GBI Express

Opponent Preview ALMA MATER FIRST UP AS HOPE OPENS FOURTH SEASON AT PURDUE Game 1: Eastern Kentucky Colonels 3:30 p.m. ET • Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette) • TV: BTN BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com BY BRIAN NEUBERT As Danny Hope says, this game But when Purdue opens its isn't about him. 2012 season Saturday against East- ern Kentucky — the Boilermaker coach's alma mater, at which he was head coach for five seasons prior to Purdue — it will be a much-awaited experience for him. "From a personal standpoint," Hope said, "the little bit that I will reflect on it is that any time you have a chance to go up against your own, you want to make a good impression. "I would like for where I came frequently challenges of replacing legendary figures at both schools. When Hope leſt Purdue, talks of the EKU for from to be proud of the job we've done at Purdue. So I certainly would like to make a good impression on those that play at EKU and the pro- gram, from a pride standpoint." When Hope leſt Purdue's staff Danny Hope coached at Eastern Kentucky, his alma mater, from 2003-07, leading the Colonels to an Ohio Valley Championship in 2007. called "dream job." in 2002 to become associate head coach at Louisville, he did so to po- sition himself for the opportunity to succeed his college coach, Roy Kidd, at the helm of the Colonel program he once helped to a national title as a player in 1979. It was Hope's so- a 9-3 season and an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2007, Hope moved on to a bigger dream job, joining Joe Tiller's Purdue staff in 2008, then replacing him in 2009 as head coach. To this day, Hope Aſter leading the Colonels to handed its reins over to former Wake Forest defensive coordinator Dean Hood, who's won two OVC titles there and now has the Colo- nels poised to be one of the country's better FCS teams, featuring a potent running attack led by near-1,600-yard rusher Matt Denham and a pair of potential All-Ameri- ca offensive linemen. Most of the players he 2010, a 23-13 win over EKU was a bit too close for comfort for Louis- ville playing on its home field. "I'm sure having the chance to coach against his alma mater will be special to (Hope)," said Eastern Kentucky running backs coach John Revere, who played at EKU in the early '70s and was a member of Hope's staff his entire time there. "I think he'll be pretty revved up because he knows exactly what type of kids probably Kentucky ing his son, Chaz, who graduated aſter last season with a season of eligibility remaining — but he was involved in recruiting many of the current Colonels. These remaining Eastern Ken- Hope coached at EKU are gone now — includ- tucky players are no stranger to BCS competition. Running back Matt Denham, a transfer from Kentucky, ran for 200 or more yards in four games last season, finishing with 1,570 and nine touchdowns. talked to the team about is that year in and year out, they play Division I teams," said Purdue assistant coach Donn Landholm, a former EKU as- sistant coach. The Colonels lost just 10-7 at "One thing Coach Hope has Chris Radcliffe No, not likely. Hope loves his alma mater. But … "I know he wants to beat them good," linebacker Will Lucas said. versity is capa- ble of putting on the field. I don't think he's going to let his guys sit around and let us sneak up on them. I don't see that hap- pening. Eastern Uni- " Kansas State this time a year ago, putting a scare in a Big 12 team that would go on to win 10 games. In "He talks about us beating them like we're supposed to. That's his old team, so of course he doesn't want to lose to them." j GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 1 • 7

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