Get used to Ups and Downs

Another very enjoyable game to watch and once again we were blessed with spectacular weather. Here are some in-stadium notes and thoughts.

Positives: We came out on fire in the second half and really mixed it up well. Kudos to Charlie on his halftime speech because frankly we looked pretty average in the first half. Our receivers are play makers. Kind of like USC receivers usually are. It always frustrates me how top receivers out play our d-backs for the ball even when we have good coverage. Well now we have a bunch of those guys and they made some terrific catches. As Joe Tiller noted, with a quarterback who gets the ball close, we are going to make some plays. Yes, we also showed a bit of a run game now that we figured out we can set it up with the pass.

Negatives: Kicking game as noted by the Colonel. Hope that does not become our Achilles heel. I am also very frustrated with the 10-yard cushion our d-backs were giving at the line of scrimmage. I was watching this rather carefully in the first half. Purdue had several EASY 5-7 yard gains on quick outs. Guess we were concerned about getting burned deep (which we did anyway a couple times). It did seem that the corners tightened up a bit in the second half and it seemed to pay off.

At this point in the season I have concluded that we are likely to see some more big swings in performance as this team plays young. We will look like world beaters for a quarter, than look like dumbbells for a half. Or vice versa. There was a sequence in the first half that crystallized this for me. We drove down the field for 70 yards; we missed a short field goal; we gave up a big play on defense; we grab an interception for a touchdown; etc. Get used to some more head scratchers as we go. But expect to see a powerhouse in the next 2 years. I feel very good about the future right now.

Other game notes. One jet flyover was very cool; superlow with the afterburners blazing. He was a few seconds late but what a rush. Band show was a salute to Sinatra; not a student crowd pleaser but some very fine arrangements. Big kick line in the NY-NY number. Those visiting next week will see/hear a great band show because they try to kick it up a notch for the alums. The band had a very busy September with 5 shows in a row. October will be quiet by comparison.

Well on to game 5. We may sneak into the top 25 this week though I kind of hope we don't yet. It was an average Purdue team we beat. But you see and sense some confidence and I have to remember that turnovers killed us at MSU. We really should cruise in October but let's take them one at a time.

I will have to think about my score prediction. For now GO IRISH, BEAT CARDINAL!