This is a great opportunity to, on regional/national television to show the advancements in the program to recruits/parents/writers/etc. Minnesota, although having a tough year, was picked as a dark horse to win the West this season and if the Boilers can come out and dominate in the win...it will go a long way for the program to show after the MSU game, the program is FINALLY starting to turn the corner. On the other hand, if the Boilers come out and lose to Minnesota, I'm not sure recruiting is going to get much better this year.
I have been incredibly hard on the staff in the last few weeks after giving tons of support for them through the first two seasons and leading up to the Marshall game. I am like many on here now that until the results are W's, and frankly I don't care if we beat everyone by 1 point, the program can't make steps forward. To improve, the program needs to show wins and that will get people back in the seats and will get recruits to start to see that Hazell and the program are on the right track to competing in the West. Frankly, with some additions and some good luck, there is no reason Purdue SHOULDN'T compete next season and win 4-6 conference games next season, IMO. Dropping MSU and adding Penn State and Maryland is a gift from the conference gods as those are probably the three worst teams in the East this season.
2016 Schedule:
Eastern Kentucky
Cincinnati
Nevada
@ Maryland
@ Illinois
Iowa
@ Nebraska
Penn State
@ Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
@ Indiana
That shows 7 home games and really Purdue, if the improvement from the MSU game carries through the rest of the season, through spring, and in to next fall...should allow Purdue to potentially have a good shot at starting 5 - 0 heading in to the middle of their schedule. If that is the case, the home games against Iowa (OMHR!!!!), Penn State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and the trip to IU should be a way for the program to get fans back. At worst, the team could start 3-2 and look to the rest of the schedule to get to 6 wins.
I am not writing this season off as I believe there are, barring continued play from the second half of MSU, 2-3 winnable games left on the schedule (Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana) with toss ups coming from Wisconsin and Nebraska.
I am really looking to see the improvement begin to translate to wins and think this is a chance to show that...but like most I am cautious because we as fans have seen this before from the MSU game, gotten our hopes up, and been drastically disappointed (especially last year).
I have been incredibly hard on the staff in the last few weeks after giving tons of support for them through the first two seasons and leading up to the Marshall game. I am like many on here now that until the results are W's, and frankly I don't care if we beat everyone by 1 point, the program can't make steps forward. To improve, the program needs to show wins and that will get people back in the seats and will get recruits to start to see that Hazell and the program are on the right track to competing in the West. Frankly, with some additions and some good luck, there is no reason Purdue SHOULDN'T compete next season and win 4-6 conference games next season, IMO. Dropping MSU and adding Penn State and Maryland is a gift from the conference gods as those are probably the three worst teams in the East this season.
2016 Schedule:
Eastern Kentucky
Cincinnati
Nevada
@ Maryland
@ Illinois
Iowa
@ Nebraska
Penn State
@ Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
@ Indiana
That shows 7 home games and really Purdue, if the improvement from the MSU game carries through the rest of the season, through spring, and in to next fall...should allow Purdue to potentially have a good shot at starting 5 - 0 heading in to the middle of their schedule. If that is the case, the home games against Iowa (OMHR!!!!), Penn State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and the trip to IU should be a way for the program to get fans back. At worst, the team could start 3-2 and look to the rest of the schedule to get to 6 wins.
I am not writing this season off as I believe there are, barring continued play from the second half of MSU, 2-3 winnable games left on the schedule (Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana) with toss ups coming from Wisconsin and Nebraska.
I am really looking to see the improvement begin to translate to wins and think this is a chance to show that...but like most I am cautious because we as fans have seen this before from the MSU game, gotten our hopes up, and been drastically disappointed (especially last year).
