so I don't have to see their ugly faces as much.

1) Colts vs Patriots (Football): I am a pretty mellow sports fan, especially when it comes to the NFL. I am what you might call coldly analytical. I am OK with watching games in silence, because I usually do. That would be the reason for surprise when I yell at my TV whenever the Colts and Patriots play. While this Super Bowl proved to me that I don't unconditionally hate the Patriots, it did prove to me that I do feel that way about Indianapolis. Why else would I feel so passionately about the Colts beating New England? There is no greater feeling than the Colts beating the Patriots.

At least, not in my book. Like I said, this is all about your own perspective.

Can we finally appreciate Jajuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore?

To hear some national college basketball journalists tell it last year, and the year before, the Purdue Boilermakers were lost without Robbie Hummel. No way the Boilers could win in the NCAA tournament without him on the squad. No way they could be competitive without Hummel on the court.
But they were. Purdue basketball was still very good, and it was because of Jajuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore stepping up as standout players. This year, Johnson and Moore are gone, but Hummel is in the lineup. The Boilers are blowing leads in heartbreaking fashion, losing to teams they shouldn't, and now, tonight, losing at home for the first time in 26 games.
What does this mean? Does it mean that, maybe, Johnson and Moore were better than they were given credit for? Does it mean that Hummel is given too much credit? With backbreaking results as they've seen, does this mean that Hummel isn't as great a leader as hoped?
I have my own opinion. Just look at the Minnesota Gophers. Their debilitating injuries were to Al Nolen and Trevor Mbakwe, a guard and a big. Hummel is a small forward. I think Moore and Johnson were excellent players in positions where excellence can be the difference between mediocrity and being elite. IT may not be fair, but small forwards are a dime a dozen. This is why the Gophers struggled with injuries and the Boilermakers didn't struggle without Hummel.
But this is why they ARE struggling without E'Twaun Moore and Jajuan Johnson.

Champions!

(Of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl)

Still, cool game, with a kick return and a couple of onside kicks recovered.

WATCH OUT WESTERN MICHIGAN

We have a very large percussion instrument that we will take to Detroit with us.

I am legitimately excited that the team is playing a bowl game, even if it is against a MAC team, even if it is against a directional Michigan team. I know it's just an exhibition, but what is sports, aside from an exhibition anyways? College football is more about an us vs. them mentality than any other sport, where "winning the championship" is the goal, perhaps because the path is more tangible.
Anyways, one of the things the Bowl system is good for is providing an end point for one's expectations. Only 1 team can win the championships, and only a handful have a shot even at the beginning of the year. What bowl game a team reaches at the end of the season is a good benchmark to hold your team to. Did they go to a game that was better or worse than you expected at the beginning of the year.
In my opinion, Purdue's trip to the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl is better than I expected. I will watch the Boilermakers not with a sense of disappointment, but with pride for a group that definitely overachieved this season. Western Michigan, are you ready for a Big Ten team that's not feeling sorry for themselves? We'll see

BOWL ELIGIBLE

Purdue beat Indiana yesterday. Purdue has 6 wins on the season. They won the Old Oaken Bucket. They will have one more game this season. That game might be the Ticket City Bowl against Iowa State, but dammit, it's another game. A Bowl game. I thought Purdue was a complete disaster at the beginning of the year, and frankly, they were. But they actually sort of turned it around.Well, not really. They never went on a really good stretch. But they never went on a really awful stretch either. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to think. I'm happy.

Um... Bowl eligible?

For the second time in a row, Purdue beat Ohio State at home. That seems incredible. Do you know what else is incredible? Purdue has 5 wins. They lost to flipping RICE, otherwise they would be bowl eligible already. And now, they have two more games on their schedule, a home game against Iowa, and a game on the road against the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington. Iowa has been bad. Indiana has been average for Indian (bad). It would seem that the Boilers almost HAVE to win one of those games, right? Right? Holy crap. I'm so amazed. 

For the record... as of this week, the USA Today didn't even think they would be eligible at seasons end.

Watch out, random C-USA team!

Because Purdue is COMING! The Boilers won today against Illinois at home for homecoming. This leaves the team 4-3, which means they are a mere 2 games from bowl eligibility. Let's take a look at the remainder of the schedule and see if they can get there. (And this is why bowls are still good... it makes fans of mediocre teams have something to strive for)
Here are the remaining games on the schedule, and my percentage chances for winning those games.

10/29: @ Michigan - 17%. I don't like Purdue's chances to reign in Denard Robinson, or to keep it together in Ann Arbor.

11/5 @ Wisconsin - 3.6 % Wisconsin is really, really good.

11/12 Ohio State - 43 % I think the Buckeyes are beatable, so long as the Boilermakers have a shred of dignity left after their game in Madison.

11/19 Iowa - 62% Iowa is supposed to be our cross conference rival, so obviously this is a HUGE deal. This would be a 50-50 contest on a neutral field. Playing in West Lafayette gives Purdue an extra 12% chance.

11/26 @ Indiana - 83% This would be in the 90s if the game was in West Lafayette, but really and truly, Indiana is very bad. Almost Minnesota bad.

So, yes, if every game goes as expected, Purdue WILL become bowl eligible. Checking the bowl affiliations, this could mean a trip to Dallas for the TicketCity Bowl! NICE

Purdue-Minnesota... a preview

Things that will be better than watching Purdue-Minnesota game on Saturday
- Watching the Florida International - Akron game
- Washing Andy Rooney's back.
- Washing Andy Rooney's front.
- The Vikings
- The Twins
- The Twins catchers at the plate
- Belgian Waffles covered in thick cherry cough syrup
- Belgians covered in thick cherry cough syrup
- Snake egg caviar
- Camping out in East St. Louis.
- Herpes

This game is early on Saturday, so maybe sleep in or go for a walk. Unless you are a fan of the team in question. If that's the case join me in a pre-noon drink or 5!

Today is the Notre Dame game

Purdue is playing at home against Notre Dame this evening. No matter the result, public opinion for Purdue will be "who the hell is Purdue?" Public opinion for Notre Dame among smart people are "ugh, Notre Dame" and "NOTRE DAME IS A BCS CONTENDER" among stupid people. What I am trying to say is, at the college level, Notre Dame is a little overinflated.
Anyways, with that said, Purdue fans and grads know that we can be proud of our university and our team, because the Boilermakers have to earn everything they get. Players are less likely to get exposed at the next level, because they got there on talent, not hype.
By the way, 3 Purdue QBs are starting in the NFL this weekend, Drew Brees with the Saints, Kyle Orton with the Broncos and Curtis Painter with the Colts. What about you Notre Dame? What, no one? Not even the highly touted Jimmy Clausen?

Nope! Ridin' pine. Say, weren't you the oldest kid on Home Improvement?
How about first round draft pick Brady Quinn?

No?! And you are behind your foil while you were at Notre Dame, none other than Kyle Orton! And everybody HATES Kyle Orton! You are battling for depth chart positioning with awide receiver, man!

In conclusion, Notre Dame can kiss my black and gold ass, regardless of what happens today.

The Victoria Times College Football preview

I'm not going to get too far into detail on this, mostly because I haven't been to Spring Practices, I haven't stayed abreast of recruiting news and I am decidedly not an expert. This is just me talking here. The teams that I will cover are the ones that are of most importance to the Victoria Times. Purdue, Minnesota, North Dakota State, and this year's wild card, Wyoming.

Purdue: The Boilers, I think, are in a lot of trouble. Their first two choices for QB are injured (ACL's, of course) and one of those guys is entangled in the Miami fiasco. Still, Purdue has 15 returning starters, so this will tell us a lot about Danny Hope as a recruiter and coach. I say he sucks, but we will find out on the field, I suppose. If there is any light with this team, it's that they might have a decent ground attack. If Ralph Bolden stays healthy, then that is good news.

Minnesota: I am much higher on the Gophers this year. They won't be good, but I like their future. Jerry Kill seems to be what the team needs, and there are some athletes on the roster, like Marqueis Gray that might be able to surprise some weaker teams in the Big Ten. And then going forward, I think the Gophers will be a Bowl team for a while. Not this year though.

North Dakota State: I can say, with all honesty, that I know nothing about NDSU or their chances. I DO know that there are some outlets picking them to finish 2nd in their conference! They might be the best team listed here

Wyoming: The Cowboys have THREE freshmen competing to be the starting quarterback. Yikes. They are also playing in the one year that the Mountain West might be at it's toughest, with both Boise State AND TCU in conference. Still, they might pull off a win or two, like against, I don't know, UNLV (who they will play while I am there, and lost by almost 40 at Wisconsin today)

Scandal comes to Purdue

By now, the word of Miami's impending program implosion has reached your ears. Pretty much every player you have heard of in the past 10 years was implicated in what may end up being the biggest scandal in college sports in the past 30 years. TV bans or even the college sports death penalty are on the table.
As Boiled Sports noted, this could be bad for Purdue's quarterback Robert Marve, who transferred from Miami, was one of the many players named in the report. Still, Purdue didn't do anything to warrant our program getting dragged into it, nor did the school reap benefits from any wrongdoings. To my knowledge, Purdue hasn't seen the benefits of an in house scandal since me and some friends paid Brandon Hance to transfer to USC. Er.. wait. I guess that one isn't out htere yet. Anyways, I just want to put it out there that I am willing to do what it takes for Purdue to put a winner on the field. As an alumnus of Purdue, (though one that lives in Minnesota and one that doesn't make that much money), here are some things I can offer.
- Ten bucks per healthy ACL at seasons end
- A pat on the back to anyone the national media recognizes as a Purdue Athlete that isn't Marve or Robbie Hummel.
- Speaking of Hummel, I'll buy him a haircut.
- When in Minneapolis, I will take anyone who wants to go to Lake Calhoun to the walking trails. It's really pretty, and a good way to relieve stress and relax, even with temperatures cooling off. Limit 3. The 2 door Accord was not built for carpools
- A sympathetic ear, if you want to chat about the stress of college, sports, girls or whatever.
So, come on Purdue, you have one booster: me. Let's get it done.

Let's get excited for Purdue football!

The problem with last season's football team was injuries, no doubt about it. There were a lot of guys that got banged up or had devastating injuries that came from key spots on the roster, most notably the QB position. That said, there really wasn't anything about last year that made me excited for 2011. Sure, some guys that wouldn't have otherwise had experience that now do, but I can't really think of one player that is coming back that I am really excited to watch. This might have something to do with the face that I usually have to work during the game, so if this seems overly pessimistic, please keep that in mind
Still, it's college football This will be a simple outlook, just a game by game who I think will
Week 1: vs Middle Tennessee State: The Blue Raiders are likely not as good as the iteration I saw two years ago. WIN
Week 2 at Rice: Rice is a very bad football team: WIN
Week 3: Southeast Missouri State. Really? WIN
Week 4 vs Notre Dame: I really hope that we can win this one, but it's the first game against a quality opponent... yipe: LOSS
Week 5 vs Minnesota: Jerry Kill's first foray into the Big Ten? I bet he has the Gophers focused and fired up. LOSS
Week 6 at Penn State: Haha... Joe Paterno is oldL LOSS
Week 7 vs Illinois: I actually, truly believe Purdue will win this game. WIN
Week 8 at Michigan: Denarded: LOSS
Week 9 at Wisconsin: Wisconsin might be the best team in the Big Ten. LOSS
Week 10 vs Ohio State: Ugh LOSS
Week 11 vs Iowa: I bet the team who features black and gold and is from a state that begins with I will win this one: LOSS
Week 12 at Indiana: What the hell WIN

5-7! Enough to provide stupid, stupid hope for next year!