2012 Purdue Football Quickview
2011 Record: 7-6
Head Coach: Danny Hope- 4th year 16-21
Returning Starters: 13 6-Offense 7-Defense
Nonconference Schedule Breakdown: The Boilermakers are the only Big Ten team that can say that each of their nonconference foes finished at or above .500…the big one of course is the 2nd game of the season in South Bend vs Notre Dame..but the slate also features Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan and Marshall…all very winnable..but if PU does happen to win in South Bend for the first time since 2004 (0-3) then it could be a special season in West Lafayette.
Schedule Rank (in Big Ten) 10th hardest: they get the big games they must win to play for a conference title (with the exception of OSU) at Ross-Ade…that means Wisconsin (October 13th) and Penn State (November 3rd)…as far as Legends crossovers… they get Michigan in West Lafayette…so with one of the more veteran teams in the conference, Purdue has a schedule that could give them a shot at playing for the Big Ten title…
Who they don’t play in 2012: East Lansing, Nebraska, Northwestern
The Skinny: I think this is Danny Hope’s best chance at taking the Boilers to the next level..only one school in the Big Ten has more returning starters coming back, he has 3 QB’s with significant amount of playing experience…he has one of the best defensive players in the country, he has all of his significant divisional games at Ross-Ade…the only thing that can stop Purdue is the injury bug…and recently…that bug has grown to the size of Mackey Arena…
Toughest Game in 2012: October 13th vs Wisconsin…Purdue has lost the last 4 at Ross-Ade vs the Badgers…but if the Boilers have any chance of winning the Leaders…they need to win this first game vs a divisional opponent…
Kawaan Short
Best Player: DT Kawann Short…routinely knocks down passes and even blocked two kicks in 2011..he is the leader of the defense..and it’s an underrated unit at that…he is well over 300 lbs and can still dunk a basketball….next year this honor will go to CB Ricardo Allen…
What MIGHT happen: Purdue wins the Leaders Division…with their schedule..getting Wisconsin at home…missing three bowl teams from the Legends division and the amount of experience coming back…plus having one of the better players in the country in Short…it could fall into place for Danny Hope.
What WILL happen: Purdue will finish .500 in Big Ten play…they will beat a big boy too.
What WON’T happen: a sub.500 season…there is too much experience and way too much potential for this team to lose more than it wins..if they do end up under .500, Hope will be the first coach perched upon the official hot seat in 2013..
Why they won’t win the Big Ten: The Legends has too many good teams…and a typical Purdue “lose one game they shouldn’t lose” scenario will arise…
Why they will win the Big Ten: The stigma that was the Joe Tiller era (losing games he shouldn’t…more than once a season) leaves the state of Indiana and Danny Hope’s team, wins the games it should and surprises a big boy en route to the Big Ten’s BCS birth..
Gotta know about the Boilermakers: Purdue won its first ever January bowl game on the 2nd in 1967…but since then, the Boilers are 0-3 in the first month of the year..
BOLD Statement: Purdue ties Wisconsin for the Leaders division crown in 2012.
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