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THE AUTHORITY ON PURDUE ATHLETICS VOLUME 22, EX 15 • DEC. 21, 2011 In this issue: • Pages 1-3: Getting Bowl Ready Making More Adjustments Purdue heads to bowl down key players BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com M aking its first appearance in a bowl since 2007, Purdue would love to be at full strength against Western Michigan. But that won't be the case. The Boilermakers will be with- out at least their top rusher, lead- ing tackler and starting receiver on the field on Tuesday. An injury, off-field trouble and lack of prac- tice stemming from academic is- sues wiped out those options. Ralph Bolden and his 674 yards and six touchdowns, Dwayne Beckford and his 91 tack- les, and O.J. Ross and his 12 starts and team-high tying three receiv- ing TDs won't play for the Boiler- makers in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. Two more starters — lineback- er Will Lucas and defensive end Gerald Gooden — were arrested Monday and could face disciplin- ary action. Coach Danny Hope wasn't available for immediate comment to discuss the status of Lucas and Gooden. At least Purdue is accustomed to adjusting without key players. Injuries to the quarterback po- sition have been well-publicized, but the Boilermakers also have had to scramble to fill in the offen- sive and defensive lines with sea- son-ending injuries to end Robert GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com • Pages 6-9: Western Michigan Preview • Pages 15-16: Kickoff Return Dissected 8 Inside The NUMBERS 35.6 100 164 Akeem Shavers' load could get heavier for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with starting running back Ralph Bolden out with a knee injury. It should help that Shavers is healthy, having recovered from a concussion suffered against Iowa and a rib injury against Penn State. He and the Boilermakers will be the home team against Western Michigan in the bowl. Maci, defensive tackle Ryan Isaac and guard Peters Drey. "The good news is we had enough depth to be able to ad- just and still be good enough to win," Hope said. "In the couple years prior to this season, if we had the injuries we had at the key positions, we may have not had enough players or experienced players or talented enough players to adjust and still win. I like the Tom Campbell fact we're able to bring the next bunch in and still be able to com- pete on Saturdays." Now more players with little proven experience will have to emerge. which ranks 18th in the country. The Broncos do much of their damage through the air, with a passing of- fense that ranks eighth in the coun- try, averaging 329 passing yards per outing. Western Michigan's scor- ing average, lowed. The Broncos give up more than 434 yards per game. Western Michigan's national rank in total defensive yards al- average of nearly 14 points per game. Points WMU has scored in the second quarter alone, an 1,462 due's last bowl victory, dating back to Dec. 26, 2007, and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl on Dec, 27, 2011. The number of days be- tween Pur- It's likely Akeem Shavers will start for Bolden, and Shavers had starter-like carries early in the sea- son. His production slowed a bit after injuring his ribs against Penn State and then getting a concus- sion against Iowa, which kept him out of the regular-season finale GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 22, EXPRESS 15 • 1 Victories for Purdue in 15 previ- ous bowl games.