Boilers in trouble as they visit Buckeyes
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
AL LESAR
Tribune Staff Writer
It's one thing for a football team to follow a loss to Penn State with a trip to Ohio State.
It's something else for that team to make the trip to Columbus without confidence.
Purdue's (2-3, 0-1 in the Big Ten) in a heap of trouble this week. Saturday's 20-6 loss at home to Penn State exposed the warts on the Boilermaker offense.
The passing game couldn't even be considered average. Curtis Painter threw for 112 yards before getting yanked at the end of the third quarter. The running game was worse, with Kory Sheets accounting for 59 yards.
Total offensive output: 241 yards. Not good enough.
"We just have to push on," said Painter, who will be the starter against the Buckeyes. "It's not time to sit back and think."
All through Painter's career, coach Joe Tiller has referred to him as "Steady Eddie". He was a guy that didn't let things get to him ? good or bad. Even after being threatened with the hook against Central Michigan a couple weeks ago, he seemed unflappable.
That changed after Saturday's game. Painter wore the emotion of being replaced on his face. He seemed pained. His answers were more labored than normal.
Maybe it's a good thing he hurts. Maybe emotion is something that will help his game.
Cont...