Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE better games of the season when they played Notre Dame here where [the Boilermakers led] going into the fourth quarter. All those factors change the level of play, and it's more of a rivalry game for Purdue than it is Notre Dame because every week is kind of a ri- valry week for Notre Dame. You add all those up and that's why Purdue raises its level of play when they play the Irish." Last year, Purdue trotted out Rob Henry at quarterback against Notre Dame, but weeks later Hazell moved him to safety after he had committed too many turnovers (four touchdowns and six interceptions in six games). Current sophomore Danny Etling re- placed him and remains the starter and Purdue's signal-caller of the fu- ture. "He's got a good body of work from [playing in eight games in 2013]," Car- min said. "He took a lot of hits and there were a lot of growing pains from him. We saw a lot of signs of improve- ment from his freshman year [in the season-opening win against Western Michigan] where he did get rid of the ball quicker. He didn't have any turn- overs and that's been a big deal with Darrell Hazell since he's been here. It's why Rob Henry got pulled last year against Northern Illinois and that will be the defining factor. "They are committed to him in the long term, and he's a guy that they've worked with the most. It would take a lot to get him out of the game right now." Purdue boasts a pair of playmak- ers in the backfield with senior run- ning backs Raheem Mostert and Akeem Hunt. The duo accounted for 224 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the 43-34 win over Western Michigan Aug. 30. "[Mostert] can have a big year," Car- min said. "It's going to depend on the passing game. It's going to depend on how effective Akeem Hunt is when those two are on the field. You have Senior running back Raheem Mostert had a strong start to the 2014 campaign, rushing 22 times for 146 yards and one touchdown in the Boilermakers' season opener. PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE