Purdue Boilermakers
Big Ten
Purdue was pretty quick to fire Coach Danny Hope after the team reached bowl eligibility for the second straight year. The Boilermakers program has been hanging out in mediocrity for the last decade, but Coach Hope did a very good job in 2012. This was not a team that was expected to do much in the Big Ten and injuries derailed the year before it even started. After a 3-6 start, Purdue won at Iowa, at Illinois and against rival Indiana to become bowl eligible. Those may not be great teams, but bowl hopes were nearly gone heading into November. Wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins will be the interim coach during the bowl game.
2012 Record: 6-6, 3-5
Coach: Danny Hope
Coach Bowl Record: 1-0
Big Wins: 11/10 at Iowa (27-24), 11/17 at Illinois (20-17)
Bad Losses: 10/27 at Minnesota (28-44), 11/3 Penn State (9-34)
Strengths:
When healthy, the Purdue offense has looked pretty good. They may not be confused with Drew Brees’ squads from the late 90’s, but the unit could at least move the ball. Caleb TerBush began the year as the starting signal caller, but the job is Robert Marve’s now. Marve had a great game against Indiana in the season finale and finished the year completing 66.2 percent of his passes. More importantly, Marve has kept the interceptions to a minimum and was only picked off three times, while throwing 13 touchdowns. Antavian Edison, O.J. Ross and Gary Bush are a formidable group of receivers who can spread out the defense. The Boilermakers will get most of their yards through the air, but the emergence of a ground game has opened up the offense for Marve. Akeem Shavers is the workhorse of the bunch and Akeem Hunt has broken some huge runs this season and is averaging 8.0 yards per carry. Ralph Bolden is a great back when healthy, but his production has been seriously limited during his senior season. The good news is Bolden should be ready to go in time for the bowl game.
Weaknesses:
Kawann Short will hear his name called early in the 2013 NFL Draft. The defensive tackle is the heart and soul of the Purdue defense. Unfortunately, he does not get much help. The Boilermakers allowed over 400 yards per game and nearly 30 points. That is worse than it sounds since this is the Big Ten. Purdue ranked in the bottom three of the conference in just about every major defensive category. There are some capable pieces around Short, like safety Landon Feichter and linebacker Will Lucas. Josh Johnson and Frankie Williams are couple playmakers in the secondary. And Purdue will need some game changing plays from the defense if they want to come home from a bowl game with a victory for the third straight time.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Akeem Shavers, RB, 778 yards
Passing: Robert Marve, QB, 1,522 yards
Receiving: Antavian Edison, WR, 625 yards
Tackles: Landon Feichter, S, 76
Sacks: Kawann Short, DT, 6.0
Interceptions: Landon Feichter, S, 4
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 165.00 (60th in nation, 6th in conference)
Passing Offense: 240.67 (54, 3)
Total Offense: 405.67 (62, 5)
Scoring Offense: 29.92 (57, 6)
Rushing Defense: 179.75 (81, 10)
Pass Defense: 227.50 (51, 9)
Total Defense: 407.25 (69, 11)
Scoring Defense: 29.00 (73, 10)
Turnover Margin: .25 (47, 4)
Sacks: 1.67 (78, 9)
Sacks Allowed: 1.83 (56, 7)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2011 Little Caesars Bowl Western Michigan (37-32)
2007 Motor City Bowl Central Michigan (51-48)
2006 Champs Sports Bowl Maryland (7-24)
2004 Sun Bowl Arizona State (23-27)
2003 Capital One Bowl Georgia (27-34)
*all team stats through 11/24
