Well, we know from Saturday night that Notre Dame football was once again very overrated this summer. What else is new? The Michigan Wolverines gave ND a pretty big beat down under the lights on national television. UM showed us that Notre Dame football in 2013 will definitely not be Notre Dame football in 2012.
That defense is a shell of what it once was, as it was gashed badly by Devin Gardner and company. On Saturday, I posted the best ESPN College Gameday signs mocking Notre Dame football. The funniest attacked Everett Golson, who’s not even enrolled in school right now. But after “Play Like a Chicken Today” and “Cluck of the Irish,” we saw “Purdue is a Bigger Rival” up in Ann Arbor.
Now we’ll find out if that’s true.
I’m fully expecting Purdue to be the sacrificial lamb to who I dubbed America’s current favorite villain, Notre Dame football.
The Boilers are HUGE underdogs in this game, and they’re catching Brian Kelly at a time when his bunch are looking to take their frustrations and aggressions out on somebody. His roster of children of celebrities will be looking to do a star turn or two at Ross-Ade Stadium under the primetime lights in West Lafayette.
For the rest, for a game preview with Xs and Os, I know turn it over to friend of the program and Purdue SB Nation blogger Hammer and Rails.
T-Mill breaks it down in his game preview. Here’s an excerpt:
Well, a funny thing happened on the way to our night game. Purdue’s offense came out and looked like the Nordfense would be an improvement as the Boilers got blown out in Cincinnati and barely squeezed past Indiana State. Now, most fans would be shocked if Purdue stayed within 20 points of the Fighting Irish.
What was once a developing rivalry game under Joe Tiller has swung largely back in favor of Notre Dame. The Irish have won five in a row and seven of the last eight since Purdue’s record-setting victory in South bend in 2004. In that time, Purdue has come close to wins in 2009 and 2012, but bizarre coaching decisions cost the Boilers each time. The rest of the games have been comfortable Notre Dame wins. Purdue is not largely changed form last year’s team that pushed the Irish to the brink in South Bend, but based on what we have seen on the field this year a similar result would be even more surprising.
Read the whole preview of Notre Dame football vs Purdue. Boiler Up!
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and Facebook.