Around the Big Ten

[froot loops]

My dad was a Purdue grad, he was not really into sports. We went to one game when I was young, they took on Northwestern for homecoming. Eric Herman was the QB. Northwestern was at its nadir, but it was a good game.

Purdue plays State tough a lot. I don't know anything about the current situation in West Lafayette, but it seems like they have put money into the program. You gotta have a good coach and an administration that wants to win.

[Hannibal]

It's a pretty good year for a program like Illinois or Purdue to hire a coach. Lots of eligible candidates for that level of job out there.

[froot loops]

Yep a former Sugar Bowl winning coach is available.

[iam416]

Houston is a far better option for Herman. IMO, his first foray into P5 football will be at a big name school. Fortunately, the timing is all wrong for Texas.

[froot loops]

In what way do you think the timing is not right? Herman not established enough?

[iam416]

Yes. He'd be a big roll of the dice for UT. Another 2-3 years, then yes. Then again, how long was Sumlin at Houston? Not long. But I still say he needs more than a year.

I'm still hoping against hope that he continues to ascend and eventually takes over for UFM. I can dream.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Sumlin was at Houston for 4 years. And hell, he was an assistant coach for almost 20 years before getting hired by Houston (including coaching in the Big10 from 1993-2000)

[Cody_Russell]

Interesting fact: Kevin Sumlin is an ex Purdue player and grad.

This is all interconnected.

[Mike]

Maybe he'll return to Indiana to coach the Colts!

[Cody_Russell]

Purdue plays State tough a lot. I don't know anything about the current situation in West Lafayette, but it seems like they have put money into the program. You gotta have a good coach and an administration that wants to win.

Purdue has definitely spent a lot of $, but it's randomly everywhere.
Selective parts of the football facility are nice, but most is probably near the worst in the B10.
Hazell makes $2 million annually. I think Danny Hope made around $800,000 before he was fired. Purdue definitely spent more than they are use to when they hired Hazell.
Problem is: Danny Hope and Hazell have both been awful at recruiting and developing players. There is also a constant change at QB, which has hurt any chance for good continuity.

As for the game vs State this weekend, like I said on the MSU thread, I really think Purdue can be competitive. I've watched all 4 Purdue games fully this season. They have the ability to compete, but not win.

[*JD*]

I think there is NO chance he leaves.

Rationally thinking it out, I totally agree. It just doesn't add up. He's more likely to get fired than to leave after one year and we all know that ain't happening.

You don't intentionally buy a house on the same street that your hero lived on, enroll your kids at the grade school you went to, and make as many changes with the team as you do if you have an eye on anything else. Jim may be a little nutty but he ain't full-blown crazy.

Maybe, maybe 4 or 5 years from now, he gets an itch but he's either going to bring Michigan back to being a top-5 team that competes for championships or flame out trying. While he has moved around some, let's not confuse him with a nomad like Larry Brown.

[WingsFan]

He and his family bought a house that would have been 4 houses from Bo, and he talked about it. Stop this nonsense.

[UMStan White]

"They have the ability to compete, but not win. "

compete? Look at the teams they have lost to. Besides what the hell does it matter how you compete when you constantly lose?

[Cody_Russell]

"They have the ability to compete, but not win. "

compete? Look at the teams they have lost to. Besides what the hell does it matter how you compete when you constantly lose?

Competing is when you stay close in the game for a while. Different than blown out.
Purdue should have beat Bowling Green, a good MAC team that beat Maryland by 21.
Purdue lost at Marshall, who went 12-1 last season. This was another game Purdue could have won. They had a lead with 4 min remaining, then imploded.
Lastly, they lost to V-Tech, a team that probably goes 7-5 or 6-6 this season.

MSU had a hard time pulling away from WMU, CMU, Air Force, and Oregon.
I think MSU wins 38 - 17, but the first half will be competitive. Purdue switching to David Blough has me concerned. He has shown signs of being good, but has little experience.

[*JD*]

He and his family bought a house that would have been 4 houses from Bo, and he talked about it. Stop this nonsense.

It's more like 10 houses, I think. I was driving down Arlington one day in the spring and saw the 18-wheeled Michigan Football truck in front of a big residence that was set back from the road. I'm guessing that was his place. Bo's place was on the other side of Devonshire, closer to Geddes.