Purdue finds silver linings in loss to Notre Dame
By BROCK SANDERS
ISL Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS – Sometimes, a moral victory just isn’t enough to satisfy a hungry team searching for its third win in two years.
Although Purdue had its best game of the season and arguably of the past two seasons, it wasn’t enough to beat eleventh-ranked Notre Dame. The overmatched Boilers took a 30-14 loss under the lights to one of the best teams in the country at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday. Although they were nearly 30-point underdogs going into the night, the team was not ready to settle for anything less than a win.
“There’s no doubt that everybody was playing hard, but that’s not going to get it done,” junior center Robert Kugler said, “In the end, you have to play hard and execute and put it all together.”
A big key for both teams all night were the missed opportunities. It seemed as if every time the Boilers took the ball down into Notre Dame territory, they turned it over. On second-and-6 from the Notre Dame 9-yard line, Purdue was in position to take the lead with eight minutes left in the first half before Akeem Hunt fumbled the ball and gave it right back to the Irish. The woes of missed opportunities didn’t just hinder Purdue, but the Irish struggled all night to take advantage of Purdue’s mistakes. This allowed the Boilers to stay within 17-14 at halftime.
“We missed some plays,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said, “We overthrow a launch play. We miss a block here or there. We were just a little off in areas.”
A story that was gaining some steam throughout the week was Purdue’s quarterback situation. After Danny Etling’s poor performance last week against Central Michigan, coach Darrell Hazell had some questions that needed answering. Etling started and shredded a Notre Dame defense that shut out perennial powerhouse Michigan the previous week in the early going. Etling went 7-7 for 71 yards and a TD in the first quarter, and by halftime he was 12-14 for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
“I definitely felt more comfortable,” Etling said. “Good to have a lot of faith from my teammates and coaches throughout the week of practice.”
As Purdue moves on to face Southern Illinois, the expectations will be higher. Although it was a loss, the Boilers showed a tough, hard-nosed side that fans have not seen much the past two years. Boilers fans don’t fret — Notre Dame is a tough team, and Purdue showed it can compete with anyone, especially after that first half performance. A team has to go through its ups and downs in order to level off and become a solid, consistent football team. Purdue had a respectable performance against a nationally ranked Notre Dame squad, but the Boilermakers will not be satisfied until they start winning games.
