November 03, 2005
What's lacking at Purdue? Consequences.
"Purdue is a bad football team" is the capsule summary that fits. Senor Pez covers for my lazy arse with his disgust-ridden account of the team's effort against the resurgent Nittany Lions last weekend in Happy Valley. I was in attendance in person, took a few grainy shots of monstrous Beaver Stadium and the pregame activities, and proceeded to suffer my way through another knuckle-under by the Boilers at a thunderous road venue.
Tiller and his staff need to regain control of this team before next season. Discipline seems poor; off-the-field incidents make the news and suggest there are factions and egos not working together to win each Saturday. I don't know if they've gotten a free pass on this with past teams, but I don't recall seeing major discipline problems hit the press in Tiller's previous 8 seasons. Tail's gotta stop wagging the dog, Joe, or else. I can't explain returning all 11 defensive starters and ending up nearly dead last in total defense in the entire NCAA; even a few hard-luck injuries are no excuse.
It's all speculation at this point, but Purdue's climb to real program status could crash out completely if next season doesn't reverse the dismal results of the 2005 campaign, and Joe Tiller's job could be in real jeopardy if an incredibly slow start develops. The what've-you-done-for-me-lately world has finally arrived in West Lafayette; it's time for the coaches and senior leaders to realize that coasting on a middling bowl streak isn't available cover any more. Time to play like a team again, Joe.
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