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THE AUTHORITY ON PURDUE ATHLETICS VOLUME 22, EX 4 • SEPT. 28, 2011 'Timing Is Right' Bye Week Gives Purdue Extra Time To Prepare For Notre Dame BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com W hen Joe Holland got his fellow line- backers together for a meeting on Monday — Purdue football team's day "off" — it was different than every other one they'd had this season. They didn't only watch film on an up- coming opponent — they watched it with a game plan already set and with their as- signments already known. "It was great," Holland said, "know- ing what we plan on doing so we can break down the film a lot better and have a lot better feel for where we're going to be line up and how we're going to defend these plays." But it wasn't just the linebackers that had that edge. The Boilermakers didn't bother fo- cusing on fundamentals during their bye week. Coach Danny Hope and his staff im- mediately put the emphasis on Notre Dame when the team practiced under the lights last Thursday, having installed the game plans for the offense, defense and special teams and drilling players on their assign- ments, responsibilities and execution. That extra work couldn't have come at a better time: After going 2-1 in the first three games against low-major FBS confer- ence schools and a FCS school, Purdue is finally into the meat of its schedule. The Irish (2-2) come to West Lafayette for a primetime showdown Saturday on ESPN and then the Boilermakers launch into their Big Ten schedule. GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com And the Boilermakers quickly will find out just where they stand. Notre Dame's defense is allowing only 93 yards rushing per game and its spread offense has weapons that will test Purdue's defense in receiver Michael Floyd and tight In this issue: • Pages 6-9: A Look At Notre Dame • Pages 17-18: Joe Holland Feature • Pages 29-30: Big Recruiting Weekend • Page 31: Basketball Notes end Tyler Eifert. "I think to be able Probably the most intriguing story lines heading into Saturday's showdown with Notre Dame is when and how much quarterback Robert Marve will play. Tom Campbell to go out there after you've played three games, take a good look at where you're at and realize what you have to get done in order to play the top competition that's left on our schedule and to be able to go out there and prac- tice a game plan that you feel is tailor-made for your opponent is week, I thought was a great advantage for our football team," Hope said. "I think the players have a better understanding what we're trying to get done. When it's all said and done, we'll have prepared twice as much for Notre Dame as we've had the games prior to that. "I think the tim- ing is right for us to have the opportunity to take a big step as a football team. Coming off a big win and finding out more things about ourselves and having some time to adjust some things, having time to rest up and get healed up with an outstanding opponent 2 11 15 Purdue's national ranking in rushing offense, buoyed by the 393 yard per- formance against SEMO. The Boilers are averaging 259 ground yards per game. 181 308 ratings, putting the Boilers last among FBS programs. Purdue's strength of schedule ranking measure, according to Jeff Saragin's college football Purdue's Big Ten ranking in offense, as the Boilers average 471 yards per game. The 627 vs. Southeast Missouri State helped. Inside The NUMBERS Number of Fighting Irish turnovers through four games, with seven inter- ceptions and eight lost fumbles. quarter. The Irish have 464 first-quarter yards, while their opponents have totaled only 156. In four games, the number by which Notre Dame has out- gained its opponents in the first right here at home, I think the timing is right for us to take a big step as a football team. We look forward to this Saturday." Purdue certainly would seem to be in an ideal situation to avoid miscues. It already had improved on its pre-snap penalties after a disappointing showing in the opener, and four extra days of practice last week could have helped shore up is- sues over the middle of the defense. That's an area Notre Dame likely will target, con- sidering the Boilermakers have struggled to defend receivers and tight ends between the hashes all season. GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 22, EXPRESS 4 • 1