Here we are, in the aftermath of another Oaken Bucket battle, poised to address the big-picture questions when it comes to Purdue and Indiana football, and it starts with the most obvious one:
What was Bill Belichick thinking on that fourth-and-two call?
Sorry. Big pictures sometimes confuse us.
What doesn't confuse us is the potential of both programs. Purdue finished 5-7 after beating Indiana 38-21 for its 11th win in the last 13 meetings between the rivals, and could have been so much better. IU was 4-8 and could have been 8-4 without an act of God (although those acts are nice to have).
So what's in store for these programs? Glad you asked.
♦How good is Purdue?
The Boilers should be a bowl team. Turnovers (a Big Ten-worst 29) ruined the season. Other than the 37-0 mess at Wisconsin, they were positioned to win every game. Ten victories weren't a stretch. Heck, they could have shared the Big Ten title with Ohio State and earned a Rose Bowl berth because they beat the Buckeyes.
Talent returns with defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, tailbacks Ralph Bolden and Al-Terek McBurse, and Big Ten-leading receiver Keith Smith. Coach Danny Hope's Florida pipeline has provided the program with an abundance of speed and athleticism. That includes Miami transfer Robert Marve, who likely will be the quarterback for the next few seasons.
Purdue blew a bowl this year. It doesn't figure to happen again.
♦Is Bill Lynch the coach for Indiana?
In so many ways, the answer is yes. He's a good man and a good coach who does things the right way, and you can't stress that enough at Indiana these days. Still, the bottom line is winning, and in three seasons Lynch is 14-23. That's not good enough, but he has two years left on his contract to turn it around. He has recruited better. The program has young talent, including Fort Wayne's Damarlo Belcher, Mick Mentzer and Lawrence Barnett. IU didn't push Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State to the limit because of luck. Good luck is not a Hoosier football friend. The program needs stability. Plus, it can't afford to buy out Lynch and then hire another coach. It's done that too many times with coaches and athletic directors. Athletic director Fred Glass understands that.
♦Did Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott play well enough to get a shot at the NFL?
Maybe. In his only season as a starter, he led the Big Ten in passing (3,294 yards). He threw for 22 touchdowns, second to the 23 by Penn State's Daryll Clark. He threw too many interceptions (13), but only three in the last five games when he really settled into the position.
In essence, Elliott had a 12-game NFL audition. And if it doesn't work out, he'll head into coaching. Odds are, he'll make a good one.
♦Will IU ever get enough quality depth?
That's been a century-long problem, and if it can't be corrected, the Hoosiers have no chance to find consistency. They have to get more secondary talent, either by signing defensive backs or converting running backs and wide receivers to defense. Barnett will get a great shot next season.
♦Will Jason Werner return for a 66th season?
Sorry. It only seems like this Purdue linebacker has been around that long. He missed two years with injuries. He finally played an entire season and totaled 77 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He's considering petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season. It worked for much-injured teammate Torri Williams, who did play at Purdue for 66 seasons.
♦What's up with Jerimy Finch?
IU seemed to have hit a home run when this former Warren Central superstar transferred from Florida. But the junior safety has basically done nothing at IU, partly because of injuries, mostly because, well, he hasn't played well enough.
♦What does all this mean?
Purdue and Indiana could be close to the point where the Oaken Bucket has bowl implications. It will take consistency, talent, aggressive coaching and the ability to hold onto the darn football.
Is that asking too much?
