Running Backs... (C-) Did not get a ton of carries and was generally unaffective other than 2 nice goal line plunges.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends... (A-) Stubbs was awesome with 13 grabs until his last fatal drop. Standeford showed his big play mettle while James, Morales, and Rhinehart had solid efforts.

Quarterbacks... (A-)... Orton was teetering towards an A- effort until he his head went awry from Iowa cheap shots. He was more like a C- with the injury in the 3rd quarter. Brandon Kirsch gets an A, almost an A+. Had we won the game, he gets the A+. He was simply phenomenal in relief and gave many flashbacks of Drew Brees with his late rallies. He sure can scramble and put the ball on the numbers quickly.

Defensive Line... (C-) Had trouble with Iowa's running game but also made some big plays including Phillips's sack late

Linebackers... (C) I wish Joe Odom would have covered his man on 4th and goal from the 7. The fellas were up and down all afternoon.

Safeties... (C) I wish STU would have made the diving pick to clinch the game on 3rd and goal from the 7. I wish he was at full speed.

Cornerbacks... (C) Iowa did not much passing success but Rogers really missed Dallas Clark along with someone else and let him go 95 yards to the house.

Special Teams... (F-) Just when you think this unit has their worst game ever, our woes in this area hit a new low with a 10 pt swing in the first half when we miss a chip shot 21 yd FG and Iowa gets 7 pts out of the return. And to put icing on the cake, we have a punt blocked for another 7 pts early in the second half. Oh and by the way our return teams are woeful also. Only a couple Brent Slaton pooch kicks showed a sign of life from our Not So Special Teams. Special Team execution is obviously not focused enough on in practice and it is time for some drastic changes in how things are managed in this area.

Coaches... (D+) A valiant, no quit attitude and some really nice playcalling from our offense and defensive coordinators is offset by what I consider the most inept Special Teams coaching in America. The decision to not aggresively go after a first down with 2:40 to go from Iowa's 49 yd line was a poor one and the breakdowns on Iowa's two TD's were horrendous. If I'm Joe Tiller, I make Special Teams Coach my FULL responsibility and assign Scott Downing to handle running backs full time. There has to be much more practice time in this area and the kids need to realize that this must be an area of pride and dedication. I'd spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day of practice working on punt blocking and FG blocking against a number of punt and kick block formations and schemes. If the execution is lacking, the kids keep working on it after practice until they get it right.

Fans... (B+) Looked like we had a very strong contingent making the long trip. Very nice to see.

_______________________________________________________

Boiler miscues 'unacceptable'

Hawkeyes convert blocked field goal, punt into TDs; halt Purdue rally with interception

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200210054purdue_football1033879576.shtml

"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Purdue didn't lose a fumble Saturday.

But, unfortunately for the Boilermakers, they had a blocked field goal returned 85 yards for a touchdown against them, they had a blocked punt recovered in the end zone for another TD against them and they had a tipped pass intercepted in the final seconds as it appeared they might be driving for the winning score.

Instead, it was Iowa that drove 87 yards in eight plays, with quarterback Brad Banks tossing a 7-yard TD pass to tight end Dallas Clark with 1:07 remaining to give the No. 24 Hawkeyes an unbelievable 31-28 victory.

"The kicking game, obviously," a very dejected Purdue coach Joe Tiller said afterwards when he was asked the key to the game. "The turnovers in the kicking game. We held on to the football and now we find a way to turn it over in the kicking game, which is unacceptable."

Despite the special team snafus, it appeared that true freshman quarterback Brandon Kirsch would rally the Boilermakers to victory."

for the full story click on the link above

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Special teams flushing season down the drain

By Journal and Courier staff reports

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200210053purdue_football1033879576.shtml

"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Just not good enough.

That's the short version of the Purdue football team's bottom line after Saturday's excruciating 31-28 loss to 24th-ranked Iowa in Kinnick Stadium.

In a Big Ten shootout that featured more storylines than the most intense daytime soap, the Boilermakers lost for the third team in six games because their special teams' play was atrocious.

A fourth down, 7-yard touchdown pass from Brad Banks to tight end Dallas Clark with 1:07 remaining produced the margin of victory, but Purdue really lost this one at the end of the second quarter and at the beginning of the third.

The Boilermakers were poised to take a 17-3 lead into the locker room when Berin Lacevic's 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned 85 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Antwan Allen.

Then, Iowa took a 17-14 lead with 12:48 remaining in the third quarter when Sean Considine blocked Brent Slaton's punt, and Jermire Roberts fell on it in the end zone."

for the full story click on the link above

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Purdue pays for special teams gaffes

By Brendan Murphy, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200210052purdue_football1033879576.shtml

"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- While the Purdue offense and defense continue to make the right plays at the right times, the same unfortunately can't be said about the Boilermakers' special teams..

Bad plays, bad timing -- leading to points scored by the opposition. That was the case again Saturday against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.

The Purdue misfortunes basically boiled down to two plays.

*Leading 14-3 in the second quarter, the Boilers had a chance to put some more distance between them and the Hawkeyes. Instead, Bob Sanders blocked Berin Lacevic's 22-yard field goal attempt, with Antwan Allen scooping it up for an 85-yard touchdown. Purdue 14, Iowa 10.

*With the Boilers holding that same 14-10 advantage, Brent Slaton's punt in the third quarter was blocked by Sean Considine inside the 5 and recovered in the end zone by Jermire Roberts. Iowa 17, Purdue 14.

Two plays, 14 points for Iowa.

"We had two breakdowns; obviously we didn't get the field goal off fast enough," special teams coach Scott Downing said. "We were a little slow in our approach. They had a good run at us off the edge. The total time was slow for us, about a tenth of a second slow."

for the full story click on the link above

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Kirsch shines under pressure

Tiller praises freshman QB

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200210051purdue_football1033879576.shtml

"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Win or lose, Purdue coach Joe Tiller usually is the same after games when he meets with the media. His temperament remains remarkably consistent, game after game.

But not Saturday. You could tell the 31-28 loss to Iowa was not just another defeat. This one was a major disappointment, with a capital 'D.' This one stung more than usual.

Tiller answered every question -- but he didn't waste any words.

His post-game press conference was quicker than a two-minute offense.

And while he made it clear that a blocked field goal and blocked punt that led directly to 14 Iowa points had cost his team the game, it was obvious that an interception at the Hawkeyes' 17-yard line in the final seconds particularly rankled him.

"Brandon Kirsch did a good job going in, did everything we could ask of him," Tiller said. "The only comment I have about it is he deserved better than that, to have the last pass of the game go off our receiver's hands and into the defender's hands."

for the full story click on the link above

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Tiller says Orton will start against Illinois if healthy

October 07, 2002

http://www.indystar.com/article.php?pufb07.html

"Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton spent Saturday night in a Lafayette area hospital, then was back on the practice field on Sunday.

Orton, who was removed in the third quarter of Saturday's 31-28 loss at Iowa, was diagnosed with a concussion and released Sunday morning. He practiced with the team Sunday evening.

True freshman Brandon Kirsch was outstanding in relief against Iowa, but Purdue coach Joe Tiller said Orton will start next Saturday at Illinois if he's healthy.

"He was throwing the football, moving it around, and actually executing our game plan," Tiller said of Orton. "We knew (Iowa) would be a difficult team to run against. If we went to no-backs, we thought we could have success throwing the football. He was putting it on people's hands."

for the full story click on the link above

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James rises from depths of Purdue bench

By Brendan Murphy and Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200210050purdue_football1033879576.shtml

"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- All Chris James wanted was a chance.

Please, he said, just allow me the opportunity to get on the field and make some plays. If that doesn't happen, I'll go back to the scout team quietly and help make the team better.

Sending James back to the scout team will be a much more difficult decision for the coaches after watching what the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder did Saturday.

James, who entered the season with 22 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns, caught five passes for 38 yards against an Iowa defense which allows more than 330 yards passing per game.

"It felt good to get back into the mix, trying to help win the football game," said James, who has been hampered by a sore right hamstring. "We knew we could exploit their defensive backs because they are younger. I was open and made some catches, that's about it. If anyone else were in the position I was in, they would have made the catches, too."

for the full story click on the link above

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Football Game Notes

Purdue-Illinois: Oct. 12, 2002

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100702aaa.html

Oct. 7, 2002

"Purdue Boilermakers (3-3, 1-1 Big Ten)
at Illinois Fighting Illini (1-5, 0-2 Big Ten)
Memorial Stadium (69,249) - Champaign, Illinois
October 12, 2002 - 12:05 p.m. CDT/EST

ALL-TIME RECORD: 525-450-48 (.537) - 115th season
BIG TEN RECORD: 281-313-32 (.474) - 107th season

PROJECTED ATTENDANCE: 45,000-50,000

RADIO: Boilermaker Sports Network (Flagship - WAZY, 96.5 FM, West Lafayette) - Joe McConnell (play-by-play), Pete Quinn (color commentary), Brett Schetzsle (sideline), Tim Newton (pregame/halftime/postgame)

TELEVISION: none

A LOOK AT THE BOILERMAKERS: The Purdue football team, under sixth-year head coach Joe Tiller, travels to Illinois to take on the Fighting Illini on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. It is the Boilermakers' first trip to the Land of Lincoln since the 1997 season. Purdue and Illinois play for the Cannon trophy. It is the Boilermakers' first Big Ten Conference game not to be televised since the Indiana game Nov. 21, 1998, and just the fourth conference game not be televised under head coach Joe Tiller. Purdue is one of merely two schools in the Big Ten and one of only 13 nationally to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons.

IF THE BOILERMAKERS WIN ...
* They will be 2-1 in the Big Ten for the third time under head coach Joe Tiller (also 2000 and 2001). Purdue was 3-0 in 1997 and 1-2 in both 1998 and 1999.
* They will snap a five-game road losing streak, dating to their 35-28 overtime win at Minnesota on Sept. 29, 2001.
* They will avoid falling below .500 for the first time since being 3-4 in 1998."

for the full story click on the link above

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Purdue-Michigan Football Game Time Announced

Boilermakers and Wolverines to kick off at 11:05 a.m.; ESPN to televise

Oct. 7, 2002

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Big Ten Conference announced Monday morning that the Purdue-Michigan football game Oct. 19 in West Lafayette will kick off at 11:05 a.m. EST/CDT and be televised by ESPN.

A limited number of tickets remain available for the game.