For the first time in the history of man kind, the #1 ranked men’s college basketball team in the country calls Mackey Arena home. The 8-0 Boilermakers were a unanimous No. 1 in the poll released earlier today, moving up #2 last week following victories over Florida State and Iowa and a Duke loss to Ohio State. Prior to this week, Purdue had the second-most appearances in the AP poll, 379 weeks, for a school that had never been ranked #1, behind Maryland with 434 weeks. Purdue goes on the road this week with a Big 10 game at Rutgers on Thursday and the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational against North Carolina State on Sunday in Brooklyn.
Tag / NC State
2021 College Football Kickoff
My alma mater, the Purdue Boilermakers, kick off their 2021 gridiron campaign today, looking for their first winning season since 2017. With Danny now entrenched in the marching band and COVID restrictions lifted, I’m sure to make it to a few games this year, regardless of how good the team is. With that, it’s time to take a look at the results of the 21 college football games I have attended since the 1993 season, covering 4 different stadiums in a whopping 2 states.
| Team Name | Won | Loss | Winning Pctg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 4 | 1 | 0.800 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 12 | 7 | 0.632 |
| Northern Illinois Huskies | 1 | 1 | 0.500 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 2 | 5 | 0.286 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| North Carolina State Wolfpack | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
Moving On
After an atrocious 2013 season on both sides of town, the White Sox and the Cubs drafted back to back, at #3 and 4 respectively, in the 2014 draft. The Sox took hard throwing left hander Carlos Rodon out of NC State and the Cubs followed with slugging catcher Kyle Schwarber out of Indiana. Both quickly moved through the minor leagues, making their major league debuts the following year. After starting in the bullpen, Rodon quickly moved into the rotation and was thought to be a building block of the rebuild. Schwarber was moved to the outfield and, after a knee injury wiped out his 2016 season, was a key contributor in the World Series as the Cubs ended their 108 year championship drought. Yesterday, both saw their time in Chicago come to an end as they were not tendered contracts for the 2021 season, making them free agents.
The two were not alone. In addition to Rodon, the White Sox non-tendered right fielder Nomar Mazara, who had a disappointing season after being acquired last winter. The Cubs non-tender list, along with Schwarber, included outfielder Albert Almora Jr., infielder Jose Martinez, and pitcher Ryan Tepera. Almora, the 6th overall pick in the 2012 draft, never quite became the hitter the Cubs thought he would. Martinez, acquired during the season from the Rays, went 0 for 21 with the Cubs, setting a record for most at bats without a hit.
Ironically, both Rodon and Schwarber might make sense in the short term for the team on the opposite side of town. The Cubs could use some starting pitcher depth and might want to take a flier on Rodon, hoping he can stay healthy for a season. The White Sox could use a left handed bat to balance out their lineup and have an open spot at DH for 2021.
Dancing Days Are Here Again
It’s that time of year again, as the nation’s attention turns to the college hoops scene for the next few weeks. I’m down to just two pools this year; one at my mom’s work, and one run by a friend, as the work pool died due to lack of interest. If it weren’t for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas, I’d likely be heading to Detroit this weekend to cheer on the Boilermakers.
A couple of upsets make up my first bracket, with the #2 seed, the Bearcats of Cincinnati, being my pick to advance to the Final Four.
After some late season stumbles, Purdue winds up as the #2 seed. Villanova is the early favorite to win the whole thing, and, using my head instead of my heart, I’m picking them to come out of the East.
2016 College Football Kickoff
My alma mater, the Purdue Boilermakers, kick off their 2016 gridiron campaign tomorrow, looking for their first winning season since 2011. Time to take a look at the results of the 21 college football games I have attended since the 1993 season, covering 4 different stadiums in a whopping 2 states.
| Team Name | Won | Loss | Winning Pctg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 4 | 1 | 0.800 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 12 | 7 | 0.632 |
| Northern Illinois Huskies | 1 | 1 | 0.500 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 2 | 5 | 0.286 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| North Carolina State Wolfpack | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
College Football Kickoff
My alma mater, the Purdue Boilermakers, kick off their 2015 gridiron campaign today, so I thought it was about time we took a look at the results of the 20 college football games I have attended since the 1993 season, covering 4 different stadiums in a whopping 2 states.
| School | Won | Loss | Winning Pctg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 4 | 1 | 0.800 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 12 | 6 | 0.667 |
| Northern Illinois Huskies | 1 | 1 | 0.500 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 1 | 5 | 0.167 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| North Carolina State Wolfpack | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
Sixteen Is So Sweet
As we head in to the Sweet Sixteen, I’m currently tied for first in my work pool, while I’m sure I’m trailing well behind in the other pools. 3 out of my 4 Final Four picks are still alive, but with everyone having Kentucky winning the whole thing, I’ll need to get as many points early as I can.
Things look OK here in the Midwest region, where I have 3 out of the 4 remaining teams. Assuming Kentucky makes it out, I should remain in the hunt.
Things look about the same in the West region, although there are more opportunities for me to gain points moving forward.
Time To Go Dancing
It’s that time of year again, as the nation’s attention turns to the college hoops scene for the next few weeks. I’m in three different pools again this year, one at work, one at my mom’s work, and one run by a friend. For the first time since 2012, the Purdue Boilermakers return to the tournament, though they will not have an easy go of it.
The Midwest bracket has the overall #1 seed, the undefeated Kentucky, who I envision will make it to the Final Four. Purdue, should they make it past their first round opponent, will run into Kentucky in the second round, so it is extremely unlikely they make it past this weekend.
After winning the Big Ten Tournament, Wisconsin earned the #1 seed in the West bracket. The only big upset I am picking here is Ohio State over VCU.
It’s Tournament Time
It’s that time of the year again, as the nation’s attention turns to the college hoops scene for the next couple of weeks. I’m in three different pools again this year, one at work, one at my mom’s work, and one run by a friend. Once again, Purdue is sitting out the tournament, but I can take some solace that IU is as well.
Not much in the way of upsets here in the South region, as I have overall #1 seed Florida making it to the Final Four.
I see Michigan State making it out of the East region. Continue reading →
It’s Dancing Time
It’s that time of year again, as the nation’s attention turns to the college hoops scene for the next couple of weeks. I’m in three different pools again this year, one at work, one at my mom’s work, and one run by a friend. No Purdue in the tournament this year, so my picks were made mostly with my head and not my heart, though it pained me to have IU going as far as I did.
I have Louisville coming out of the Midwest region.
New Mexico is my pick to come out of the West region. Continue reading →