The numbers don't lie

The drop finally ended at Purdue University.\nFrom talk of a bowl berth and the nation's most improved defense to a 3-8 season, a last-place finish in the Big Ten and the nation's second-worst defense, the Hoosiers' season set the record for the longest roller-coaster drop ever.\nAlmost anywhere else but IU, Cam Cameron would be concerned about his job security. Because this will be athletics director Clarence Doninger's final year, however, Doninger will not make many personnel decisions, especially for football. Also, the administration is more concerned with finding a new athletics director and beginning the search for a permanent basketball coach than the state of IU's football program.\nCameron's head could be called for by me or anyone, but he will have one more season no matter what.\nCameron has an overall record of 13-31 in four years, a Big Ten record of 8-24 and has beaten only one ranked team.\nThe rule of thumb is usually to give a coach five years to turn around a program, but does Cameron deserve another year? He continues to say his team has improved and is only a few plays from a winning season, but the truth is IU has taken a step backward. Last year, IU won four overall games and three conference games -- more than this year. The numbers don't lie. \nNext season, Cameron will emerge once again to say things have changed. The Hoosiers will be ready to turn the program around. \nHe will be the same old Cameron, but his job will not be so secure. He will be in a must-win situation with a new athletics director determining his fate. If he earns a bowl berth, he'll stay, but anything less should get him the boot.\nFour years ago, Cameron, Illinois' Ron Turner, Minnesota's Glen Mason and Purdue's Joe Tiller began their Big Ten coaching careers. Only Cameron has yet to earn a bowl bid. This season, Northwestern's Randy Walker, in only his second year, led the Wildcats to a piece of the Big Ten title.\nThe fact is this program should have been turned around by now. IU should be preparing to play in a bowl rather than talking about next year, but nothing has changed in four years.\nI've been asked if I was going to write a positive column before I'm done. The question I have is: Where is the positive? \nSure, Antwaan Randle El and a lot of the offense is returning, but the offense is not the problem. The defense will be more experienced next year, but that also doesn't guarantee anything. \nFrom now until next fall, there will only be talk. The Hoosiers cannot prove anything until next football season.\nAll they are left with is the cold, darkened winter night of thousands of Purdue fans rushing the field with roses with Drew Brees towels in their hands. The memory is one of many the Hoosiers will be haunted with until next year.