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Y! MyWebPurdue no bye week for OSU
Boilermakers have given Buckeyes all they can handle in recent years.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
COLUMBUS — Stuck in between a tough road trip to Wisconsin and another potentially tricky away game at Michigan State, No. 12 Ohio State has a home date it would be tempting to write off as easy.
Purdue comes to the Horseshoe today, Oct. 11, having lost three of four and with a quarterback coming off one of his worst games. Maybe that's why the daily newspaper in Columbus had a story earlier this week which said, "Ohio State probably could use a bye week. Purdue will do."
Not so fast. These Boilermakers (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) know their chance for a successful season could be slipping away.
"Our back is against the wall," wide receiver Desmond Tardy said. "It's time for everybody to believe and not hope."
Defensive tackle Ryan Baker added, "This team is motivated by anger right now. We want to win. We're going to do everything it takes to win the game."
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel doesn't think his team can afford to look past anybody.
"The danger is even looking one play ahead because if you're not doing what you need to do on this play it could make the difference in a game and in a season," he said."
The Buckeyes lead the series 36-12-2, but in recent years, the Boilermakers have annually given the Buckeyes fits.
In 2000, Purdue quarterback Drew Brees hit Seth Morales on a long pass in the final minutes for a 31-27 win that spurred the Boilermakers on to the Rose Bowl.
In 2002, Ohio State won the national championship but had one of its closest calls at Purdue. It took a fourth-and-1 bomb from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins to steal a late TD for a 10-6 win.
A year later, the Buckeyes were No. 4 in the nation but had to go to OT to escape with a 16-13 victory over the Purdue at Ohio Stadium.
Purdue took the 2004 meeting 24-17, before a three-year gap in the series. A year ago, the Buckeyes rolled to a 23-7 win.
Purdue's Curtis Painter, who struggled last week against Penn State but will start today, went to the air 60 times in that game, completing 31 for 268 yards.
Today's game
Who: Purdue (2-3, 0-1) at Ohio State (5-1, 2-0)
When: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC (WKEF Ch. 22)
Radio: WING-AM (1410)
