Know Your Opponent: Bucket Week: Purdue Boilermakers

This Years Record: 1-10 (0-7 6th in Big Ten Leaders)

Head Coach: Darrell Hazell (1st Year)

Overall: 1-10 (.091)

At Purdue: 1-10 (0-7)

Bowls: 0-0

Last Years Record: 6-7 (3-5)  Lost Heart of Dallas Bowl 58-14 to Oklahoma State

Bowls Since 2000: 9 Appearances (3-6 Record)

Mascot: Boilermaker Special/Purdue Pete

Colors: Old Gold and Black

Outfitter: Nike

National Titles: 0

Conference Titles: 12 (8 Big Ten)

Heisman Winners: 0

Fun Fact: Purdue’s “Big Bass Drum” often called the world’s largest drum, is actually not according to Guinness World Records. 

1. The Purdue offense is abysmal.

Rob Henry started the season as the Boilermaker’s signal caller but the coaching staff made a change midway through the season and decided to move forward with freshman Danny Etling. While Etling has shown flashes of his natural talent, his play has been inconsistent at best. It doesn’t help that he has little to no help surrounding him. The most disappointing cog in the offense has been junior running back Akeem Hunt. He has just one 100-yard performance on the season. Even more disturbing is that he has reached the end zone just three times this year, and only once on the ground. Freshman DeAngelo Yancey is the Boilermakers leading rusher. He has been a decent big play threat throughout the season averaging 20 yards per catch. They do not have a receiver with more than 3 touchdown catches and as a team have just 10 on the season.

2. The defense isn’t much better.

 While there is some quality individual talent such as Ricardo Allen and Anthony Brown, the defense as a whole has been a disaster this season. The Boilermakers have allowed 36.4 points per game in 2013, placing them 110th in the nation. The Boilermakers have allowed over 30 points to their opponents in all but three games this season, including 55-plus on two different occasions. The pass rush is essentially non-existent as the team has just 14 sacks on the season. They have been able to grab some turnovers, as a team they have 15 on the season. Leading the way is the aforementioned Ricardo Allen who has 4 interceptions of his own.

3. You never know in a rivalry game though

As you all know the game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers is played annually as the last matchup of the year. At stake is the Old Oaken Bucket, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the game. Purdue has traditionally dominated this series, which has been played annually, winning 72 of the 115. Over the last decade that dominance has continued. The Boilermakers have won 8 of the last 10 meetings. The Hoosiers have only won once in Bloomington during that time. That history looks as if it will change this season, however, nothing is certain when it comes to rivalry week.