Losing streak gives Purdue extra motivation for Bucket
More: Challenge transforms to bowl opportunity | Quick Count | First Thoughts ($)
Purdue’s not won the Oak Olden Bucket in the last four seasons.
The last such losing streak was from 1944-47, when the Franklin D. Roosevelt then Harry S. Truman administrations were in the White House.
In other words, it was a long time ago.
First-year Purdue coach Jeff Brohm wasn’t in West Lafayette to experience the latest streak, but he’s certain the Purdue players, many of whom have, will talk about it this week, and he’ll be a willing participant, too.
“We'll use any type of motivation we can with our guys,” Brohm said.
If Purdue can beat Indiana Saturday, then the Boilermakers will win back the Bucket for the first time since 2012, a game they also needed to win to get bowl eligible. Then, the Boilermakers beat the Hoosiers 56-35 in Ross-Ade Stadium, the last of their three straight to get to the postseason. Five weeks later, they lost to Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Jan. 1.
That 2013 season was the last for the Bucket in West Lafayette. If it comes back following Saturday’s game, then it’ll have a new home, as there's a space waiting vacant in the lobby of the new football performance center.
Brohm, a native of Louisville just across the Ohio River from Indiana, knows of the Purdue-Indiana rivalry, but this will be his first first-hand experience.
“It's a big game,” he said. “Every year there's a lot riding on it with pride, and there's a lot of history and tradition to this football game."
Limited this week
Purdue has several players who will be limited in practice this week as the Boilermakers try to nurse them toward game day.
Elijah Sindelar (left) knee, Jared Sparks (right ankle), Ja’Whaun Bentley (possible ankle) and Rob Simmons (unknown) are likely to have a lessened workload.
It seems likely that Sindelar and Bentley will be good to go for Bucket game, although Brohm sounded less optimistic about Sparks and Simmons.
Sindelar was great on Saturday, throwing for three touchdowns in Purdue’s come-from-behind victory at Iowa, and he did so while less than 100 percent. Although the injury hasn’t been confirmed, the sophomore QB appeared to get hurt in the second quarter at Northwestern Nov. 11 and has been wearing a brace on his left knee since.
“Well, I was glad he made it through the game,” Brohm said. “We'll make sure we're cautious with him this week and get him in the game healthy.”
Bentley, Purdue’s leading tackler with 89, didn't finish the game at Iowa. (More in 'Breakdown') He’s been limited at times during practice this season due to a sore ankle, but has played, most notably when he was a game-time decision vs. Illinois earlier this month but played. And Sparks was hurt in the first half, appearing to twist an ankle when he was tackled while playing Wildcat QB.
“Sparks is nicked up,” Brohm said. “We'll try to get him ready for the game.”
The new guard(s)
In the second half, Purdue’s offensive guards were the combination of Mike Mendez and Bearoozi Yacoobi.
Although they’ve played previously this season, the duo — Mendez replaced Evans at left guard and Yacoobi in for McCann at right — saw its most extended playing time of the season.
“It (was) due to performance,” Brohm said. “We want to get better at that position. We want to provide competition. We felt like we needed to mix it up at that point in time, and we did. The other guys stepped in and did a good job, and I think it's going to make us a better football team if we can play more.
“But certain games we haven't felt comfortable doing it. Others this past week we felt we needed to do it, and I think all of our linemen will respond and they will work hard, and they will give us the very best they can, which they have every week. Now, we don't have any complaints whatsoever about their effort, we've just got to continue to improve.”
Boiler Bits
• Purdue has sold 2,000 tickets for Saturday’s game since the end of the win at Iowa.
“It'll be a great atmosphere,” Brohm said. “The fans have been great to this point. They're into it. They've been loud when they're there. They've helped be the 12th man to spur us to success, and I think everyone will be into it, players, fans and it's a game where there's a lot riding on it, so I think the stadium will be a lot of fun, and our players hopefully will respond.”
• With it being a holiday week, Purdue will alter its practice schedule and allow for players to be with friends and family on Thursday afternoon for Thanksgiving.
The Boilermakers, who have classes through Tuesday, will practice early on Wednesday, then have a Thanksgiving meal for players, coaches and families. Then, they’ll again hold practice in the morning on Thursday, before having lunch and breaking for the holiday. Purdue reports back in the late morning Friday.
“They'll have some time to see their family if they're around and make sure that they enjoy the holiday,” Brohm said.
• Sindelar was called for grounding Saturday, when after a flea flicker he threw the ball in the direction of Mahoungou, but high and out of bounds.
Brohm disagreed then and still does, but he’s not gotten a ruling back from the Big Ten yet.
“I don't see how it was (grounding),” he said. “In my opinion, we had Anthony right over on the left sideline standing right where the ball was at, so to me that equates to not a grounding. Now, as far as being in and out of the pocket, he said because we'd handed the ball off and pitched it back, then that didn't apply, which I was fine with. I wasn't arguing that. I was arguing that we had a receiver (there), and on film he's definitely right by where the ball was thrown, but I haven't got a full say back from the head of the Big Ten.”
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