Rants, ravings, and somewhat sensical opinions following the wild, wacky, and wide-wide world of Purdue sports.
The rumors are true. We are so back!
Welcome fellow Boilermaker wackos, to the new and improved ISC Purdue website! While due to technical difficulties we were forced to move to a new site, losing much of our past work in the process, there is some good that comes from this; I can reuse all of my old material, rehash my schtick, and put a paint of coat on each of my old gimmicks. So, as the season moves on, if somewhere in the back of your head you think to yourself, Ben has written this before… You are probably right!
So since we are on a new website (https://iscpurdue.com/home), I figure some introductions are in order…
Who are We?:
Indiana Sports Coverage is a comprehensive group of journalists who cover sports of all types across the great state of Indiana. Since 2018, however, ISC Purdue has been run by a series of misfit Purdue fans, providing a unique look at Boilermaker athletics. You can find us prowling the sidelines and press boxes at various Purdue events, getting the latest scoops and providing eyes and ears at press conferences. Whether or not it is a game at Ross Ade Stadium, inside Mackey Arena, at home or on the road, bowl games, Big Ten Tournament games, the NCAA Tournament, the Final Four and even the National Championship game, ISC has been there.
Weekly, I will put words to the excellent photography of Mark Elsner, who captures the action through his massive lens. Over the next few months, expect various other journalists, writers, and photographers to join the fray blending their brand of positive coverage with attempted humor, and top notch imagery.
Who am I?:
My name is Ben Kolodzinski, pronounced just how it is spelled. I have been a journalist since the early 2000s. I am a 4th generation Purdue graduate, from my great grandfather in the aughts of the 1900s, to my kids currently on campus. When it comes to Purdue, I didn’t have much choice in the matter.
When I am not screaming at my television or taking in the sights on campus, I have attempted to balance my lovely family life and my day job, all while moonlighting as the host for a handful of Northwest Indiana sports radio & TV shows. I love a good rollercoaster, horror movie, a neat glass of spirits, Halloween, and obscure 80s/90s pop culture references. There are three main things, however. It is pretty simple. My God, My Family. My Alma Mater.
Lets be real. You’re not here to hear about me…
Who Are The Boilermakers?:
If you asked me to point out many of the Purdue football players from a lineup, it would be difficult. Purdue had many transfers out of the program the last few years, and have added many more.
If you ask sports reporters, they’re the 18th best team in the Big Ten (felt weird typing out 18). For those keeping score at home, that means that the local talking heads think Purdue will finished DFL (Dead “Freaking” Last). I don’t agree. Purdue is a year older, a year stronger, addressed weaknesses in the off season and got… worse? Color me skeptical.
Ok, sure, Purdue only won 4 games last season, going a woeful 4-8. Lest we forget, three of those losses were by one score or less, meaning that Purdue could have easily gone 7-5 in the regular season had the ball bounced the right way.
This is with a roster that was depleted by Jeff Brohm’s departure, an addition of first time head coach Ryan Walters, a makeshift offensive line that suffered multiple season-ending injuries, and a defensive scheme that was just starting to be understood.
Yeah, the 2023 season may look bad on paper, but it very well could’ve been so much worse. There were plenty of bright spots, as well.
We Know the Key Players:
Hudson Card, Senior, QB: Was a 2023 All Big Ten Honorable Mention recipient last season. This is while learning a new offensive scheme, playing behind the depleted offensive line, and while battling injuries. He went for 2,387 yards, throwing for 15 TDs vs 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 203 yards and 5 TD. Look for continued improvement from Card in 2024. Even though he was battling injury late last season, in the final few games Card played like someone who had found his groove. With an improved line, Card shouldn’t be running for his life, and should be more productive.
Devin Mockobee, Junior, RB: Was also an All Big Ten Honorable Mention recipient in 2023. He rushed for 811 yards, which was 6th best in the Big Ten, all while tallying 7 TDs on the season. While he was productive in 2023, Mockobee will be more heavily relied upon in 2024. With an improved line and another year of training, there is every reason to believe that Mock will flirt with or surpass 1000 yards this season.
Gus Hartwig, Senior, OL: The undeniable leader on the offensive line, he has battled injury during his career. He was yet another All Big Ten Honorable Mention recipient. He is the centerpiece in which this offensive line will rely upon, being the most accomplished player in that starting 5. As the offensive line goes, Purdue goes!
Dillon Thieneman, Sophomore, DB: Big Ten Freshman of the year. FWAA Freshman of the year. First Team Freshman All American. Third Team All American. Thieneman was a force to be reckoned with in on Purdue’s Defense. The hard hitting, fast pursuing, led all freshmen in the nation in interceptions with 6, which was third nationally. His 74 tackles were also the most of any freshman, which also ranked third nationally. As Ryan Walters’ defense continues to take shape, Thineneman will be a standout at Safety. Look for huge things from him this season.
Question Marks:
Line Play: On both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, Purdue is in need of strong line play. The offensive line struggled last season, and Purdue lost a lot of talent from last year’s defensive line. The good news is that there have been transfers into the team to address this.
Not Exactly Special Teams: Rumors from camp have stated that the field goal kicking in practice has yet to produce a clear frontrunner. Last season Ben Frehill only went 6-11 on field goals (54%), but considering that he is the incumbent, we can presume its his spot to lose. Hopefully his work in the off season leads to more consistency.
Ryan Walters is a Defensive Mastermind: But the overall results from 2023 were not exactly encouraging. As mentioned earlier, this was a new system, with new personnel. In year 2 is when Walters shined at Illinois, so maybe in 2024 Purdue’s defense meets Coach’s expectations.
The Schedule:
In years past, I would go through the Purdue schedule and predict the outcomes. W, W, W, W, W, W, W, Coin Flip, W, W… you get what I mean. This season, that prognostication is not as fun.
Other than Indiana State, Purdue plays exclusively high major teams, 4 of whom are in the top 10. #7 Notre Dame, #3 Oregon, #2 Ohio State, and #8 Penn State dot a schedule that includes the normal Big Ten onslaught. There are only two teams on the schedule that Purdue defeated last year: Illinois and Indiana.
So maybe this is why the sportswriters picked Purdue to finish last, even though Purdue has been a better program than Illinois and Indiana as of late, the rest of the schedule is brutal. Unfortunately, Purdue may be a much improved team, and it not reflect in the Win/Loss total. That is frustrating.
So what is the prediction? How will this season go? Hell if I know.
Two things would surprise me about the 2024 season.
1) Purdue goes winless.
2) Purdue wins 8+ games.
Everything else is on the table. While in recent memory, a 6 win season and a bowl is a successful run, we may need to reconsider. I would love to see Purdue get to the post season, and I think that there is a real pathway to achieve that.
I think that a real successful season is continued improvement for the team. Players continue to develop, and positive momentum is brought into 2025 and beyond… Whether that is 3 wins or 7 in 2024.
A Look Ahead:
We’re here, folks! Week one is upon us! Purdue hosts Indiana State for a nooner, Saturday, kicking off the much anticipated 2024 season. Purdue will be prohibitive favorites to open this game.
The sports off season is mercifully over! I will be in the stands, with my family, enjoying the gameday atmosphere. I can’t wait to be back in Ross-Ade!
We’re back, baby!
For more content like this follow @ISC_PU on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For a deeper look into the mad mind of Ben Kolodzinski, follow him at @BRKolo on Twitter. WARNING: Viewer’s discretion is advised…
