We now have Saftety, Bernard Pollard, the 3rd best player in the state of Indiana according to Rivals, ATH Cole Seifrig as the 6th best player in the state and LB Stanford Keglar as the 8th best player.

IU has #9 Joel Stubblefield and #10 Nick Sexton for reference sake.

We now have 8 3-star recruits and 3 2-star kids. IU has 4 3-star and 1 2-star. Here is our current committment list from Rivals.com. Baca, Price, and Oxley are carry-overs from last year.

Name Pos Rating Height Weight Rank Hometown
Chad Baca TE 6-4 225 NR Colleyville, TX
Scott Carroll QB 6-5 185 30 Liberty, MO
Jake Cunningham WR 6-0 180 65 Pontiac, IL
Josh Ferguson LB 6-2 210 NR Altamonte Springs, FL
Nick Fincher OL 6-4 270 69 Chippewa Township, MI
Stanford Keglar LB 6-2 215 59 Indianapolis, IN
Pat Oxley OL 6-7 280 NR Fort Wayne, IN
Bernard Pollard DB 6-2 210 40 Fort Wayne, IN
Rafael Price ATH 6-2 175 NR Hobart, IN
Cole Seifrig ATH 6-2 195 57 Lincoln City, IN
Robert Smith ATH 6-2 180 NR Arlington, TX

Source: Rivals.com

Overall, according to Rivals.com, we are tied with Auburn for 29th and with Stanford Keglar's committment, we should move ahead of them soon. Interesting to note we are just behind powerhouses like Miami, FLA and Nebraska at the moment. If we can nail down Bushong at 4-stars soon, we may crack the top 25. Oh, where are the recruiting pessimists today...come out, come out wherever you are?

And check out the following comments from 4-star DE Ray Edwards from Cincy - dude runs a 4.6 and goes 6-6, 235 lbs - he and Anthony Spencer could be our DE's of the future!

"Man they surprised me," said Edwards. "West Lafayette was rocking. I had a great trip and was impressed with the atmosphere there."

My God, Edwards says we were rocking, Cowboy Joe (VBG). Maybe some of us knuckleheads did show up in numbers and we rocked! Nice job to all of you who contributed, someone ought to say it.

And for those of you wondering about big uglies, consider these possibilities

1. 3-star Chris Norwell from OH (leaning towards us)

2. 3- star Andrew Crummey from OH (waiting on OSU offer that does not seem to be coming, had MSU high on list until BW was fired)

3. 3-star Tom Anevski from OH (Cincy might be the leader but we look good compared to his other offers IMO)

4. 3-star Pat Sharrow from MI (probably leaning towards Michigan)

5. 3-star Eddie Montoya from OK (seems to like us a lot)

Unfortunately, 5-star DT Moe Dampeer from ILL seems to have eliminated us from his top 5 right now. There are also a number of interesting things going on with a couple speedy QB/ATH's from Texas and my personal favorite, 6-9 WR (I see him moving to TE though with 4.65 speed) Kyle Ingraham from San Antonio, TX. Ingraham's parents went to Arizona so they may have been the favorite until Arizona's program was put in the worst of all spotlights this week. In case you missed it, not one, BUT 40 Arizona football players went to the University President to ask for Coach John Mackovic's dismissal. The President conferred with the AD and Coach Mackovic and then Mackovic issued on apology for mental abuse. He is still their coach but that program is in shambles after this story and an 0-6 PAC 10 record. I think Ingraham would be a Red Zone godsend for any team. I mean, how exactly do you cover him on the fade pattern or any type of jump ball?

Moving on to the game ahead this weekend...my prediction is Boilers 24, Spartans 20. This game shapes up to be the Motor City Bowl elimination game as the loser of this game is out of contention for the worst of all probable Big 10 Bowl game possibilities IMO. A win of any sorts for Purdue should put us in position to destroy IU next week and make a run for the Music City Bowl in Nashville but I don't want to get in to too much Bowl discussion right now. I'd prefer that our team just focus intently on playing a smart game in East Lansing. MSU has a dangerous offense with a very mobile QB in Damon Dowdell. Dowdell is not a great medium to deep ball passer but with Charlie Rogers (one on one with any of our guys) he is more than capable of just throwing it up like Krenzel did last week to Jenkins and we could get hosed. I think our gameplan has to include bracketing Rogers with STU on the overwhelming majority of plays. I don't think I'd ever let Rogers go one on one with any of our guys - he is that dangerous IMO. Other keys to stopping MSU's offense will be shutting down their running backs without having to use more than 7 in the box. I think our LB's and DL is capable of dominating MSU's weak offensive line without a ton of run blitzing. I also think we should be able to pressure Dowdell consistently but a spy will be needed as he loves to scramble. So we need a spy for Dowdell and double coverage on Rogers and we need to get penetration without too much blitzing. I think our D can do this for the most part. As for MSU's defense, they have a great LB but beyond that I see some talent but mostly a team that is very prone to giving up big plays and points. With Kirsch giving them lots to think about with his mobility and Brandon Jones and our offensive line establishing a balanced running game (I see Jones getting 20 carries for over 100 yds), I would think that Standeford and Stubblefield could put up some big numbers. I would think MSU would be very apt to bite on play action and pump fakes so I'd throw more than a few of those at them this weekend.

Enjoy the pregame coverage and a short preview of tonight's basketball game at Mackey.

-Barclay

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Several of Big Ten's best will meet in East Lansing

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200211130purdue_football1037249180.shtml

"Michigan State's Charles Rogers leads the league in receiving yards per game, while Purdue's John Standeford is the leader in receptions per game.

After 10 games, Standeford has caught 56 passes for 994 yards and nine touchdowns, while Rogers has 55 receptions for 1,126 yards and 11 TDs."

for the full story click on the link above

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Possible final duel awaits old rivals

Schweigert thinks Spartans star ready for NFL career

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200211131purdue_football1037249180.shtml

"While Purdue junior free safety Stuart Schweigert has pretty much decided that he's not jumping to the NFL and will return for his senior season next year, he has some advice for Michigan State's standout junior wide receiver Charles Rogers.

Take the next bus out of town.

With the Spartans' struggles both on and off the field this year, which culminated last week with the firing of coach Bobby Williams, Schweigert thinks his friend and rival should bypass his senior season and bolt to the NFL."

for the full story click on the link above

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Tiller: Personnel dictates Purdue play calling

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200211131purdue_football1037163765.shtml

"Purdue coach Joe Tiller took issue Tuesday with critics who claim that the Boilermakers have become too conservative on offense.

"It's really interesting," he said. "You run the ball and that gets identified with (being conservative). You don't run the ball and people complain about balance.

"It doesn't concern me at all. We're doing what we think this current group of players can successfully execute."

for the full story click on the link above

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Spartans dealing with adversity

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200211150purdue_football1037337409.shtml

"If the Purdue coaches and players start feeling sorry for themselves about their disappointing and frustrating season, all they have to do is look across the field Saturday at their opponents.

"The week I spent last week seemed like a month," said Morris Watts, who took over last week as MSU's interim head coach after Bobby Williams was fired.

for the full story click on the link above

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Boilermakers rooting for Big Ten leaders

League could produce two BCS teams for the first time since '99

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200211130purdue_football1037163765.shtml

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

"Even though other Big Ten Conference teams can turn their on-the-field successes into recruiting successes, making it more difficult for the Boilermakers, Purdue coach Joe Tiller will be rooting for Ohio State and Iowa the rest of this season.

"I'd like to see Ohio State and Iowa win out," Tiller said Tuesday. "I think if that happens the Big Ten has better than a 50-50 chance of having two teams involved in the BCS.''

For the full story click on the link above

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Purdue's Morales gets smaller role

Receiver who made big play of Rose Bowl season now must deal with fewer catches.

By Michael Pointer

michael.pointer@indystar.com

November 13, 2002

http://www.indystar.com/article.php?pufb13.html

"WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Around the Purdue campus, it's still known as the catch.

Two years later, it's provided some solace during a difficult senior season for Seth Morales.

"A lot of guys will have some records and a lot of guys will go to the pros, but they can't say they made one of the biggest plays to help this team go to the Rose Bowl," the former Lawrence Central High School standout said.

The evening of Oct. 28, 2000, remains a warm memory for any Purdue fan. The 16th-ranked Boilermakers were trailing No. 12 Ohio State 27-24 at Ross-Ade Stadium. With 1:55 left, Morales got behind future All-America safety Mike Doss and caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Brees to give Purdue a 31-27 victory."

for the full story click on the link above

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Men's Basketball Faces Team Nike On Friday At 7 P.M.

Game Notes

Nov. 14, 2002

Purdue-Team Nike Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Team Nike at Purdue

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html

"Time: 7 p.m. EST
Date: Nov. 15
Arena: Mackey Arena (14,123)
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Television: None
Radio: The Boilermaker Sports Network. Larry Clisby (play-by-play) and Steve Reid color commentary) call the action.
Internet: All games can be heard on www.purduesports.com. Simply click on the live coverage link.
Tickets: Limited number available
Records: Purdue 0-1 (in exhibition games) Team Nike 1-2 (Through three games)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked in the current polls.
Series: This is the first meeting between the two teams.
Coaches: Purdue - Gene Keady (Kansas State '58) is 469-224 in his 23rd year at Purdue and 507-243 in his 25th season overall.
Team Nike - Bill Frieder
Officials: Announced on game day.

Tonight's Matchup
Purdue, which finished last season 13-18, plays its second and final exhibition game of the season against Team Nike on Friday, Nov. 15, in Mackey Arena at 7 p.m. The Boilermakers, who are playing their 44th exhibition game, have won 18 of their previous 20 pre-season contests. Their last loss was an 83-64 defeat to the Harlem Globetrotters on Nov. 5, 2002. All 43 of the Boilermakers' exhibition games have been played in Mackey Arena.
Team Nike has three traveling teams competing in collegiate exhibition games. The Boilermakers' opponent has also faced Duke, South Carolina, Florida State and North Carolina. After Friday's game against the Boilermakers, Team Nike will take on Dayton, Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
The Boilermakers are 36-7 all time in their second exhibition games.
Eight Boilermakers on the 2002-03 roster were not at Purdue or ineligible second semester last season.

A Purdue Win Would ...
>Give the Boilermakers their 21st win in their last 23 exhibition games.
>Snap a one-game exhibition losing streak.
>Give the Boilermakers their first victory over Team Nike and a 1-0 lead in the series.
>Improve the Boilermakers' record to 37-7 all-time in exhibition games.
>Hand Team Nike its fourth loss of their 2002 college team tour.
>Improve Purdue head coach Gene Keady to 32-4 in exhibition games all time"

for the full story click on the link above

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Freshmen eager to have impact on rebuilding project

By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/hoops/stories/200211150purdue_hoops1037337409.shtml

"It's impossible to affix a pricetag to youthful enthusiasm.

Case in point -- Purdue freshmen forwards Melvin Buckley and Matt Kiefer, who represent pieces of the Boilermaker men's basketball program's reconstruction plan.

After two seasons in which Gene Keady's team compiled a 30-33 record, Buckley and Kiefer are eager to help Purdue find its way back into the Big Ten Conference's first division.

Each will experience his second collegiate opportunity tonight, when the Boilermakers meet Team Nike in exhibition action in Mackey Arena."

for the full story click on the link above

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Men's, women's basketball teams sport new uniforms

By Scott Thomas
Staff Writer

http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2002/11/14§ion=sports&storyid=index

"Along with the football team, the men's and women's basketball teams will be sporting new uniforms this season as a result of a new deal between Nike and Purdue that put Nike in charge of the teams' uniforms.

The new deal, which was finalized earlier this year, has given every athletic team at Purdue some access to Nike products. Three teams — men's basketball, women's basketball and football — are exclusively with Nike.

Both teams are excited about the new uniforms and have a positive outlook on the change in gear."

for the full story click on the link above

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