GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 5 • 4 GoldandBlack.com
FROM PUBLISHER ALAN KARPICK NOW THINGS COULD GET INTERESTING C onventional wisdom would make one think that Coach Joe Tiller has a tough job ahead of him. After all, his team just beat Notre Dame on the road for the first time in 30 years. Wait, his team didn’t just beat the <strong>Irish</strong>, it crushed them in a way few teams have in the history of Notre Dame Stadium. But something is very different about this Purdue football team that makes all the talk about overconfidence and possible lack of focus heading into Happy Valley Oct. 9 just talk. That difference is No. 18 and the air of confidence and ability quarterback Kyle Orton brings to this team. It’s not something that is plainly visible on the sideline or even in the huddle. He doesn’t spend much wasted motion pumping his fists or being overly demonstrative on the sidelines with his teammates. But what he does do that builds more confidence than anything is deliver amazing results. And that speaks volumes his to Boilermaker brethren. To set the record straight, Purdue has never had a quarterback enjoy a four-game stretch like Orton has. Not Griese, not Phipps, not Everett, not Herrmann and not Brees. The statistic of 17 touchdown passes and no interceptions, at least in Purdue terms, is akin to Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. When you stop and think about it, it is pretty amazing and may never be repeated. Orton is the first Boilermaker to throw four or more touchdown passes in four consecutive games. Heck, only quarterbacks Drew Brees (1998) and Len Dawson (1954) have done it in back-to-back games. Brees did snap off <strong>16</strong> touchdown passes over a four-game stretch during his recordsetting ‘98 season when he tossed a Big Ten standard 39 scoring passes. But Brees threw five picks during that hot streak that took place in the last four regular-season games of that season. The common thread during Orton’s and Brees’ amazing runs? Purdue won all its games. Orton is, and deserves to be at this point in the season, a Heisman Trophy candidate. He will remain in Serious Personal Injury and Accidents Jeff Cooke the race if two things occur. First, and obviously, he has to continue to perform at a high level. But second, and most important, Purdue needs to win at least nine regular season games and be in the hunt for a BCS bowl come mid- November. What is Orton’s biggest ally in the race for college football immortality? The fact that all he really cares about is winning football games. One look at Orton’s haircut, though I don’t think it is as bad as some people, and one can see he is not a Madison Avenue guy. If Purdue continues its remarkable season, no matter what individual numbers Orton accrues, it will be good enough for him. Finally, long-time fans with a healthy dose of Purdue paranoia, will remember that the team has struggled over the years it had a game the week after beating Notre Dame. Purdue is 9-4 in that situation in its history, but just 2-5-2 the week after it won in South Bend. In fact, the Boilermakers have lost their last three times they have played a road ATTORNEYS FOR INJURED PEOPLE The Cooke Law Office Serving The Lafayette Area Since 1970 423-5628 • 1-800-LAW-5628 331 Columbia • Lafayette Across From The Courthouse game after beating Notre Dame. But Tiller is 3-0 the weeks following wins over the <strong>Irish</strong>. Researching the above data passed the time for me while I was waiting for the Notre Dame game to finally come to an end following a seemingly endless fourth quarter. While it makes for good conversation among the Knuckleheads during game week, it doesn’t mean any more than the 30-year losing streak under the Golden Dome meant to the 2004 Boilermakers. Something special is in the air for this football team. How special we will all find out in the coming weeks, but if you are a Boilermaker fan you can dream big. This year, some of those dreams just might come true. Karpick can be reached at AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com. For those readers experiencing problems with issue delivery, please e-mail Karpick, and include your mailing address as it appears on your mailing label. FREE INTERVIEW FEE BASED ON RECOVERY Aaron Cooke GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 5 • 5 GoldandBlack.com