Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BY DAN MURPHY ormer head coach Danny Hope lost his job after leading Purdue to back-to-back 6-6 records and bowl appearances. Getting to the postseason for a third straight year won't be easy for his replacement, former Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell. Hazell inherits a team that lost its starting quarterback, leading rusher and biggest defensive threat to graduation this spring. The Jim Tressel disciple also faces a brutal welcome to the Big Ten. Three of the Boilermakers' first five opponents went to BCS bowls last season. They play eight games against teams ranked 44th or better in Athlon's preseason rankings. "It's going to be a challenge," said Mike Carmin, a beat reporter from the Lafayette Journal and Courier. "The schedule is probably the toughest in school history when you get right down to it. They probably could be 1-4 at the end of September." Hazell will try to lay down the base of his new program's foundation in the running game and add pieces to the offense from there. Junior Akeem Hunt figures to be the workhorse with both Akeem Shavers and Ralph Bolden running out of eligibility. Hunt, known for his speed, had four scoring plays of 50 yards or more last season. The 5-9, 184-pound back still needs to prove that he can pick up tough yards between the tackles when the situation calls for it. F GAME 3 • SEPT. 14 • ROSS-ADE STADIUM Hunt will have three returning starters and two other experienced offensive linemen clearing the way for him. Redshirt sophomore Robert Kugler will shift down to center after playing guard last year. Kugler, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers line coach Sean Kugler, is expected to be the best blocker on the team this year. Prediction Notre Dame 23, Purdue 13 — Notre Dame's offense might still be working out the kinks and trying to develop an identity in the third week of the regular season. Like the 2012 game, field goals might play a big role in the scoring, but the Irish should have enough to hold off a Purdue team that lacks a physically imposing threat on offense. Quick Facts Strength: Secondary Senior cornerback Ricardo Allen is a four-year starter on the Purdue defense and an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick. He'll lead an experienced defensive backfield that is primed to be one of the better groups in the conference. "He's small, but he comes at you hard. He's not afraid," Carmin said. "He's a guy that has experience if his size is a bit of a weakness." Allen also has three career interception returns for touchdowns. He is joined this year by safety Landon Feitcher, who earned a scholarship last season while leading the team with 80 tackles and four interceptions. Weakness: Linebackers Purdue has historically had difficulties piecing together a strong linebacker corps, and this season is no different. Senior outside linebacker Will Lucas (66 tackles, 6.5 for loss) is one of three returning starters at the position. Junior Joe Gilliam and quarterback convert Sean Robinson are back as well, but all three had problems with consistency last year. Behind them, the Boilermakers had merely four other scholarship players on the depth chart, but only one of them had played in a significant situation. Two more freshmen, Danny Ezechukwu and Johnny Thompson, are scheduled to arrive during the summer. 118 ! The Boilermakers' defensive line gave Notre Dame headaches last season, holding the Irish to 52 rushing yards and only 1.4 yards per carry. That group loses All-Big Ten tackle Kawann Short, but should be strong again in 2013. Ryan Russell (seven tackles, 2.5 for loss against Notre Dame) returns, as does senior defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, a Chicago native who is expected to pick up where Short left off in the middle of the line. "Bruce has played since his freshman year so he's the next guy on the line that you're going to look at," Carmin said. "He's going to have to deal with all the stuff Short dealt with last year, double teams and all that attention." Hazell has made a strong impression during his first few months in West Lafayette, but the honeymoon could be cut short if Purdue struggles in September with Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. X-FACTOR: Junior running back Akeem Hunt had only 335 rushing yards and two touchdowns last season while splitting carries with two other backs. Purdue's new coaching staff wants to emphasize the run game in 2013, and Hunt is in line to be the main weapon in the Boilermakers' backfield. PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE 2013 Schedule Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Opponent at Cincinnati Indiana State Notre Dame at Wisconsin Northern Illinois Nebraska at Michigan State Ohio State Iowa at Penn State Illinois at Indiana 2012 Result — — L, 20-17 L, 38-14 — — — L, 29-22 (OT) W, 27-24 L, 34-9 W, 20-17 W, 56-35 All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 56-26-2 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 20, Purdue 17 (Sept. 8, 2012, at South Bend, Ind.) Head Coach: Darrell Hazell, 0-0 (1st year) and 16-10 overall (3rd year) 2012 In Review: 6-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten (4th Leaders) Final 2012 Ranking: Unranked 2012 Stats Rankings: 58th total offense (402.7 yards per game) and 77th total defense (416.2 yards allowed per game) Returning Starters: 12 (4 offense and 8 defense) Key Losses: DT Kawann Short (seven sacks) and RB Akeem Shavers (871 rushing yards) 2013 Preseason Rankings: No. 78 by Athlon and No. 83 by Lindy's Last Bowl Appearance: 2012 (Heart of Dallas Bowl, Oklahoma State, L 58-14) Did You Know?: The last time Notre Dame failed to score in a game against Purdue was a 19-0 loss in 1933 … Darrell Hazell is the first African-American head coach in Purdue history and just the fourth in Big Ten history … Thirteen Irish players will be playing one of their former high school teammates when Notre Dame takes on the Boilermakers. Returning Leaders Rushing: Akeem Hunt (335 yards, 2 TD) Passing: Rob Henry (216 yards, 3 TD) Receiving: O.J. Ross (454 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Landon Feitcher (80) Sacks: Ryan Russell (4) Interceptions: Landon Feitcher (4) BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 116-127.Opponent Previews.indd 118 6/25/13 2:56 PM