GBI Express

Gold and Black Express Vol 25, EX 2

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GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 2 • 1 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com J ustin Sinz knows how it works. For all the talk of improve- ment spurred by an exhausting offseason that produced stronger, faster, tougher players, for all the chatter about increased knowl- edge, confidence and camaraderie, for all the assurances of blossom- ing trust of coaches, Purdue play- ers are judged by only one thing: Performance on Saturday. That's why the last one mat- tered so much. When the Boilermakers got a victory in their first game of the season, beating Western Michigan last week, it was a tangible event for everyone to see, a way for fans to see progress. It was, in Darrell Hazell's word, "valida- tion." For Sinz, a captain, and the rest of the team, it was more. "In the situation we were in, we obvi- ously needed to start fast. Winning the first game was a must," Sinz said this week. "It certainly was a good feeling to see the cor- relation from the practice field to the game field pay off, all the work that happens in the offseason. So it was good that it turned into success on the field where it matters most." But as much as the Boilermakers want to savor that victory — especially considering the feeling was so fleeting in 2013 — Hazell is making sure to remind it can't last. Immediately after the game in the locker room, Hazell praised his team for its effort and work but made sure to throw in another nugget: "We're build- ing this. Don't forget that." And so the second-year coach quickly turned focus toward Week 2 and Central Michigan, which should present a more considerable challenge. The Chippewas, also winners in their opener, are more experienced and expected to be more talented than their MAC counterpart Broncos and their areas of strength are counter to ones in which Purdue struggled in Week 1. Central Michigan will play a Big Ten transfer running back against a defense that allowed a 100-yard rusher in Week 1, the TomCampbell Danny Etling got his first victory as Purdue's starting quarterback. But his performance was similar to the team's — improved in some areas, needing more growth in others from Week 1 to Week 2. 3,700 Visitors to the south end zone during the Western Michigan game, according to Purdue officials. 0 Sacks allowed and interceptions thrown by Purdue against WMU. That combination hadn't happened since Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17, 2011. 5.0 Purdue's average point spread in its last two games vs. Cen- tral Michigan. 10 The price (in dollars) of a stu- dent ticket for Saturday's game, dropped in half this week as an incentive to get more fans in Ross-Ade. THE NumbErs volume 25, eX 2 • sept. 4, 2014 Inside | Central Michigan preview 9-13 Bentley shines 17–18 | NFL glance 26–27 Football notes 28-33 'Validation'

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