LSU could stumble at Ole Miss and perhaps if not, they could stumble in the SEC conf champ game in a couple weeks?
Georgia could lose in the SEC conf champ game in a couple weeks?
Texas could majorly choke at a very tough place to win for them, their rival Texas A&M?
Wash St. could blow it at rival Washington?
Florida St could lose to Florida in Gator Country?

and others that would be interesting...

How bout Oklahoma losing a stunning shootout at Texas Tech?
USC couldn't possibly blow it to rival UCLA this weekend, right?

Not to get too far ahead of myself, but I think OSU will lose to UM tomorrow, which sends UM to the Rose Bowl and OSU will be fighting for an at large BCS birth with teams like LSU, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Miami, Va Tech, Florida St, and Washington St. It looks like Tennessee, Va Tech, and Miami have an easy road to stay at 2 losses (assumes Tennessee does not play in SEC champ game). All I know is rooting for the aforementioned teams to lose can only help us.

Moving over to basketball news...the men's team had an impressive win over an NBA Development league team with former colleges standouts like Mateen Cleaves from MSU, Eric Barkley from St. Johns, Ken Johnson from Ohio St, Rod Grizzard from Alabama, and Jermaine Dupree from LSU. The dynamic sophomore scoring duo of David Teague and Melvin Buckley led the way and Kenny Lowe pitched in admirably to get the W. Also our big guys led by Buscher, Booker, and Kiefer played better than the first exhibition game. The first test of the regular season is on Sunday against Samford at 2pm (Mackey Arena). Hopefully, a crowd of closer to 14,000 will have slept off the Bucket Game celebration party and will be ready to rock Mackey for the opener!

Coach Keady signed a class on Tuesday that is ranked anywhere from 11th to 16th. Not too shabby, considering that we lost our top recruit initially to IU in May. Nice job by the entire coaching staff and our players to rally and get 3 top 50 JUCO players and one top 50 HS guard who many compare favorably to Kenny Lowe. Two of the JUCO's are very athletic forwards who should compliment Buckley and Teague nicely in the years to come. The 3rd JUCO is a 6-6 PG who could be a unique weapon for us in the near future. All that said, it is paramount to me that Purdue land a top 50 center and HS PG in next year's class.

Before I run, wanted to mention to anyone attending the game tomorrow to stop by the Purple lot and look for the white "Knuckleheads" flag. Knucklehead Charities will be having a fundraising contest to see who gets the honor of smashing our "Hoosier Harry" ceramic doll with a sledgehammer. All donations will help sponsor our mission of sending KIDS to future Boilermaker athletic events. Thanks in advance. Oh yes, soon you will be able to make tax deductible donations at http://www.knuckleheadcharities.org.


POTFH!

-Barclay


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Old Oaken Bucket Game
Indiana can be Bucket spoiler
On 3 occasions, struggling Hoosiers have beaten thriving Boilers in rivalry.

By Terry Hutchens
terry.hutchens@indystar.com
November 20, 2003

"You can count on one hand the number of times the Indiana University football team has played the role of spoiler in the Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue.
There have been only three times in the past 50 years when the Hoosiers have gone into the Bucket game with a less than .500 Big Ten record and defeated a Purdue team that entered the game better than .500.

It happened in 1962, 1976 and 2001.

In 2001, Purdue was 6-3 and IU 3-6 entering the game. In quagmire conditions at Memorial Stadium, the Hoosiers built a 13-0 halftime lead and held on for a 13-7 victory.

"Personally and as a team, I just felt like we came together and we played so well that game," said safety Joe Gonzalez, now a fifth-year senior for the Hoosiers. "We just dominated the whole game with Antwaan (Randle El) on offense and us on defense just shutting their passing attack down."

____________________________
Editors' Picks: Experts elect Michigan Big Ten champ
"No. 16 Purdue (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) at Indiana (2-9, 1-6)

Steve's Sermon: Because not everyone is familiar with the concept of the atomic wedgie, allow me to explain. It's just like your typical wedgie except, instead of stopping once you pull out someone else's undies, you fully extend your arms and finish by pulling their drawers over their head. Try using it in a sentence today. For example, "I'd rather give myself an atomic wedgie than be a Hoosier fan this Saturday." Purdue 50 Indiana 17

The Juggernaut: Purdue 44 Indiana 7
Boilers will trounce IU, keep bucket
http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2003/11/20§ion=sports&storyid=IUcolumn


"The question is not whether Purdue is going to beat Indiana this weekend.

(Even with the Ohio State hangover, this one should be ugly.)

Or by how much.

(Even with the 24 1/2-point spread, I'd take the Boilers.)

The real question is this: Could Purdue win the Old Oaken Bucket if I started at quarterback?

I don't have anywhere near the professional arm that Kyle Orton does — hell, I don't even have a high school arm."

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Seniors lessen Tiller's letdown concerns

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200311170purdue_football1069046698.shtml

"Hopes of a Big Ten Conference championship ended with Saturday's heartbreaking 16-13 overtime loss at Ohio State. Also gone is any chance the Purdue football team had of maybe playing in a BCS bowl.

But still out there is the likelihood that the Boilermakers will be heading to Florida for the holidays to play on New Year's Day, either in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando or the Outback Bowl in Tampa.

With a victory Saturday over struggling arch-rival Indiana in the regular season finale -- in a game that Purdue figures to be the heavy favorite -- the Boilermakers can do no worse than tie for second place in the Big Ten, with the loser of the Michigan-Ohio State battle.

Considering the challenge of trying to bounce back from such a gut-wrenching loss, one might assume that Purdue coach Joe Tiller is glad his team gets to play a rivalry game this week. Not necessarily so, Tiller said Sunday."

________________________________

Weekly Football Press Conference

Selected coach and player quotes from Tuesday, November 18

Nov. 18, 2003

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -

Joe Tiller, Head Coach

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111803aaa.html

On how the players will repsond after a loss...
"I have always maintained that players are pretty resilient, and they don't seem to dwell on the losses nearly as long as the coaches do. We actually had a pretty good practice on Sunday. It was a little more upbeat than I actually thought it would be, so that's a good indication. I'm also going to add that the guys who were upbeat were some of those older guys, and I think we're very fortunate that we have a really good group of seniors. These guys understand the significance of this game and they want to make sure that if they can control it, they leave Purdue as winners of the bucket game."

On concerns regarding Indiana...
"They're a young football team, and young football teams tend to be pretty good one week and not so good another week. I think they've been riding that rollercoaster. What you're concerned about is the week you play them that they're not on a high. I do think that because it's a rivalry game such as this it will be an emotionally charged game and I think that you have to answer their charge from the start of the game. I think that a team who has had its moments where they've had some success, if they experience some success in your game their confidence level improves. All of a sudden you're in a situation where you're coming from behind or trying to scramble to win a football game. That's what I'm always concerned about in a game like this."

________________________________

Injuries limit Purdue's big-play potential

Deep ball lacking from nation's 55th-ranked passing attack

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200311200purdue_football1069305033.shtml

"Heading into the 12th game of the season, it's well known that Purdue's offense has slipped this season.

Nationally, the Boilermakers are middle of the pack among 117 Division I-A teams in the four major offensive categories -- 55th in passing, 58th in scoring and 61st in both rushing and total offense.

Coach Joe Tiller's famed spread offense is noted for its passing. In his first four years with the Boilermakers, his teams were 13th, 7th, 4th and 6th nationally. The Boilermakers tumbled to 72nd in 2001 but recovered to finish 31st last season. So far this year, with Saturday's regular season wrapup at Indiana and a bowl game remaining, Purdue has slipped a bit again, down to the No. 55 spot.

Admittedly, one of the problems this year has been the nagging injuries that have slowed senior wide receiver John Standeford all season. In fact, when asked earlier this week about why Purdue hasn't thrown over the top as much this year -- i.e., deep -- Tiller's response was very direct."

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Football Game Notes

Purdue-Indiana: Nov. 22, 2003

Nov. 17, 2003

Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111703aaa.html

No. 16/16 Purdue Boilermakers (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten Conference)
at Indiana Hoosiers (2-9, 1-6 Big Ten Conference)
Memorial Stadium (52,354) - Bloomington, Indiana
November 22, 2003 - 12:10 p.m. EST

ALL-TIME RECORD: 537-456-48 (.539) - 116th season
BIG TEN RECORD: 289-318-32 (.477) - 108th season

PROJECTED ATTENDANCE: 40,000

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), Gary Kline (engineer)

TELEVISION: ESPN Plus - Craig Coshun (play-by-play), Marv Cook (analyst)

A LOOK AT THE BOILERMAKERS: The 16th-ranked Purdue football team takes on Indiana in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. It is the 106th meeting between the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers. 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 six seasons, and the Boilermakers are bowl eligible again this season.

IF THE BOILERMAKERS WIN ...
* They will have nine wins for the third time under Joe Tiller (also 1997 and 1998) and for the 11th time in school history (including a 10-win season in 1979).
* They will finish 6-2 in the Big Ten and tied for second place with the loser of the Michigan-Ohio State game.
* They will improve to 6-1 against Indiana under Tiller.

________________________

Long-standing rivals vie for honored relic

By John Kraft
Staff Writer

http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2003/11/21§ion=sports&storyid=football

"The football team talks as if the Old Oaken Bucket isn't simply a 100-year-old wooden pail that was found covered in moss and mold on some southern Indiana farm years ago.

That’s because, to them, it isn’t.

"You really don’t know what you miss until it’s gone," senior defensive end Kevin Nesfield said after the Boilermakers reclaimed the trophy from the Hoosiers last year with a 34-10 victory.

When No. 16 Purdue (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) travels to Bloomington to renew its long-standing rivalry with Indiana (2-9, 1-6) Saturday, it will try to continue the success it has had keeping the Bucket in West Lafayette during coach Joe Tiller’s era."

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Boilermakers ponder bowl options

Florida destination most likely

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200311190purdue_football1069219941.shtml

"The Big Ten Conference championship will have to wait at least another year. So will playing in a BCS bowl.

But with Purdue's football team down to its final regular season game, Saturday at arch-rival Indiana, the Boilermakers are now doing something they haven't been willing to do all season.

Talk about their bowl prospects.

"It's in our minds. We know what's at stake," Purdue center Nick Hardwick said. "We win this game, we're probably going to play on January first. That's a big deal to us."

A victory in Bloomington, and the No. 16 Boilermakers most likely would end up playing in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando or the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Both games are scheduled for New Year's Day."

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indiana-purdue rivalry
Winning Bucket helps recruiting
Purdue also emphasizes its overall success in recent years
http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/094894-5929-036.html



Bucket record
IU-Purdue records over past seven years
Year IU Purdue
1997 2-9 9-3
1998 4-7 9-4
1999 4-7 7-5
2000 3-8 8-4
2001 5-6 6-6
2002 3-9 7-6
2003 2-9 8-3
Purdue and Indiana have played for the Old Oaken Bucket 78 times. They’ve played 105 times overall.

Saturday's game
• Who: Purdue (8-3, 5-2) at Indiana (2-9, 1-6)
• Kickoff: 12:10 p.m.
• TV: WTTV-4
• Radio: WNDE-1260 AM, WXNT-1430 AM, WCBK-102.3 FM

By Michael Pointer
michael.pointer@indystar.com
November 21, 2003

"WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue coach Joe Tiller made winning the Old Oaken Bucket game a major priority when he was hired after the 1996 season.

"It was huge," Tiller said. "To be honest, it was (a bigger deal than it is today).

"We were a new staff and Cam had his new staff together. We understood right from the get-go we were competing for the Indiana player."

Tiller and Indiana coach Cam Cameron were hired at nearly the same time by their respective schools. The Boilermakers are 5-1 against the Hoosiers since heading into Saturday's game in Bloomington.

Purdue has never had a losing season under Tiller and is headed to its seventh consecutive bowl game. IU, which replaced Cameron with Gerry DiNardo in January 2002, hasn't had a winning season since 1994."

_____________________________

Kirsch focused on future with decision to redshirt

By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200311191purdue_football1069219941.shtml

"Let's play a little game. Bear with me on this one.

It's halftime in the Old Oaken Bucket game Saturday in Bloomington, and heavily favored Purdue has a whopping 42-0 lead on Indiana.

To avoid charges that the Boilermakers were trying to run up the score, Purdue coach Joe Tiller decides to take junior quarterback Kyle Orton out of the game midway through the third quarter.

Whom does he put in?

Brandon Kirsch, sophomore backup, is still eligible to be redshirted this season. But if he plays just one play at Indiana or in the bowl game, Kirsch loses that redshirt option.

"We'd probably put Kyle Smith in. We would not play Kirsch," Tiller said. "

___________________________

Ohio cornerback commits to Purdue

By Ken Thompson, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/football/stories/200311211purdue_football1069391983.shtml

"Evidently, Zach Logan learned his lessons well from former Chicago Bears cornerback Maurice Douglass.

Logan, a cornerback under Douglass at Trotwood (Ohio) Madison High School, has committed to play football for Purdue. Logan chose the Boilermakers over Illinois, to which he had previously committed, and Iowa. North Carolina State and Douglass' alma mater, Kentucky, also showed interest.

Logan, 5-11 1/2 and 175 pounds, is ranked 32nd on Rivals' Ohio Top 50. He already has earned first-team all-conference and All-Southwestern Ohio honors, with Division 2 (second-largest class in Ohio) all-state honors yet to be announced. Logan also is the reigning state champion in the 400 meters.

He ranks among Madison's leaders with 58 tackles, 12 pass breakups and three interceptions.

"He has a great upside," Douglass said. "He's only been playing defensive back, on the edge, the last two years. He's a 4.3 kid who has great hips and a super burst as far as making a break on the ball."

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Purdue heats up in final warmup

Boilers top Huntsville Flight 72-70

By Jeff Washburn, Journal and Courier

http://www.boilerstation.com/hoops/stories/200311190purdue_hoops1069219941.shtml

"For the Purdue men's basketball team, Tuesday night's opportunity was more important than the result.

That the Boilermakers beat the Huntsville Flight of the National Basketball Development League 72-70 is a bonus.

Huntsville, whose roster includes former college standouts Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State), Ken Johnson (Ohio State), Erick Barkley (St. John's), Rod Grizzard (Alabama) and Ronald Dupree (LSU), is well stocked with those seeking NBA roster slots.

Meanwhile, young and restless Purdue is seeking early season respect and earned quite a bit of it with Tuesday's victory in front of 10,628 fans in Mackey Arena. "

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Men's Basketball Signs Four
Recruiting class should provide immediate impact

Nov. 20, 2003

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/112003aab.html

"WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue men's basketball coach Gene Keady announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent during the NCAA's early-signing period on Tuesday.

The Boilermakers' class includes guard Xavier Price from Belleville West High School in O'Fallon, Ill., Bryant Dillon from Southwestern Illinois College, Carl Landry from Vincennes University ýand Gary Ware from Dodge City Junior College.

Keady feels the quartet will provide instant help along the frontline and add depth to an already talented backcourt.

"This class addresses our post needs for next season and also gives us two extremely talented wing players," said Keady. "This should be a fun group to coach because they are all tough kids, and that will help them in our system. They are a lot like our kids that we have right now. They're all from the Midwest and were very excited about coming here. They all come from good homes and are people that will fit into the Purdue system."

The class received high marks from several recruiting services. Hoopscooponline.com ranks the class as No. 11, Van Coleman puts it as 14th, Bob Gibbons at 15th and ESPN.com at No. 16. All four rank the class among the best in the Big Ten."

_______________________________

Time For Tipoff

Men's basketball opens 2003-04 season against Samford on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Mackey Arena

Nov. 21, 2003

http://purduesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/112103aaa.html

Purdue-Samford Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Samford at Purdue

Time: 2 p.m. EST
Arena: Mackey Arena (14,123)
Date: November 23
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Television: None
Radio: The Boilermaker Sports Network. Larry "The Cliz" Clisby (play-by-play) and Steve Reid (color commentary) call the action. Brett Schetzsle handles the pregame show, and Wes "Smooth as Silk" Scott engineers.

Internet:All games can be heard on www.purduesports.com. Click on the live coverage link.

Tickets: Limited amount remaining.
Records: Purdue 0-0 Samford 0-0
Rankings: Purdue is receiving votes in both the ESPN/USAToday and AP polls. Samford is not ranked in either poll.

Series: This is the first meeting between the two teams. More information on the series can be found on pages 2,3 and 4.

Coaches: Purdue - Gene Keady (Kansas State '58) is 488-235 in his 24th year at Purdue and 526-254 in his 26th season overall.

Samford - Jimmy Tillette (Our Lady of Holy Cross '75) is 89-58 in his seventh season at Samford and 89-58 in his seventh year overall.

Websites: Purdue - purduesports.com Samford - samfordsports.com
Officials: Announced on Game Day.

Boilermakers Open 2003-04 Season
The Purdue basketball team hosts Samford to open the 2003-04 season at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23 in Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers went 2-0 in two exhibition games, with wins over Global Sports and the NBDL Huntsville Flight. The Bulldogs went 1-0 in preseason play with a 100-74 win over VASDA.
Sunday will mark the 81st time in the 105 years of Purdue basketball that the Boilermakers will open the season at home.
The Boilermakers will be away for Thanksgiving holiday. Purdue will play in the 2003 Great Alaska Shootout. The team departs for Anchorage on Monday and faces Texas State on Nov. 26 at 1:45 a.m. EST in the first round.

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Boilers greet Bulldogs at Mackey, Samford prepares for challenge


By Jessie Ruppel
Staff Writer
http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2003/11/21§ion=sports&storyid=mball

"Samford University’s Bulldogs are used to playing in an arena that seats 4,000.

Sunday, they will be traveling to Mackey Arena, which seats 14,123, to take on Purdue’s men's basketball team.

"It’s really exciting," said Samford assistant coach Lee Burgess. "Our guys are really looking forward to being in an arena with a lot of fans. We don’t usually get to play in that type of atmosphere."

Entering their first regular season games, both teams are looking at this as an opportunity to start the season off right. "

_________________________________