Q&A: Alex Magee, DT, Purdue

A versatile defensive lineman, Alex Magee spent his college days with the Boilermakers, plaguing offenses on the inside and outside and left and right side of the defense. For a lineman, Magee shows tremendous athleticism blocking kicks or intercepting passes while maintaining physicality at the point of attack. Join Player Spotlight host John Sears as he discusses Magee's career at Purdue and his preparations for next week's NFL Draft.

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Judging by what I have seen from your Pro Day compared to the Combine, you have made some improvements, especially with your 40-time. What was the difference between the workouts?

Magee: The Combine was real fun. I had fun competing against most of the top athletes in the nation. I think one thing that is different about the Combine compared to your Pro Day is that you don’t have to worry about all the other stuff. We had testing early in the mornings. At the Pro Day you get up and you have the whole day, which is just there for working out, no psychological tests. It was a great experience for me to get to hang around with the elite athletes in the nation going to the NFL Draft.

How do you think you measure up against the elite linemen from the Combine? Who do you think you are similar to?

Magee: I think the defensive tackle class is very talented. When I was down at the Senior Bowl, I got to hang around B.J. Raji, Evander Hood, and others. I think we all bring a different style as far as our attributes are concerned. I think I bring more versatility to the table where I can do the outside as a defensive end or I can go from the inside…I’ve done it all on the defensive line, so I just feel they [NFL teams] can see me just not being in one spot. I can play basically down the whole front.

Is there any position you have the most fun playing?

Magee: [laughs] I laugh because I get that question all the time. I guess if you ask me where I feel more comfortable I would say defensive tackle, because that’s where I have been playing the majority of my college career and all throughout high school. But I cross-train with defensive ends. I think my last season at Purdue I was 300 lbs, and I played that position at 300-lbs, defensive end…I’ve never been in steady training at defensive end, because I haven’t been there consistently. If I were to be there consistently, like I was at defensive tackle, I think I would adjust very well and very easily.

Where do you weigh in right now?

Magee: Right now I am about 288-290.

Any feedback from NFL teams on where they would like to see your weight?

Magee: I’ve asked teams where they'd like to see their players at as far as weight. With some of them it’s not a big issue—they asked me where I feel most comfortable playing. I think I feel most comfortable playing around 295. No lighter than 285 and no heavier than 305.

If you had it your way, what team would really excite you to play for?

Magee: I would say...I grew up around Chicago and I like the Bears a lot. They have a great history, a great defense. I think I would want to play there and be in my hometown. It would be a real fun experience to play there. I actually talked to Coach Marinelli and he was really cool. I think the Bears would be a good fit for me. But I just want to get drafted. That’s my main goal.

Anyone you follow in the NFL? Someone you look up to?

Magee: I don’t have a favorite player. Obviously everyone that plays football looks up to somebody that plays their position. Just to name a few: Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson, those guys on the Bears, they are great. DeMarcus Ware, my boy who used to play here at Purdue and is with the Cowboys now, Anthony Spencer.

Right, well I wasn’t expecting you to say you modeled your game after Robbie Gould, or Jason Elam, or Mike Vanderjagt. I haven’t heard someone say that someone they look up to in the NFL was someone outside their position.

Magee: [laughs] Yeah, but you've got some professional guys like Brett Favre—he’s real smart, takes care of himself. You look up to those guys too. Those guys are smart, great football players.

Any players you are excited to line up against?

Magee: Yeah, I wouldn’t mind putting a hit on Peyton Manning, I’m not going to lie [Sears laughs]. If I get the chance, obviously I am going to take it, but that would be something, just to see him. I’ve been in Indiana for quite some time and I have actually never met him. I understand he is a great football player, I just want to see what the hype’s all about. No, I want to just meet the guy, honestly.

You are potentially looking to work for the FBI once your football career is over. I’m curious because it’s kind of funny if you think about it, that you would be a 300-lb man out in the field, running down crooks.

Magee: [laughs]

You would kind of be like Shaq, he’s a cop.

Magee: Yeah, not quite as big and hopefully a little faster than Shaq. I don’t know. Maybe it will be a little easier. We won’t know until we see.

What do you like to do outside football?

Magee: I don’t know, yesterday I just kind of kicked it with my homeboys here at school. Played some dominoes. That’s one thing I like to do. Fight Night Boxing on Playstation 3. I just like to chill and kick back and relax. And when I am home I am hanging with my family, my mom and my sister.

Or maybe hanging out at Harry’s [bar] a little bit?

Magee: [laughs] What’s Harry’s? I don’t even know what Harry’s is.

Oh yeah, I don’t know either.

Magee: [laughs]

Photo Credit: Purdue University Sports Information

Q&A: Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue

Interviewed by Daniel Mogollon, Ralph Mancini and Rodney Towe on the All Access Football Friday Show on All Access Football Radio from April 3, 2009.

The Draft is now 22 days away—do you have a feel for which teams are really interested in you?

Painter: You know it’s tough. At this point you see some teams that maybe, you think, are going to draft a quarterback, but I think it’s so hard to tell. With the recent action that is going on, even between Denver and Chicago, there are always things that are going on out there, so you never even know. Things can happen from now up until the Draft, so like I said, you get some ideas but I think it’s tough to really pinpoint the teams that are really interested or what might happen.

I know you told us about the Denver thing awhile back and I was joking with you when the deal went down. You haven’t started shopping for houses in Denver just yet, then?

Painter: (Laughs) No, not quite. It’s like what we talked about—there might be a team there that is looking to draft someone for a back-up type role or anything related to that. That type of thing is obviously a great opportunity. That would be something I would look forward to if that opportunity came about, certainly.

Tell us what you do with all this media information that’s out there, a couple of days ago I was able to sit down in person with Ian Johnson out of Boise State and Jarret Dillard out of Rice and one guy was telling me how they can’t help it, they are on the internet looking at sites seeing where they’re ranked and seeing what the rumors are. That was Jarret Dillard. Ian Johnson said if people even tell him anything he just walks away, he doesn’t want to hear anything. Where do you fall on that spectrum?

Painter: I’m kind of like the second way. I don’t really like to get involved in it and look at too many things or even hear too many things. I just kind of sit and wait at this point; I guess, and hopefully get that call here in the next couple of weeks and go from there. I think you start worrying yourself and thinking too many things if you look at all the predictions. I think it’s better for me to just sit and wait.

Your quick release has always been one of your assets. Tell us what you can offer an NFL team in terms of your physical strengths and abilities?

Painter: I think that along with having a fairly strong arm, I think my physical size would allow me to be successful. I’m fairly tall and weight wise, I think I’m at the right weight where I could take a couple of hits, but at the same time I can move around the pocket. I am not a speed guy, so I’m not going to do much once I break the pocket, but I think just being able to be quick in the pocket, whether it be moving and trying to avoid tackles, is a positive I bring to the table. I think that and my arm would be the biggest things, physically.

Talk to us about your senior year. We all know that Purdue had a disappointing season, but what type of progress did you make individually and what did you learn as a person from the season?

Painter: I think when you look at the type of season we had, you get more of a mental game from it then you do a physical one . You look at the type of season we had, it certainly wasn’t what we expected or hoped for but you go through the season, you face a lot of difficult times, you go through it as a team and I think the biggest thing is as a team, we grew, we kept grinding throughout the entire season and our last two games were the best two games of the season. We lost in Iowa, but we kept fighting. I think it shows a kind of fight in our team, to never give up, and I think that I took that personally as well. When you’re down and it’s a tough season, you just continue to push and to strive to get better. I think that’s where it helped me the most.

One of the things we often talk about on our show is the interview process that the players have to go through with a lot of NFL types. Just this past week, as a matter of fact, there was a story out where coach Mike Singletary was kind of critical of Matthew Stafford because he wouldn’t answer some of the more personal, family-type questions that were asked of him. Have you ever encountered that type of situation, where you felt sort of uncomfortable with some of the questions that were thrown at you?

Painter: Not really. Fortunately my family’s been great. I don’t have any problems there. I think the interview process is just a chance for me to, football wise, show what I know and you get to talk to the coaches about the x’s and o’s. I think that’s a chance for me to express my knowledge. I feel like I’m a pretty experienced quarterback in that respect and I knew our offense very well, so I think that only helps me. I think outside of football it just gives the team a little chance to see where I’m coming from, my background, what kind of family you have and the type of person you are. I guess it is all part of it and I’ve never really shied away from any comments, questions or answering any questions.

How about any oddball questions like; if you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?

Painter: There were a few tests that were very difficult like that, whether you’d be a dog or a cat. You get some interesting ones, but nothing that was too difficult, I guess.

What would you be, a dog or a cat?

Painter: (Laughs) I said a dog. There’s really no rhyme or reason to that. I guess cats lie around all day and are supposed to be lazy and I guess I wouldn’t really like doing that.

Let me ask you a little bit about Purdue Boilermaker football. When I was talking to Coach Danny Hope, we talked about who might be your replacement at quarterback in the “cradle of quarterbacks”. Obviously Justin Siller (since dismissed for the 2009 season due to academics) had that great game against Michigan where he threw for 266 yards, three touchdowns and ran for 77 yards as a freshman. Coach Hope reminded me not to forget about Joey Elliot. What are your thoughts on the two guys battling for that QB position?

Painter: I think Justin is a guy that has all kinds of ability. He’s the type of player that you really want on the field to make plays, whatever position that may be. He was playing running back a little bit and kind of moving around. He’s just a terrific athlete and I think that’s what really helps him succeed. I think Joey Elliot is the more prototypical Purdue quarterback. He’s a guy that’s been in the system a long time with me, he's a very intelligent guy. I think that when you have a program like Coach Hope has, you’re coming in and you change a few things. You need a guy that’s a little more experienced. He may not have game time experience, but he’s the type of guy that knows his stuff and will be able to pick up a system very easily. I think at the transition phase that Purdue is in right now, Joey will be able to come in and be that guy, the senior leader, and lead that offense this year.

You mentioned the “Purdue quarterback” like it was in quotes. When you’re there, is there any pressure at all to succeed and do well at this position because the school has developed a reputation for doing so well and all the guys in front of you are doing well?

Painter: I think it is kind of the nature of people who follow Purdue to compare quarterbacks. I got compared a lot to (Drew) Brees and (Kyle) Orton. I think a guy could get caught up in it if he really started listening to everything. I really tried not to think about any of that or compare myself. I know if I did that there would be a lot of pressure. I think that things are so different from year to year. Things are a lot different from when Drew Brees played than when Kyle played and now when I played. It’s hard for me, with my personality, to get into those comparisons, so I try not to put too much pressure on myself.

Time for thee-and-out...First down: Your favorite sport outside of football?

Painter: Basketball.

Second down: Favorite baseball player of all time?

Painter: Albert Pujols.

Third down: Which competition would you do better in, “Dancing with the Stars” or “American Idol”?

Painter: Dancing with the Stars.

You’ve got some moves there?

Painter: No, I don’t have moves, but I definitely don’t have a voice.

Basically, less damage there?

Painter: Exactly.

Photo Credit: Purdue University Sports Information

Q&A: Danny Hope, Head Coach, Purdue

College Football Insiders Coaches Corner with Coach Danny Hope of Purdue was conducted on the morning of the Boilermakers Pro Day. Hosted by CFI Founder Daniel Mogollon.

Let’s start with some of the Boilermakers heading to the NFL Draft, beginning with quarterback Curtis Painter. Last week we spoke to Coach Bob Johnson, who is working with Painter, and he believes Curtis will be a starter in the NFL. Do you think he is underrated as a quarterback prospect?

Hope: I think so. Curtis came on board last year and he had great numbers. He went through the 2008 season with the football team and had a chance to be out there in the spring and all of the fall. He’s got great arm strength. He’s an excellent person. He’s got good height. He went down to the Combine and ran better than people anticipated. I think he was a little bit under a 4.9, I think he ran in high 4.8’s in the 40. Coming out of the Combine, he opened a lot of people’s eyes up with his accuracy and the strength of his arm. There’s a bunch of people coming in today, we’ll have about 20 NFL teams here and a lot of those guys will be here to find out more about Curtis Painter. I don’t have any motivations to think that he’s not a NFL quarterback from a physical standpoint. Obviously his senior campaign didn’t go quite as well as he wanted it to, but there were a lot of circumstances that he couldn’t
control that effected his numbers. I think he’ll get his shot, and do well when he gets his opportunity.

Having said that…passing yards, completion percentage and touchdowns were down…what happened this past season?

Hope: We weren’t as good on offense, obviously. There were a couple of top receivers that did not come back for the 2009 season cause their eligibility was up. Dustin Keller was drafted in the first round last year, he was a big playmaker and a tight end who could get vertical down field and stretch the defense in special ways. Curtis was able to take advantage of that, but we didn’t have that threat at the tight end position this season. We had some injuries at the tight end position and really didn’t open up the tight end passing attack, and that cut his numbers back some. Last year Dorrian Bryant, in 2007, he was the leading receiver in the Big Ten and one of the leading receivers nationally for two, three years in a row. He went on to go play in the league, he was not back and that effected him in some ways. Some of our top playmakers were gone. Then we struggled up front, offensive line-wise. (We) had a lot of guys injured coming into the season and had to play a lot of young offensive linemen, some true freshmen and that limits some of the things you can do as far as spreading the field out and taking some chances, protection-wise. I think it was a combination of a lot of things.

How about Kory Sheets? I think he surprised people with his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine, what kind of player can he be at the next level?

Hope: I think he could help a team in a lot of ways. He’s a good kick return man, he has legitimate speed, and good size, not great. But I’m not surprised he ran as fast as he did. I think he ran somewhere in the mid, low 4.4’s. He was an excellent sprinter in high school. He was a track man in high school and had documented track times. He was fortunate this season to get the bulk of the work at the running back spot. We had an injury to one of our top running backs, Jason Taylor. We relied a lot on Kory Sheets and he rose to the occasion and really did a great job. He rushed for over 1,200 yards and was a good receiver out of the backfield, but I think the fact that he played in the spread offense and knows how to catch the football will separate him from some other guys at his position. If he can prove himself to be a physical player, I think he can do very well in National Football League. He is very talented and I think he has the desire to do well.

Being a former offensive line coach and a former offensive lineman yourself, tell us what makes defensive tackle Alex Magee difficult to block...

Hope: Well, he’s very quick and he has good size, good explosion. He’s marketable in some ways because he has enough size to play inside. He’s not the 320-, 30-, or 40-pound defensive tackle, he’s not a Teddy Washington type, size-wise. He can go inside and play, and he’s athletic enough to go out on the edges and play, and be a decently-sized defensive end. I think his marketability is up because he can have a chance to play both positions. He has good speed, not great, I think he is a guy that is quicker than he is fast and that makes a difference when you're playing on the line of scrimmage. He has the knack for rushing the passer, I think he’s a good player and has a real upside to him. I think he’s got the tools that you're looking for to play on the defensive line. So I think all three of those guys are guys that will test out well and open people’s eyes. I think all three of those guys will be drafted.

Do you think Magee can make the adjustment to play end in a three-four scheme? That’s not an easy thing to find…

Hope: No, and it’s a good position for him to play out there, in a loose five technique. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him filling that role. He is also a smart guy that will test out well in all of the aptitude tests which will make a very good impression. I think that will help his stock.

How many teams have spoken to you? And which guys are drumming up the most interest?

Hope: Well, they all come through here. They all do a great job, the NFL does a great job at researching and doing their homework. They get the data that they need. Everyone has been here, they’ve all asked questions. They’re all here today, the building is full of them, they’re all over the place and we’re going to meet here in a few minutes to get more of their questions answered, but they’ve all been through here.

Spring is almost upon us…Purdue is about two weeks away from spring camp, I believe Wednesday March 25th is the exact date. What are you looking to accomplish in your first spring as headman of the Boilermakers?

Hope: We are going to crank it up here in a couple of weeks. They are leaving after classes today, if they have not already left, to go on spring break. We have had great pre-spring training program. I think the guys really worked hard and had a lot of energy about them. Morale was up, they were excited about some of the new things that we’re doing. I’m looking forward to spring ball starting, it will kick up in about 12 days. The first two days we’ll go out in shorts only and then we’ll get the pads on. I think our guys are excited about that. We have a lot of young guys that are very talented. We feel good with what we have coming back from a depth standpoint because a lot of guys aren’t really what you would call marquee or heralded players. A lot of the guys that are coming back were new to getting on the field last year and I think they can take their game to another level. We're bringing in some fresh blood, and there will be some great competition out there, we're anticipating a very spirited spring. Guys out there will be competing for starting jobs, and we go into the spring with the idea that all spots are open and our guys are excited about that. The depth chart that we post daily...we move the depth chart around based on how guys are performing in spring ball so we expect it to be very competitive, very spirited. We have a lot of questions to be answered at every position on our team, more questions at some spots than others, and we have a lot of work to do. But I feel good about our preparation going into the spring and the attitude of our players going into the spring.

Justin Siller was brilliant in a 48-42 victory over Michigan, throwing for 266 yards and three touchdowns and adding another 77 yards and a score on the ground as a freshman. Is this his job?

Hope: He’s going to have to compete obviously, and we have another quarterback in Joey Elliot that was second on the depth chart behind Curtis Painter. He was injured, and then Curtis Painter was injured so we moved Siller from running back. He did a great job and there will be competition at that job. Elliot obviously won’t be at full speed going into the spring, but he’ll get some reps. Then we have a freshman (Caleb TerBush)that was red-shirted last year, he comes from the state of Illinois, right next door. He’s a small kid, with a good arm and we’ll get him some reps as well. Also, we have a new quarterbacks coach. I think it’s a big spring for us, obviously, at the quarterback position. We've got two guys that have played, in Joey Elliot and Justin Siller, and both have have been lined up as the number one or number two at some time last season. We also have a new quarterbacks coach from Florida Atlantic University and he’s going to get our quarterback competition under way.

Is it possible that Justin could move back to running back if he doesn’t win the quarterback job?

Hope: I don’t see that happening. We have some guys at the running back spot that are going to get their opportunities and we anticipate they'll all stay healthy, so Justin will stay at quarterback.

Who are some of those guys moving to the forefront? Losing Sheets, he ran over 1,100 yards and Justin was second leading rusher with a 167, so we're talking about unknown products at that position, right?

Hope: Exactly. But they're all guys that were on the team last year. Guys that were on the travel squad and guys that have gotten reps in practice and that understand what we're trying to get done. We had a freshman that we played last year, Ralph Bolden, that was injured for part of his senior season. He came in last year and we did not red-shirt him. He played a little bit last year. He’s a good throwback prospect. Frank Halliburton, out of Indianapolis, he’s a big back and played some special teams for us last year. He might play some at the fullback position. Daniel Dierking was one of the leading rushers in Illinois three years ago. He was mostly a special teams player last year. He’ll get reps at the running back spot as well. Another big back, by the name of (Jared) Crank played some on special teams last year. The running back spot is wide open with a couple of big backs. Obviously Ralphy played some last year and Frank, those are the guys that will get the bulk of the reps.

I got a recruiting question for you about quarterback Nayee Tyler. I’m from New York and we don’t produce many football players, so a quarterback out of Brooklyn is big news locally. What can you tell me about him?

Hope: We’re really excited about him. We were surprised that we were on his list. Right now the way recruiting works, everyone is worried about filling up so fast with early commitments. A lot of these guys are signed before their senior year. But he’s a very special athlete, and a very special person. He’s a guy that was on our mailing list his junior year. They had a very good running back and didn’t throw the football a whole lot till the end of the season. His senior season, they changed things around and threw the ball more and threw it well. He’s a guy that we knew about, but he was unproven as a player and his film came in and he went through the film evaluation process that we have. We all thought that he had a great upside to him and he did a great job in his senior year. He’s big, about 6’6, 230 something pounds and very smart. He traveled about a hour and a half just to go one way in high school. It was a great high school that he went to, the program (Xaverian) that he played at. We think we did very well. Towards the end, when people started getting a scale in and looking at him, we realized he was a special player from a top school in the country coming in. We already gotten on him and he was sold on Purdue, so we thought we did very well and were very fortunate in that recruiting situation.

Photo Credit: Purdue University Sports Information

Q&A: Danny Hope, Head Coach, Purdue

In five seasons at Eastern Kentucky, Coach Danny Hope posted a record of 35-22 including a 9-3 season in 2007 when the Colonels went 8-0 in Ohio Valley play winning the school’s first conference championship in 10 years, earning him Ohio Valley Coach of the Year honors. In 2008, Hope returned to Purdue were he once coached the offensive line, as the "coach-in-waiting" taking over the reigns from legendary headman Joe Tiller.

Hope joins All Access Football Radio on the morning of the Purdue Pro Day in this College Football Insiders Coaches Corner with CFI Founder Daniel Mogollon. Coach Hope breaks down NFL prospects QB Curtis Painter, RB Korry Sheets and DL Alex Magee, in addition to previewing the spring for his Boilermakers. 16 Min.

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Photo Credit: Purdue University Sports Information

Q&A: Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue

West Lafayette, home to the Purdue Boilermakers, aka “the cradle of quarterbacks”, helped introduce a new era in the Big Ten under coach Joe Tiller, that being the passing/spread offense. Under Tiller’s tutelage, a lineage of quarterbacks have walked in to Ross-Ade and thrown their way into the school and conference record books. Drew Brees, now a perennial MVP candidate with the New Orleans Saints, proved that “system quarterbacks” can succeed in the NFL…Next in line was Kyle Orton, who finished his 2008 campaign with the Chicago Bears with just under 3,000 yards passing and 18 touchdowns. Next to make his splash as a Joe Tiller disciple is Curtis Painter, who sits in the top ten in the Purdue and Big Ten record books after his four years of service with the Boilermakers - 11,163 yards, 67 touchdowns, 60% completion percentage to name a few highlights. Curtis is now focused on the NFL combine and has been kind enough to offer up some time to discuss his preparation.

Curtis, welcome to the NFL Draft Bible’s player spotlight. I hear you are actually out in California training in preparation for the combine. Is that correct?

Painter: I am. The training facility is located in Irvine, California, right in Orange County. It is Velocity Sports. So that’s where we do primarily most of our speed and strength conditioning-type exercises. And then we will also have a quarterback coach out here that we work with and he’s doing a good job with that and having a great time.

Are you accompanied by other potential NFL hopefuls as well?

Painter: I am. There is about 15 to 20 of us altogether. The other quarterbacks are Mark Sanchez, Patrick White, Tom Brandstater, and Nathan Brown so it’s a good group of quarterbacks you get to go up against every day, develop a nice relationship and friendship with...it’s just fun. It’s a great camaraderie - you get to push each other every day and make great friends in the process.

With Sanchez there, White there, Brandstater there, you pretty much have three different types of quarterbacks you can compare yourself to. I don’t think you’d want to compare yourself as the runner that Pat White is, but it must be fun to size yourself up to all the different styles that are getting ready for the pros.

Painter: Yeah, it really is. You have guys like Mark [Sanchez] and Pat [White] who are very highly respected at the next level and it’s great going up against them and some of the other guys you go against and hear about. So it’s great to get a chance to meet them. It’s really fun, you get to go out and compete and develop friendships, which is just great.

So while you are out there, they must have you running a little bit. We have you listed at around 6’2.5”, 222 lbs. Is that still accurate or have you shaved a few pounds off in the hot sun running around doing sprint drills?

Painter: That’s about right, right around 220. And that’s about right – 6’2.5”-6’3”.

Would you consider that a good fighting weight for you, 220?

Painter: Yeah, I think so. I think personally I feel the best right around that weight. I’ve been a little heavier, I’ve been a little lighter, and I think right around there is a really good weight for me. It still allows me to move around fairly well and also to be able to take some hits with a little bit of size. I am pretty happy where I am in that respect.

Do you have specific goals for your 40-time when you get to the combine, anything you’d like to hit that says, “this is good enough” or “puts me in a good range for where I’d like to be”?

Painter: I would like to be in the high 4.8’s, right around there. I think that would be a respectable time for myself. I don’t think I am going to be the fastest guy or the quickest guy there, but just being able to go out there and compete and show I have a certain amount of ability you may not see much on film, because I am more of a pocket passer.

Are you planning on doing all the drills at the combine?

Painter: I am. I think the only one the quarterbacks don’t have to do is the bench press, so I won’t be doing that. But all the others I will be doing, I’ll be competing and I really look forward to that.

Now you have to have, with your buddies, thrown 225 on the bench back in West Lafayette. Can you give us a little insight there?

Painter: My best was 21. I did that, I believe, the last summer or last spring during workouts back in Purdue. Haven’t done it since…still working on strength out here now.

What else are you doing to prepare for the combine. Obviously, as you said, it’s throwing more so than running…and from our view, from the outside looking in, it seems like passing drills and interviews would be the keys as far as impressing the scouts. So what are you doing to prepare?

Painter: You’re exactly right, I think the passing drills will be a huge part of it and that’s obviously what we do a lot of on the field. I think it’s great we have so many quarterbacks from so many different systems here, because when we sit down and do some film sessions and get up on the board with each other, you get a lot of different things from different teams across the nation. The interview process is big for us, just being able to get up on the board and talk about your offense and what you know, and just being confident about it, going through these interviews and really exposing yourself and showing them what you know and what you are capable of, football-wise. That’s definitely a huge aspect some people may overlook – they just see what’s on the field and what people produce, but it’s a lot of stuff in the film room.

Absolutely, and I think for quarterbacks that’s essential. I remember I read an article about Drew Brees, and it was talking about some of the training exercises he does – where he is balancing on one ball and has a playing card thrown at him and the guy training him will throw out a defense and he [Brees] has to give him the play that should be called to go against that perfect defense. Obviously the mental acuity, the sharpness has to be there. So you think you have that? What’s in the water in West Lafayette that allows a Brees or an Orton - seemingly everyone under Joe Tiller - to come in from that “college-based spread offense” and be successful? What is it about that training or that offense that has given you that edge?

Painter: I think part of it is that obviously these are two great quarterbacks and would be successful anywhere. The offense there [Purdue] is one that allows the game to kind of be in the quarterback’s hands. We’re the type of offense that's going to spread the ball around and get it to a lot of receivers. And I think with that and a balanced running game, it really provides an opportunity for us to be successful. I think that I was very fortunate to get the chance to have some experience early on in my career and start from an early age, and that really helped me in my process of developing that experience level and that continued into my junior and senior year.

What would you say would be your best throws? I would assume from the offense you came from, a lot of 3 to 5-step drops, four receivers running patters – do you have any particular patterns you feel you have mastered?

Painter: You’re right. We do a lot of what we call “quick games”, which is a lot of three-step drops and getting the ball out fast – a lot of slants and short out routes. I think those are two throws I do fairly well. And then, on our five-steps, we do a lot of deeper outs, skinny posts, routes like that. You always have the curls and the digs, I think I throw those fairly well. Our offense is like that – we’ll throw some quick, we’ll throw some deep and right in the middle there, and then we’ll hit you with the long one. I think that’s what’s great about our offense – it’s just very balanced and really unpredictable in a lot of ways.

Do you think there is any offensive system/strategy in the pros that meshes really well with what you’ve done under Coach Tiller at Purdue?

Painter: Since I’ve been at Purdue we’ve been testing a few different things, a few different looks – we’ve done a little of the option game, we’ve spread it out, that’s pretty normal for us, we’ve had the ability to go to a double tight-end set, which is considered a pro-style offense. So I think just doing a lot of different things through my entire career, when I’ve talked about experience and getting in a lot of games, I guess that kind of helps me be a little more well-rounded. I'd like to think I can step in to any system with a little experience from college and hopefully be able to be successful and make an impact.

How’s the shoulder doing?

Painter: Doing good. Had the injury right there towards the end of the season. I think it was really big for me to be able to come back, play the last two games, and I think, play very well. I think my arm felt great. It was very big for me to just get back and show teams, show people it wasn’t an injury that would nag me or continue on. So it’s feeling great, back to normal and I'm happy about that obviously.

Well I think judging by how you finished up the season even though it was disappointing, I think you came out and you took it out on your rival, Indiana. They felt the pain of your healthy shoulder, what did you have, five touchdowns that game, 450 yards?

Painter: It was a fun game for us after a season we really didn’t expect or obviously want, but I think you got to give our team some credit. We fought hard even in the Iowa game, we were down by a few touchdowns and we fought hard to get back, to give ourselves a chance to win the game. The IU game, we played well and I think that’s a testament to our team - after a frustrating season, we were able to come back, play well, and end it on the right note.

That was one of the things I wanted to try and glean from you – obviously your season didn’t pan out how you would have wanted it, so do you feel there is anything you can turn into a positive about your senior campaign, personally or as a team, so that anyone that’s been watching you can look beyond the statistics from 2008?

Painter: I think the big thing is that it’s not so much what goes on on the field but it’s just going through that type of season, the stresses of being in some games and losing them, and obviously the injury. You go through a lot, you learn a lot, you build a lot of character just going through it. And I think that, touching on our team, we learned a great deal going through the season and just continuing to fight, and staying positive. We were able to close out the season and I think a lot of teams after a few losses would hang their heads and let the rest of the season go down, but we were able to fight back and end it on a good note. I think you can say that about each person, including myself. I really learned a lot about character and what it’s like going through a tough season.

Have you had conversations with Drew Brees or Kyle Orton about coming into the NFL after your years at Purdue? If so, have they given you any pointers ?

Painter: I probably have a little closer relationship with Kyle because I was there my true freshman year while he was there his senior year. So I know Kyle fairly well and I have talked to him a few times. He just gave me some advice early on, before I got out training, and everything just about the whole process. He gave me a lot of information about what would go on in the next few months and I think that really helped out. It’s great to have those types of people. Drew is obviously just a great guy and a great person to mirror. He’s very successful, did a lot of great things while he was at Purdue and now in the NFL. He’s certainly a person you would like to model yourself after and I guess strive to be like.

Anyone you are looking forward to playing against at the next level?

Painter: Not really. I think more than anything it would be fun to meet up with past teammates. There are a few guys on teams throughout the league and guys I haven’t seen in a while. It would be great to play against them. And now some of the guys I met here, it’s been a great opportunity to meet a lot of guys and I think that will be fun when we get to compete against those guys.

Well, Curtis, thank you. All the best down at the combine. I will possibly run in to you - I’ll be down there towards the end of the week through the weekend, so all the best in your training until then and good luck once the draft hits.

Painter: Great. Thank you very much, thanks for having me.

Photo Credit: Purdue University Sports Information

All Access Football Radio: All-Star Game Special

ALL ALL STAR GAME SPECIAL! JANUARY 28th, 2008 * 10:00-11:00 PM EST

Powered by All Access Football Radio Channel, in affiliation with Blog Talk Radio.

The One Hour show will be co-hosted by Daniel Mogollon (College Football Insiders Founder/NFL Draft Bible President) and NFL Draft Bible/CFI Senior Writer Ralph Mancini

WHAT'S ON TAP:
• Former Oklahoma Sooner NIC HARRIS who played in the last week.
• Live from the El Paso, Texas vs. The Nation participants for The Nation team QB CURTIS PAINTER from Purdue and San Jose St. CB CHRISTOPHER OWENS, who is representing Texas
• Draft Guy SIGMUND BLOOM on location from the Texas vs. The Nation game
• The Fantasy Five: Which All-Star Game Participants can help your fantasy team in 2009

*** LISTEN HERE ***

*Join our chat-room or call-in with your questions: 347.945.6275

*Missed It Live? Shows are archived 15 minutes upon conclusion of each episode here

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

This Date in College Football History

Dec. 31, 1984: Virginia celebrates their first bowl invitation with a 27- 24 victory over Purdue with a trip to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Ga. Trailing 24-14 at the half, Cavaliers quarterback Don Majkowski runs the ball for the tying touchdown while Kenny Stadlin adds a field goal to take the lead. Late in the fourth quarter Ray Daly intercepts Boilermakers Jim Everett's pass to seal the win.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Big Ten - Best 1-2 Punch: Offense

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

5. Adam Weber to Eric Decker (Minnesota): Decker was on top of the conference in receptions (76) and second in touchdowns (6) and yards (925). The two combined to catalyze their offense’s early season success, which suffered once Decker went down with an ankle injury. In the last two years, this tandem has connected for 143 receptions 1,834 yards and 15 touchdowns and will have one more year together.

4. Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy [and Keith Smith] (Purdue): Orton (69 receptions, 720 yards, five touchdowns) and Tardy (67 receptions, 876 yards, five touchdowns) combined for 136 catches for 1,596 yards and 10 touchdowns. Throw in Keith Smith as a third option (49 receptions, 486 yards, two touchdowns) and you have a trio that was as good or arguably better statistically as Penn State’s Big Three.

3. Evan Royster and Derrick Williams (Penn State): These teammates finished in the top ten in all-purpose yards combining for 2,689 yards, 19 total touchdowns, and big contributions to the Spread HD. Land, air or sea, Royster and Williams helped catalyze the conference’s best scoring and total offenses.

2. Juice Williams and Daniel Dufrene (Illinois): Williams had a splendid year in total yards accumulated with 3,892 (3,173 passing). But he (719 yards, five touchdowns) and Dufrene (663 yards) hold the 8th and 9th spots as Big Ten rushing leaders. Altogether you have 4,555 yards between the two.

1. P.J. Hill and John Clay (Wisconsin): The quintessential 1-2 punch in the backfield. Hill finished sixth in yards (1,021) and fourth in touchdowns (12) while Clay, as a freshman, finished seventh in yards (845) and eighth in touchdowns (9). That’s 1,866 yards and 21 touchdowns combined. And both are likely to be back next year.

Tomorrow: Best 1-2 Punch: Defense

Photo Credit: University of Minnesota Athletic Communications

This Date in College Football History

Nov. 12, 1966: Playing in sub-freezing weather in Minneapolis, Purdue shuts out Minnesota 16-0, securing its first-ever bid to the Rose Bowl. Boilermaker quarterback Bob Griese (1984 College Football Hall of Fame inductee) opens the second half by completing five consecutive passes, including a touchdown pass to Jim Bierne.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

This Date in College Football History

Oct. 19, 1957: Unranked and 0-3 Purdue enters East Lansing and upsets No. 1 Michigan State 20-13. The Boilermakers recover five Spartan fumbles.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Big Ten Week 4 Preview

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan have the week off. One could argue, by virtue of their schedules, that Penn State (vs. Temple) and Ohio State (vs. Troy) come pretty close to having the week off before they open up their Big Ten conference schedules. This week may leave a lot to be desired overall, but let’s take a look at some intriguing match-ups:

1. (Purdue vs. Central Michigan) Purdue’s Curtis Painter vs. Central Michigan’s Chris LeFevour: The stellar quarterbacks go toe-to-toe in what could be a match-up eventually seen on Sundays. Last year, LeFevour put up strong numbers (17-34, 296 yards, 4 touchdowns) in a dramatic shoot-out loss (51-48) to the Boilermakers, in which Painter threw for over 500 yards and three touchdowns. Expect nothing less from these two future pros in this season’s sequel. Not enough to whet your appetite? Central Michigan is 109th in passing defense, yielding 285 yards a game. Who will put on the better show for the scouts? PREDICTION: Purdue 85, CMU 77

2. (MSU at ND) Will MSU running back Javon Ringer continue his Heisman campaign against Notre Dame? Ringer leads the NCAA FBS in attempts (104) and touchdowns (nine) and is third in yards (498). On the other side of the ball, ND’s defense was susceptible to the shifty running of Michigan’s Sam McGuffie (25-131, 5.2 yards/carry). Defensive captain and inside linebacker Maurice Crum left the game early last week. He’s still a little banged up, but the word on the street is that he will be ready to play against Michigan State. Does Notre Dame build on their 2-0 start and continue their 180-degree turnaround from ’07? PREDICTION: MSU 20, ND 17

Iowa at Pittsburgh? OK, so I may be stretching it here since Pittsburgh has stumbled out of the gate 1-1 (win vs. Buffalo, loss to Bowling Green), but this is a nice road test to see if Coach Kirk Ferentz is putting Iowa (3-0) in serious position to compete in the Big Ten again. It is early, but did you know that, along with Michigan State’s Ringer and Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill, Shonn Greene of Iowa is also a member of the top ten rushing club (Greene is ninth nationally with 359 yards and three touchdowns)? Keys to the game: Pittsburgh comes in stout against the run, ranked 34th (94.5 yards/game), but will be tested by the strong running of Greene. Iowa’s 29th ranked pass defense will face a similar test going up against Pittsburgh’s 37th ranked pass offense. This one will almost certainly NOT be mistaken for an old-fashioned shoot-out. PREDICTION: Iowa 17 Pittsburgh 13

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: DUSTIN KELLER

Purdue tight end Dustin Keller caught 68 passes for 881 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, before the New York Jets made him the 30th overall selection in the 2008 National Football League Draft.

CFI: Take us back a little right before the draft, at the combine--you weren't necessarily a household name and you really broke out in that combine, how important was that for you?

DK: I knew coming out of Purdue, just the way everybody kind of perceived me, that’s the way that was going to be. I knew the combine was going to (be that important), even though it shouldn't be that way, that a 40 brings a guy up so much. I knew that was going to be on a lot of people’s radar and a lot people’s draft boards. You know I had the best possible outcome there. I just gave it everything I had.

CFI: I remember hearing before that, people saying, “he's got good hands, he's a playmaker but he's not that fast, he's not that athletic.” Were you scratching your head when you heard that stuff?

DK: Yeah, I don't know who put that in everyone’s head, but I was definitely determined to prove them wrong.

CFI: On draft day, the Jets traded up to get you. Did you have an inkling at all that the Jets were interested?

DK: I definitely had a thought they were interested but I didn't know they were going to trade into the first round, that kind of surprised me. I thought that if I fell that far back I was going to be picked by them as the sixth pick in the second round. But I didn't know they were going to trade into the first round.

CFI: What does that feel like when a team trades up for you?

DK: It feels great. It's an awesome feeling, especially when it ends up being in the very first round.

CFI: So far, what's it like--your NFL experience, learning under veterans like Chris Baker and Bubba Franks? How helpful have they been?

DK: They have been very helpful. Those guys have been around the league for a bunch of years being very productive. Bubba has been to a few Pro Bowls, Baker had an outstanding year last year and I'm just kind of picking at their brains learning things here and there and I think it's really working out for me.

CFI: What has been the biggest challenge so far?

DK: Just adjusting to the preciseness of the NFL. Everything has to be precise, be this certain way…you have to hit a guy at this angle--it's kind of crazy how precise it is, but I think I'm coming around.

CFI: How much do you think you’re going to be used as a pass catcher in the sense that you will be lining up wide?

DK: I couldn't give you a clear cut answer to you right now but I definitely feel that they’re going to utilize me somehow in that aspect, but we'll see.

CFI: How about this whole Brett Favre thing? Have you ever experienced anything like this in college or anywhere else, this whole media circus?

DK: No. I mean you can't trade players around in college or anything like that, but we never had any situation or story at my school, I guess, that is this big because it is a huge thing for the media but it's definitely an honor to catch passes from him.

CFI: How does it feel catching the first pass thrown to you, does it feel any different? Does it feel special?

DK: You know he throws a great ball of course, that is why he‘s been around playing for so long. But in practice, it probably wouldn't feel that different except we got a huge turnout from the fans and every single pass he completed there was just a roar from the fans like we were back in the stadium.

CFI: Is this almost like a spring game?

DK: Yeah, it almost was. It really almost was.

CFI: What do you think of Purdue’s chances this year and Curtis Painter's senior season?

DK: I talked to a few of the guys and they felt really good on where they are right now. I have all the confidence in the world in them. I think they'll get it done.

CFI: THIS DATE IN HISTORY

Nov. 21, 1925: Indiana and Purdue meet for the first time with the Old Oaken Bucket Trophy on the line. The 83-season tradition continues after the historic ’25 contest. The teams tie 0-0 in this contest and share the trophy six months each for the next year. It also marks the dedication of IU’s original Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

CFI: 'CATS BOUNCIN’ BACK

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Penn State (6-3, 3-3) looks for its defense to reassert itself this weekend when it hosts Big Ten opponent Purdue (7-2, 3-2). The Lions showcased a top ten defense for the first seven games of the season, but the last two weeks have been a different story. PSU’s defense has given up 63 points and 839 yards in its last two games. They’ve been a bit banged up – losing defensive end Jerome Hayes (knee), defensive tackle Jared Odrick (ankle) and safety Tony Davis (appendectomy) - but they didn’t even force a punt against Ohio State last week.

The Lions were equally bad against the run and the pass against the Buckeyes, but the secondary has been a real question mark lately. They’ve given up 571 yards in the air the last two weeks. Losing Davis hurt, and defensive backs Justin King and Lydell Sargeant have struggled. Indiana’s Jeff Hardy (142 yd, 2 TD) had a monster day against the Penn State secondary. And after the Lions went up 7-3 against OSU, they allowed a 60-yard pass from Todd Boeckman to Ray Small, which led to Ohio State retaking the lead. It’s not going to get any easier for the secondary this week as they’ll go up against the Big Ten’s leading receiver Dorien Bryant.

Bryant is part of a Boilermaker offense that passes the ball almost 45 times and averages 285 yards per game through the air. King and company could use some help from the Penn State pass rush to throw off Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. Led by Maurice Evans, the Lions are second in the nation with four sacks per game, but got to Boeckman only once last week.

These two teams are similar in that they have decent records, but neither one has a marquee win. The Lions have a chance to close out the home portion of its schedule strong after a poor showing against top ranked Ohio State a week ago. Senior Linebacker Dan Connor will headline the senior day atmosphere as he enters the game just four tackles short of the school record of 372 set last year by Paul Posluszny.

FROM THE MIDWEST: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER

This was a big weekend for the Big Ten conference as collectively they went 10-1 -- are you listening MICHIGAN?) From blowouts to nail-biters, there was something for everyone -- except MICHIGAN fans…right Lloyd Carr? It will be a very interesting story unfolding once the conference games start, and the preview being painted is pretty exciting as well -- but not for the Wolverine faithful…right Chad Henne?

Michigan: Ugh. Is this thing getting ugly or what? Sorry Appalachian State, the Wolverines are doing their best to make your landmark win look like a skid-mark on the road to the bowl season. This team is highlighting for the country exactly how to beat them -- spread the defense out and move your quarterback. I don’t see them being much more than a .500 club the rest of the way.

“Second verse, same as the first.”

Quarterback Chad Henne played terrible, threw a momentum and drive killing interception early in the game after halfback Mike Hart started the engine running (finishing 127 yards). The defense is woeful and cannot stop a mobile quarterback in a spread offense. Oregon’s Dennis Dixon rang up 368 yards of offense, accounting for four touchdowns, exposing the Wolverine defense for the world to see in the worst Michigan defeat at home since Bo was on the beat, and first 0-2 start since 1959 and four consecutive losses for the first time in 40 years. Hart has guaranteed a win at the Big Top….oops, House, next week against Notre Dame (also 0-2). Play, don’t predict. Spartans anyone?

Michigan State: The Spartans are making Big Blue green with envy, defeating Bowling Green 28-17, as they go to 2-0 for new head coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans allowed Bowling Green to take a 14-7 lead on a six-yard touchdown run by Falcon quarterback Tyler Sheehan after an interception by Spartan quarterback Brian Hoyer (17-29, 250 yards). A Hoyer touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis before the half and a five-yard touchdown run by halfback Jehuu Caulcrick gave them a 21-14 lead and they sealed the deal with a 17-yard touchdown reception by Devin Thomas (156 yards receiving). Thomas is becoming the Spartan go-to receiver in the clutch as he had a nice 42-yard reception in traffic that led to the MSU lead. The Spartan running game made the difference as both teams moved the ball through the air. The Spartans welcome the Pitt Panthers next week to East Lansing, a team they beat in ’06 (38-23).

Iowa: The Hawkeyes rebounded from a lackluster effort last week and mauled the Orange into black and blue (35-0). Defensive end Kenny Iwebema literally helped keep Syracuse off the board by blocking two field goal attempts and added a sack to bookend teammate Bryan Mattison’s three sacks from the other end spot. Iowa has not allowed a touchdown in its first two games and finally got their offense on track. Junior tight end Tony Moeaki introduced himself to the ‘Cuse (and the rest of the world) with eight receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including a 52-yarder to get the rout going. Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen squeezed the Orange for 72 percent passing, 278 yards and four touchdowns. The Iowa defense held Syracuse to 103 yards of total offense (one yard in the first half). Iowa takes its 2-0 record into next week against in-state rival Iowa State (0-2).

Penn State: The Nittany Lions welcomed the Irish and freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen into Happy Valley and sent them home sad after a 31-10 spanking. Penn State harassed the youngster all day long with six sacks and held him to 144 yards passing with an interception. On the flipside, Anthony Morelli crashed back to Earth with a less than stellar performance (12-of-22). The Lion running game was led by Austin Scott’s 116 yards and two touchdowns. The story of the day was the Penn State defense, which held Notre Dame to zero yards rushing on the day, as most of Clausen’s connections were of the swing and short pass variety. All-Everything linebacker Dan Connor had a sack and 12 tackles for a Lion defense that carried the day. The Buffalo Bulls of the Mid-American Conference travel to Happy Valley next week.

Purdue: The artistry of Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter continues to canvas the Boilermaker record book with new standards in passing. Painter lit up Eastern Illinois for 38-of-49 passing, 348 yards and six touchdown passes (to five different receivers). The only thing to stop Purdue’s offense this day was the hour weather delay due to lightning at the half, but that didn’t prevent Painter striking throughout the second half. Eleven Boilermaker receivers caught passes, including a big rebound game for Dorien Bryant (12 receptions, 111 yards, and touchdown), the conference’s leader in receptions and yards in 2006, after he was held to two catches for 12 yards last week. The Purdue ground game kept the Eastern Illinois defense honest with 178 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry average and the defense held court by allowing the Panthers four yards per play on the day. Painter and the Boilermakers continue their air assault next week when Central Michigan touches down in West Lafayette.

Indiana: The Hoosiers displayed a nice balance of offense and defense in jumping out to a 31-7 halftime lead over the Broncos of Western Michigan, before holding on for a 37-27 win in Western’s first game ever hosting a Big Ten opponent. While the Indiana defense was racking up five takeaways (three fumbles, and two interceptions, both by freshman Mitchell Evans) and seven sacks, quarterback Kellen Lewis was throwing for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Hoosier defensive end Greg Middleton scooped up one of those fumbles and he returned it 44 yards for his first career score. The Broncos outscored the Hoosiers 20-6 in the second half on the strength of a 98-yard kickoff return by Brandon West and two Tim Hiller touchdown passes, as he finished with 343 yards and three touchdown passes, while West also registered 51 yards rushing and 83 receiving yards for a big all-purpose day. Indiana moves to 2-0 on the year with Akron visiting Bloomington next week.

FROM THE MIDWEST: THE BIG TEN REPORT

Mick Miller
Big Ten Insider

That bang you hear this past weekend was the kickoff of the Big Ten college football season, the launching of the Big Ten Network and the sound of a National Championship going down the tubes. The formerly fifth ranked Michigan Wolverines helped introduce Appalachian State to the world, and in rousing fashion. Fans in the “Big House” were left asking a big “how?” Let’s look at the “how”. The rest of the conference faired much better, giving them a combined 7-3 record.

MICHIGAN: The Wolverines, ranked fifth coming in, played without heart, literally. The mysterious disappearance of Heisman hopeful, tailback Mike Hart, throughout the middle portions of Saturday’s epic loss remain a mystery. A reported thigh injury that Coach Lloyd Carr claimed “stiffened up” certainly did not appear to hinder his performance as he rushed for 188 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns, including a clutch 54-yard scamper that gave Michigan the lead with just over four minutes to play. Quarterback Chad Henne (19-37, 233 yards, a touchdown pass and interception) played awful, locking in on receivers and accumulating inaccurate throws, stifling the offense throughout the afternoon. Until a desperation 46-yard completion to set up the ill-fated field goal attempt at the end of the game, Mario Manningham had mustered a mere two receptions for 20 yards. The defense simply could not solve the multiple-receiver sets of Appalachian State and quarterback Armanti Edwards, who after a momentary lull in the second half, pulled it back together with a clutch drive in the final 1:11 (no timeouts) to kick a field goal, before the defense blocked a kick to seal the deal. Senior tri-captain Shawn Crable was the lone bright spot on defense for Michigan, recording 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 12 tackles (two for loss). The loss has shaken the foundation of the Big House and the fan’s confidence in Coach Carr as they prepare for Oregon in week two.

MICHIGAN STATE: Gang Green faired much better than Big Blue this weekend with a 55-18 dismantling of Alabama-Birmingham in East Lansing, giving new Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio a win in his debut. Dantonio is the fourth consecutive coach to win his MSU debut, with the last loss going to Nick Saban in 1995, losing to Nebraska (50-10). Michigan State unveiled a ball-control running attack that allowed tailback Jehuu Caulcrick to score four touchdowns on 10 carries (for 93 yards), helping the Spartans build a 45-3 lead in the first half. The defense held a woefully undermanned UAB team (67 scholarship players) to 226 yards of total offense. Starting quarterback Brian Hoyer was solid, going 14-of-17 for 201 yards and a 44-yard touchdown to Devin Thomas (5 receptions, 106 yards, one rush, 23 yards). The Spartans played three quarterbacks in the blowout and collectively they went 22-of-32 for 295 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over, and were better than 50 percent on third down conversions (8 for 13). The Spartans ride the wave into their next game against Bowling Green, with a green grin on their faces from the Michigan loss.

IOWA:The Hawkeyes had to lean on their running game in an uninspired road win over Northern Illinois in Chicago (16-3). Senior running back Albert Young rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown and back-up Damian Sims chewed up another 110 yards on 16 carries, both averaging well over six yards per attempt. Iowa was without their top receiver Dominique Douglas, who led all freshmen in the country last season with 49 receptions. Douglas was suspended by the team due to a felony charge of making $2,000 worth of purchases on credit cards that did not belong to him. The incident appeared to distract the team, evident by their 173 penalty yards (four times that of N. Illinois). They also missed him on third downs, they were just two of 14 on third down conversions. Without NFL draftee, running back Garrett Wolfe, the Huskies turned to quarterback Dan Nicholson, who despite completing 26-of-42, threw three interceptions, one from the Iowa three-yard line, killing a golden scoring opportunity with his team down 10. In his second career start (both against Northern Illinois); Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen threw for 133 yards (12-of-29), for a mere 4.6 yards per attempt. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, coming off his first losing campaign last season at 6-7; will have to work harder to get his team ready, as Syracuse will be in for the Hawkeye home opener.

PENN STATE: All is happy in the valley once again as head coach Joe Paterno is back pacing the sidelines and the 17th ranked Nittany Lions opened at home with a 59-0 drubbing of Florida International. A blowout in every category, the Lions rolled up 549 yards in total offense and held Florida International to a miniscule 114 yards, seven first downs all day and a minus three yards rushing on 31 attempts. Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli set a personal best with 295 yards passing on 23 of 38 throws, including a school record 231 yards in the first half and three touchdown passes. Linebacker Dan Connor forced a Golden Panther fumble at their 20, and Morelli hit Mickey Shuler with a touchdown pass making it 14-0 and the rout was on. The Nittany Lions forced six fumbles, recovering five, had seven quarterback sacks for a loss of 50 yards and kept Florida International pinned deep in their own end most of the game. Although the team did the job on the field, the day was about their legendary coach. A resounding victory at home and the return of “Joe Pa” is just what the doctor ordered as the team gets ready to host the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on September 8.

PURDUE: The Boilermakers won a game that may resemble many of their wins this season. With a potent offense and a defense that’s a work in progress, they may have to put 30 points a game. Purdue’s record-setting quarterback Curtis Painter threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns (including an 80-yarder to tight end Dustin Keller) in a shootout with Toledo, 52-24. Five Purdue running backs averaged eight-plus yards per carry, led by Kory Sheets (11 carries for 90 yards), as the Boilermaker running game was in mid-season form. The Big Ten’s season record holder for passing yards (last year’s 3,985), Painter and his offense had their way throughout as he hit four different Purdue receivers for touchdowns. A see-saw battle in the first half led to a 28-14 halftime Boilermaker lead, but a Painter touchdown pass and a Dorien Bryant 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, shot down the Rockets at their Ohio launching pad. The Boilermakers host Eastern Illinois in their home opener this Saturday.

INDIANA: The Hoosiers pounded Indiana State in an emotion-filled game on Saturday (55-7), in their first contest without Terry Hoeppner, the Indiana head coach who was tragically lost last June to a brain tumor. A pre-game tribute, which included his family, charged the team with all the inspiration it would need to get the win for interim head coach, Bill Lynch, who lead them to their largest opening day victory in more than 60 years. Quarterback Kellen Lewis threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns and led the team with 59 yards on nine carries adding another score on the ground. With Lewis hitting his three touchdown passes in his first four passes, the Hoosiers jumped out to 21-7 lead and never looked back. While the offense was outgunning the Sycamores 516-176, the Hoosier defense held up their end with 176 yards allowed (130 passing, 46 rushing), fives sacks and two interceptions. Indiana hopes to continue to play this inspired as they travel Western Michigan to face the Broncos for a Saturday night game on the road.