A Page From Wisconsin`s History

[Bippus33]

Hey Gang.... How many of you can recall the times in Purdue Football History when we did`t play the "Bitch Role" for Wisconsin.......?
I sure can, believe it or not at some points in time, Wisconsin was always a welcomed foe on Homecoming and never struck fear into our hearts as they have over the past 13 seasons, until Barry Alvarez came along. Alvarez changed the culture and refused to allow his program to be abused or play second fiddle to anyone!!!!
*Alvarez was 1-10 in his first season after taking over for a Hot Mess named Don Morton.

*Prior to Morton, Dave McClain guided the Badgers to their first post season bowl victory in 1986 and coached that program to their first back to back 7 win seasons. McClain was/is greatly admired and respected by those in Badger Land and a building has been named in his honor.

*From 1990-2005, Alvarez won (.614) of his games and (.692) bowl games that he coached for Whisky not including those games that he coached as interim coach.

*Alvarez guided Wisconsin to their first Big Ten Title in 37 Years which dated back to 1963...... The fans supported him in his marginal years and the University gladly placed the the Golden Handcuffs on him and as AD his legacy of excellence lives on.

I`m not a Wisconsin or Barry Alvarez fan, as a matter of fact, I grew up on the south side of Lafayette,IN and recall the days when the Goodyear Blimp would hover above town and fly over our family farm on a fairly regular basis from season to season.
The parallel that I see is that Coach Brohm is changing Purdue`s football culture, our expectations as fans and as a new member of the Purdue Family he has shown that he will not allow our football program to be bullied or looked down upon.

Purdue Administration and fans in general, lets take a page from Whisky`s History.....breakout the handcuffs for JB and staff and enjoy the ride!!!

 

[Frankie611]

I was thinking the same while listening to the game

 

[SIBoiler2]

Hopefully we have an AD and President that understand the benefit of winning and don't skimp away a good thing like Organ Murke did.

 

[Dandelion1972]

I HATE losing to Wisconsin. My son-in-law (not a UW graduate, just a Wisconsin resident) is all over me every year about the fact that we've lost 12 in a row to them. He reminds me before the game, during the game, after the game and so on.

For that matter, if you are from Wisconsin, you wear Badger gear on Saturday and Aaron Rogers gear on Sunday. Would love to beat them 12 years in a row and be able to turn the tables on him. At this point, I just pretend that I don't care.

 

[Boiler Wolf]

I has these thoughts when Joe Tiller came to Purdue. Alvarez came to Wisconsin in 1990 and took over a team that hadn't has a winning season since 84 and has only won 7 BIG games in that span. In four years they go to the Rose Bowl. He wins 3 Rose Bowls, 2 back to back.

Tilller came to Purdue in 1997 and we all know what happened. It's a tragedy Purdue couldn't sustain it like Wisconsin has and now we are trying to get back once again. Three times in my lifetime we've had a major rebuild job. After Mollenkopf, after Young, and after Tiller.

What Barry did was remarkable given the culture in Madison at the time. However, in some ways I think the Wisconsin job was an easier turnaround or at least is easier to sustain. Wisconsin is the only team in a state that is very football crazy. Every football fan that graduated from the UW System of state colleges views the Badgers as their team, so fan support is there. They also manage to lure the good players from nearby Minnesota. Having said that, I am amazed how well the Badgers recruit nationally. They always seem to recruit the northeast and New Jersey well.

Purdue has a completely different landscape that started to change under Tiller, but fell back. Even so, Purdue has to compete in a state that is basketball 1st, Notre Dame football 2nd for both fans and players. Pretty tall order for Brohm to do what Barry did. If he gets us back to the Mollenkopf, Young, and Tiller levels I'll take it.

 

[Bippus33]

I has these thoughts when Joe Tiller came to Purdue. Alvarez came to Wisconsin in 1990 and took over a team that hadn't has a winning season since 84 and has only won 7 BIG games in that span. In four years they go to the Rose Bowl. He wins 3 Rose Bowls, 2 back to back.

Tilller came to Purdue in 1997 and we all know what happened. It's a tragedy Purdue couldn't sustain it like Wisconsin has and now we are trying to get back once again. Three times in my lifetime we've had a major rebuild job. After Mollenkopf, after Young, and after Tiller.

What Barry did was remarkable given the culture in Madison at the time. However, in some ways I think the Wisconsin job was an easier turnaround or at least is easier to sustain. Wisconsin is the only team in a state that is very football crazy. Every football fan that graduated from the UW System of state colleges views the Badgers as their team, so fan support is there. They also manage to lure the good players from nearby Minnesota. Having said that, I am amazed how well the Badgers recruit nationally. They always seem to recruit the northeast and New Jersey well.

Purdue has a completely different landscape that started to change under Tiller, but fell back. Even so, Purdue has to compete in a state that is basketball 1st, Notre Dame football 2nd for both fans and players. Pretty tall order for Brohm to do what Barry did. If he gets us back to the Mollenkopf, Young, and Tiller levels I'll take it.

I agree, I hope that Brohm gets the support that Young and Tiller did not....