10/7/2024 Boilermaker Water Cooler Chat: Badgered Edition
Rants, ravings, and somewhat sensical opinions following the wild, wacky, and wide-wide world of Purdue sports.
Since we are firmly into October, I figure that I can make a confession. I am a Halloween junkie. Spooky stuff in general, really. Our long time readers know this by now, but since we are on a new website, I figure we can unearth this reality about me. I am not sure why I found a penchant for the macabre, but I have some suspicions. I watched a lot of Svengoolie as a kid (In fact my dream job would be the Son-of-Son-Of Svengoolie, should Rich Koz ever feel the need to pass the character on). The Undertaker was the scariest professional wrestler in my formative years. I grew up in a darkly wooded neighborhood that went really big for Halloween. The neighborhood kids were all older than me and had access to horror movies. I loved bonfires and ghost stories in the fall time. You know, the usual kid stuff.
So don’t let my made for local public television haircut fool you. The “aw, shucks, lets go to the golf course and play a round after church” wardrobe doesn’t tell the whole story.
It is not uncommon for me to attend a metal show. I frequent haunted attractions during October. Hell, I even used to help run and perform in a haunted house in Valpo for a decade or so. My perfect night is putting on a slasher-flick and settling down on the couch with a cocktail, my wife, and my dog, and laughing the night away.
After watching the Wisconsin game, I left my little town, and traveled to a highly renowned haunted attraction just outside of Chicago, joined by one of my good friends from my haunted house days. Can you guess which part of my Saturday was the scariest?
The Game: Purdue 6, Wisconsin 52
In what would end up being the “most lopsided margin in Purdue vs Wisconsin history” Purdue fumbled their way into yet another defeat against Wisconsin. Now, I am not going to turn this into a goofy bashing Purdue article. No need to pile on, the Badgers did that already.
Purdue put up 216 total yards, which is somehow an improvement, to Wisconsin’s 589. Purdue scored 0 touchdowns, to Wisconsin’s 7. Purdue converted 1 third down, to Wisconsin’s 8. Yeah, you get it.
Photos: Mark Elsner
Break It Down:
After the game, Ryan Walters was quoted in his press conference as saying “The most disappointing thing is, if I’m being completely honest, that we’re a bad football team, right now.”
Well, I think we’ve found some common ground.
I can appreciate the candid nature of this quote. In these uncertain times, in an era of extreme political division, with ethically questionable debates raging around the nation, it is refreshing to see a statement that the entire country can rally behind. The only thing that I disagree with is the syntax. The last two words, “… right now” is indicative that there is improvement on the horizon. We can only hope.
I am also very disappointed that we’ve gotten to this place. I have said for years that Ryan Walters, Graham Harrell, and this entire staff, are genuinely nice people. I would absolutely want my son to play football for men of this character. I respect these people tremendously as human beings. They are gentlemen.
I’ve met Jeff Brohm. He was nice to me. I met Darrell Hazell and his discipline and morality shined through while speaking with him. He seemed like a genuinely good person. I’ve met Danny Hope, who likewise was very kind when I interacted with him. I met Joe Tiller, again, nice man, gentlemanly. Never met Colletto, nor Akers, nor Burtnett, but I have no reason to think they weren’t good people.
I firmly believe that Purdue has, in my lifetime, truly good, respectable people as coaches.
Being a gentleman doesn’t win football games.
What Went Well:
- Kyndrich Breedlove: Snared Purdue’s 1st and 2nd turnovers of the season, with two rapid succession interceptions.
- Purdue’s Offensive Philosophy: CALM DOWN. I said their philosophy, not their actual execution of it. Instead of the normal “Run. Run. Sack. Punt.” offense that we had seen from Harrel as of late, Jason Simmons actually tried some different wrinkles. He moved the pocket around. He attempted to get players in space. He used jet motion. He found creative ways to get the running backs the ball. This is where we are, as a football program. The ATTEMPT at something somewhat different than what we have seen, is a positive. Even if it didn’t work. (I just typed that).
Opportunities for Improvement:
- Offensive Production: Ah yeah, there it is. I applaud that Purdue tried something new. It still isn’t working. Keep trying new stuff. Something. Anything.
- Defensive Production: There is no way to spin 52 points as positive. Five hundred and eighty nine yards. 11 yards short of six hundred. This was supposed to be a defense-first program with the hiring of Walters.
- Special Teams: Were being lauded coming into this game. Two muffed punts, one of which led directly to Wisconsin points, isn’t great. Thieneman needs to be well aware that he needs to run away from that ball as quickly as possible, the second that it gets lost in the sun.
- My Articles: I’m trying, to keep these as entertaining and respectful as possible, folks. God, knows I’m trying. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers in this nearly impossible endeavor… Also enjoy the visuals from photog Mark Elsner (he’s also trying).
A Look Ahead:
Purdue will travel to #24 (as of the writing of this article) Illinois to play for the Purdue Cannon, a traveling trophy which normally resides in West Lafayette. Even though Purdue beat on Illinois last year, I suspect that the Cannon will be traveling west for a year or two. Something tells me that Illinois has vengeance on their mind…
Anyways, it is an afternoon game, which means there will be -more-eyes on it. So, that’s exciting! I am putting on my brave face right now.
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