GBI Express

Gold & Black Express, Oct. 31 Edition

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/91066

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 9 of 39

since the Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. The Boiler- makers have managed just two wins during that peri- od, half as many as the next-closest Big Ten opponent. In the last 20 years, Purdue has beaten Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa just four times, which seems like a lot compared to Penn State. Penn State is known for its defense, and as the graphic on Page 3 indicates, the Boilermakers have had trouble scoring in head-to-head matchups. In the last two games between the schools in Ross-Ade Stadium, the Boilermakers were blanked in seven out of eight quarters, and even in the their lone win in the past two decades, a 28-14 W in 2003, it took a punt return by Anthony Chambers to give the Boil- ermakers a little breathing room. In fact, you would have to go back to the first game ever between the two schools, a 28-0 win in Ross-Ade Stadium in 1951, to find the last time the Boilermakers scored four offensive touchdowns against a team from Happy Valley. But Purdue's most recent win over Penn State, a Penn State hasn't been a friendly foe for Purdue FIVE POINTS TO PONDER 1 2 3 4 er faithful can lament, it only lasted a week. a key 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Orton to Taylor Stubblefield helped deliver Purdue from the upset- minded Blue and White. In last year's game, a 23-18 loss, the Boilermakers had their 20-13 triumph in 2004 in University Park, marked a high point of sorts for the program. The victory cata- pulted Purdue to a 5-0 record and helped it to a No. 5 ranking, the highest in decades. As the Boilermak- In that contest, chance to pull the upset. In fact, Purdue's 344 yards in total of- fense was nearly 100 more than the Lions' defense had been allowing to date in 2011. — Alan Karpick 5 job very much in jeopardy, do the Boilermak- ers have enough in the tank to pull an upset? It wouldn't be unprecedented. What's Purdue got left? Riding a four- game losing streak and with its coach's coming off the bench? At the same time, will Purdue turn Marve loose? He's been effective in comeback mode. Will Purdue play that way early? Will Robert Marve starting give the of- fense the same sort of jolt he's provided How healthy is Purdue's defense? Kawann Short, Ricardo Allen and Ryan Russell are all banged up. That's not good. a very good passing offense, different than Marshall's but right up there in terms of its caliber. This is a question we can ask every week and would be foolish to pretend to know the answer. The incon- sistency has been just maddening. Which Purdue team shows up? — Brian Neubert Can Purdue get pressure on Lion quarter- back Matt McGloin? They'd better. This is STATISTICALLY SPEAKING PURDUE Offense Rank Averages Rushing 66 Passing 75 Scoring 52 161.2 219.6 30.9 Defense Rank Averages Rushing 96 Passing 46 Scoring 77 195.1 213.9 29.8 Out of 120 FBS schools PENN STATE Offense Rank Averages Rushing 85 Passing 40 Scoring 65 134.6 265.9 27.9 Defense Rank Averages Rushing 33 Passing 32 Scoring 18 128.1 201.4 18.1 GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 9 • 10

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of GBI Express - Gold & Black Express, Oct. 31 Edition