PurpleStuff

November 25th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^

In their division Purdue finished a game behind Wisconsin and well back of Penn State and Ohio State.  They lost by 3 at ND and took OSU to OT in Columbus. 

This seems like a change for change's sake at a middle of the pack program.  College football is a zero sum game (win or lose) and somebody has to finish in the middle of the standings.  I don't see a coach making them better than the programs above them without finding the next Drew Brees, and that will be no easy task.

Joined: 04/21/2009

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I Like Burgers

November 25th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^

Maybe this is an instance of a Big Ten school burning through some of that BTN money that is pouring in.  Why not take a stab at someone decent, instead of the same old promote from the MAC?

Of course, this being Purdue...they'll hire someone completely boring and unwhelming.  One can hope though...

Joined: 10/06/2012

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PurpleStuff

November 25th, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^

Purdue has won 53% of their games all time.  The last two seasons Hope has won 52% of his games. 

As an AD the choice is between admitting you are Purdue or acting like there is more hope without Hope.  One of those choices probably helps you sell more tickets than the other.

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

jmblue

November 25th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^

But you have to keep in mind, the coach before Hope - Joe Tiller - was much more successful, and not just when Brees was there.  Tiller went 87-62 at Purdue and 53-43 in league play.  Hope went 21-27 and 12-19, respectively.  Their goal is obviously to find another Tiller.  Hope  seemed unlikely to be that guy.

 

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PurpleStuff

November 25th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^

I'm definitely not a Danny Hope fan, so I can see them wanting to go in another direction.  I just think it is unlikely that they find another Tiller.  He brought an offense nobody had really seen before, especially in the Big Ten (those first few games they played against ND were comical with the Irish having no idea how to defend bubble screens then getting burned over the top).  And there isn't a lot of room to jump up in the standings except when PSU begins to feel the sanctions.  Michigan, OSU, Wisconsin, MSU, and Nebraska are all stronger now and have more institutional advantages.  They are already ahead of Iowa (could easily slip behind them), Illinois, and Indiana.  On the recruiting trail, I think Pat Fitzgerald selling Northwestern academics probably has more to offer than new guy at Purdue, especially when you consider who they could actually get to take the job.

 

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blueheron

November 25th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^

I basically agree with that, but here's a list of Big Ten schools that have made it to the Final Four since Purdue's last trip there:

Michigan

Michigan State

Illinois

Wisconsin

Minnesota (*)

Indiana

Ohio State

- - -

AFAIK Nebraska, Northwestern, and Penn State have never been there. Iowa's last trip was 1980 (same as Purdue). 30+ years ago ...

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