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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 5 • 1 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A s part of his preparation for Iowa on Saturday, Purdue coach Darrell Hazell re-watched last season's meeting. He saw the Boilermakers get run over, essentially, allowing a whopping 318 yards rushing to the Hawkeyes in a 38-14 loss. He saw Iowa compile drives of 60, 67, 67, 70, 71 and 90 yards, while Purdue's offense managed a long of 63, on the final series. He saw his team completely overmatched. "We weren't very good last year," Hazell said this week. But this season? Different sto - ry, the second-year coach said. Purdue will have to prove it, of course, but it's getting a chance to start with a re- newed season as Big Ten play begins Saturday. The Boilermakers didn't start last season's confer- ence play with the Hawkeyes — it was actually an early- November game — but it is plenty of time to gauge just how much improvement his team has made, Hazell said. "We're a lot better right now as a football team than we were 10 months ago," he said. "It always has to show up on Saturday, and it will show up on Saturday." Through the first four weeks of the season, Hazell said he saw an improved team. The Boilermakers' run defense has been better, certainly, allowing 148.8 yards per game (66th in the country) and hasn't allowed a 100- yard rusher the past two weeks. The latter is impressive, consider - ing Purdue had a streak of nine games doing so. The offense has evolved some, too, as Danny Etling has gained more confidence the last two weeks and Purdue has been able to throw the ball downfield more and connect on big plays. "Obviously you stubbed your toe a couple weeks ago, but I think we're improving in every phase, and that's the key," Hazell said. "As long as we can continue to get bet- ter in every element, I think that will suit us well as we continue to move forward." When asked specifically which Tom Campbell Darrell Hazell thinks his team has made great strides since the last time it played Iowa. This one, though, will be even more important: It's the con- ference opener. 4 Times since 1996 Purdue has won af- ter being at least a 10-point underdog. The Boilermakers are a near-10-point 'dog to Iowa on Saturday. .807 Purdue's winning percent- age when it plays Iowa on Homecoming, the highest it enjoys against any opponent. 5-1 Iowa's record on the road in its last six games. It is also the only FBS team this season to have its first four games decided by one possession (eight or fewer points). 144 All-purpose yards Akeem Hunt needs to surpass Leroy Keyes for eighth on the all- time Purdue list. THE NUMBERS VOLUME 25, EX 5 • SEPT. 25, 2014 Inside | Iowa preview 9-13 Watson feature 17–18 | SIU victory 22-23 Football notes 28-32 | Volleyball 36-38 Proving Grounds