Purdue Spanked With an Oar, Lose 41-10 to Minnesota

(Photo credit: Purdue Athletics)

This is truly the first time I’ve been embarrassed by a Purdue performance under Jeff Brohm. And before anyone points to the Rutgers loss last year, remember that Purdue outplayed RU for most of that game and just could never convert in the red zone….plus they were a two-point conversion from getting that tied. Today was different.

Purdue was never competitive in this game. They looked disinterested, unprepared, unmotivated, undisciplined, poorly-coached and outclassed – by bad, bad team. They looked like a Hazell team. I’m not sure I can level a more damning analysis. Make no mistake, Minnesota is not good in any way. This is a team that got boatraced by Illinois last week, giving up the ol’ double-nickel. And Purdue looked like they were playing against the 1985 Bears defense. I mean, what the hell was that today?

Minnesota came into this game 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten, last in the Big Ten West with their lone victory being over Indiana. They gave up 55 to Illinois, 53 to Nebraska, 42 to Maryland and 48 to Iowa. They gave up ten against Purdue.

Purdue looks like a team that is from Florida or something and has no idea how to handle colder weather. I know Minnesota is north of West Lafayette, but between this game and the game at East Lansing, you would be excused if your faith has been shaken that this isn’t the “same old Purdue” – it sure looks like the same old Purdue. In fact, @Ramzy of Eleven Warriors may have summed up Purdue best way back on September 8:

*swirls Purdue around in glass* ah yes, a vintage Purdue, a lose at home to weather vane schools, inexplicably dominate 1-2 ranked teams and face Indiana in the final game for a bucket and bowl eligibility Purdue. The sturdiest of Purdues

— Ramzy Nasrallah (@ramzy) September 8, 2018

 

Yep, sounds about right.

The five out of six wins run feels like ancient history already. If you want to take that step forward where you’re actually competing for Big Ten championships – or hell, even division championships – you just can’t have those weeks where you completely fail to show up. And beyond that, you can’t have several weeks where you don’t show up. Purdue had a chance today to wind up tied for first place (record-wise) with Northwestern. The Wildcats had a tough one at Iowa on the schedule, Wisconsin lost earlier in the day, and Minnesota was circling the drain. Wisconsin did their part and lost, meaning Purdue could be a full game clear of the Badgers heading into their tilt next Saturday. Simply do your part if you’re Purdue and suddenly things could be really exciting heading into the last two games. Instead, we get this bed-wetting.

In the end, this season viewed through the “big picture” lens will look like what many thought was the upper end of the potential – compete for a bowl, show flashes of what this program can be, get us excited about life with Rondale Moore playing with future strong Brohm recruiting classes. It’s a shame, really, because having a season where you blow out multiple conference foes, demolish a #2 Ohio State on a Saturday night and see Rondale put up such numbers might not be so easy to recreate. You really never know with sports. We do know David Blough is gone after a few more games, so if they’re going to recreate the good parts of 2018 in the future, it will be with a different QB. Perhaps to illustrate that point, Nick Sipe went into the game to run the offense for the final possession.

I don’t know what’s going on with these guys but their two best wins of the season have been followed by lackluster showings. There are two games to go and if Purdue doesn’t remove their heads from their behinds, the bowl could even slip away.

Time to dig deep, Boilermakers.