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THE AUTHORITY ON PURDUE ATHLETICS VOLUME 22, EX 6 • OCT. 12, 2011 Tough Road Ahead Purdue's Schedule Heats Up BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A nd now comes the real test. Purdue responded the way Coach Danny Hope wanted after an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame: By blowing out an over- matched Minnesota team. But that victory was fueled al- most as much by anger and emo- tion as it was by the Gophers sim- ply being underwhelming. There won't be any more easy- pass teams on the schedule, at least not until the annual Bucket Game perhaps. But this season's outcome should be well decided by then. It's now — starting with the first significant road test at Penn State — that the Boilermakers re- ally show their worth. It's now — against a defense that's one of the best in the nation — that the Boilermakers can prove their offense has made strides. It's now — against an offense that's been largely unimpressive — that the Boilermakers can make a statement that their defense isn't a one-time force. It's now — or it could be a really long season with the next three opponents on the sched- ule being Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, all of which enter this week undefeated. "We think that we have good GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com In this issue: • Pages 6-9: A Look At Penn State • Pages 17-18: Akeem Shavers Feature • Pages 29-30: Recruiting Update • Pages 31-32: Volleyball And Soccer Win players and good potential as a foot- ball team that's still developing," Hope said. "I've said that right off the bat — I think we're going to be a good football team. I don't think we're near as good now as we need to be or we're going to be, and it's going to be a work in progress. It's been that way. I think we are going to get better. … I think we have some upside as a football team, and I think we're getting better, and that gives us some real optimism as a team. "I feel good about where we're at and what we can do." Purdue (3-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) needs to show it can execute vs. good teams. Notre Dame has been the only real measuring stick — though a loss to Rice seemed to say a lot in Week 2, as well — and the Boilermakers' strengths didn't show up. The running game was stuffed against the Irish, and Penn State's defense is just as stout against the rush. So it's another chance for Purdue's offensive line and running backs to prove they have the goods. The defense consistently was Cornerback Ricardo Allen sparked the Purdue defense with this intercep- tion return for a TD against Minnesota. The Boilermaker defense needs to continue to make big plays against a tough upcoming schedule. Tom Campbell gouged by Notre Dame, against the run and the pass. That unit seemed to bounce back with a physical, pun- ishing effort last week in a 45-17 rout of Minnesota. But it'll face one of the Big Ten's best running backs this week in Silas Redd, a physical runner who averages 95.7 yards per game. 3 3 4 tion for a touchdown Saturday. Purdue's takeaways vs. Minnesota, bringing the season total to six. The Boilers recov- ered two fumbles and returned an intercep- Inside The NUMBERS returned an interception 37 yards for a score vs. Minnesota. Ricardo Allen's pick-six total in 17 career games, tying him with Rod Woodson and Mike Rose for Purdue's all-time mark. He Penn State's national ranking in yardage allowed, as it gives up only 250.8 yards per game. The Lions are also top-five in passing defense and scoring defense. 43 84 only four other teams nationally. Nittany Lions. The number of Purdue penalties through five games, an average of 8.6 per game. That ranks ahead of The age of Penn State coach Joe Paterno, now in his 46th — and pos- sibly final — year at the helm of the And Hope knows doing it once isn't nearly enough. "It's great to see us play at that level and you can reference to it throughout the course of the week, and that's how we need to play again this week to that level," Hope said about the defense's effort against Min- nesota. "But it can't just be a redemption. You can't be just — we didn't play the week before, we get angry and we want to go out there and prove what we can do and you redeem yourself and all of a sudden every- thing is OK. It needs to become a standard. "That's the message that I've been send- GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 22, EXPRESS 6 • 1