Know Your Opponent Week 14: Purdue Boilermakers
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
This Years Record: 3-8 (1-6) 7th in Big Ten West
Head Coach: Darrell Hazell 2nd year at Purdue
Overall: 20-29 .408 (4th year)
At Purdue: 4-19
Bowls: 0-1
Last Years Record: 1-11
Bowls Since 2000: 8 Appearances (3-5 Record)
Mascot: Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete
Colors: Black and Gold
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 12
Heisman Winners: 0
Fun Fact: Purdue has beaten a number one ranked team seven times in their history. That is good for second most behind Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
1. Purdue Has the Need For Speed- Purdue has plenty of speed in Raheem Mostert and Akeem Hunt that’s for sure. Mostert is an All-Big Ten sprinter and can be a handful to stop once he gets going. He has run for 505 yards on 85 carries and has reached the end zone three times. He also has 649 yards on kick off returns. The Boilermakers’ other back is Akeem Hunt is a threat on the ground and in the air. Hunt has 778 yards and five touchdowns running the ball and is the Boilers most targeted receiver catching 45 passes for 288 yards and two more touchdowns.
2. Landon Feichter and Frankie Williams Shut Down Passing Attacks- Between the two Purdue defenders they have eight interceptions, forced two fumbles, and have accounted for 162 total tackles including 2.5 for a loss. They will have their work cut out for them in run support when they take on a Doak Walker finalist in Tevin Coleman.
3. Purdue Has Already Peaked- The Boilermakers may have peaked already for 2014. Their best performances have come in the middle of this year with a win over Illinois and close losses to Michigan State and at Minnesota. Recently the Boilermakers have fallen flat at home against Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Northwestern. While losing to the Huskers and Badgers is not a mortal sin, losing by 24 points to a four win Northwestern team at home is uninspiring.
4. Anything Can Happen In A Rivalry Game- While both teams come into the Bucket Game with 3-8 records, the battle will be as heated as ever. The Boilermakers remember when the Hoosiers did to them last season as IU ran away 56-36 in a drubbing. Purdue has not lost two games in a row to the Hoosiers in 20 years and don’t think for a second that that streak is on everyone’s mind. A win on Saturday would give the Boilers a leg up on recruiting in the off season and would end all the momentum the Hoosiers have in the series.