Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/377020
GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE BY ANDREW OWENS D arrell Hazell is in year two of a complete culture reconstruc- tion at Purdue. The Boilermak- ers have not won more than seven games in a season since 2007, when Joe Tiller led the program. For Hazell, whose group finished 1-11 a year ago, it's about making the small steps that will get the program back into bowl contention. "This is not a bowl team yet, but Ha- zell's progressing things and recruiting a different type of player not only phys- ically, but mentally," said Mike Carmin, who covers Purdue for the Lafayette Journal & Courier. "Eventually that will pay off for them, probably starting next year, assuming everybody stays. "You'll have pretty good experience coming back. I think Hazell's eventu- ally going to push this program for- ward enough where it should be in the conversation for getting into a bowl every year." For now, however, each week could be a struggle while a young Boilermak- ers team learns how to win. Despite its struggles the past two seasons, Purdue took Notre Dame to the brink in the 2012 and 2013 matchups. This year, the rivalry receives a twist: the programs will play their final regular-season game — until 2020 — at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 13. "It's the marquee nonconference game of the year for Purdue and al- ways has been," Carmin said. "The coaches that have been here over the years have emphasized the Notre Dame game, and that trickles down. It's still Notre Dame and it carries a lot of national weight. Kids know Notre Dame, and when you get on the field with them, you're going to raise your level of play. "Last year it was one of Purdue's Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. PURDUE Date: Sept. 13, 2014. Site: Lucas Oil Stadium (67,000). Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 86th meeting between Notre Dame and Purdue. The Irish hold a 57-26-2 advantage over the Boilermakers. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (39-15, fifth season); Purdue — Darrell Hazell (2-12, second season). Noting Purdue: The Irish have not lost to Pur- due since 2007 and have won eight of the last nine games in the series … Brian Kelly has not lost to Purdue in his first four seasons at the helm of the Irish … Notre Dame survived a three- point win and a seven-point win against Purdue the past two seasons, and needed three fourth- quarter touchdowns to win in West Lafayette, Ind., last year … The two programs will not play a regular-season game until 2020 after facing off annually since 1946 … Purdue ranks seventh in the country in terms of most underclassmen, with 70 of its 101 players in fall camp being fresh- men, redshirt freshmen, sophomores or redshirt sophomores … The Boilermakers have the ninth- least experienced offensive line in the country, with its unit boasting only 30 career starts col- lectively … Purdue returned 86.4 percent of its receptions from last year (203 of 235).