Hoosiers seek redemption, victory in Purdue game

What the Hoosier football team is really made of will be determined Saturday.\nNow that a bowl appearance is impossible and a winning season no longer attainable, pride and respect are two attributes the IU team can hope to take from this season.\nBut two rivals stand in the Hoosiers' way of ending the season admirably. First up is intrastate enemy, Purdue, who has won the past four meetings and is tied for second in the Big Ten. The two teams face off at 12:10 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.\n"Anytime you step on the field, you are representing Indiana, you're representing yourself, you're representing Indiana football," head coach Cam Cameron said after Saturday's loss. "Thank goodness (we've) got the Indiana-Purdue game coming up."\nThe Hoosiers (3-6, 3-4 Big Ten) haven't beaten Purdue (6-3, 4-3) at home since 1993, when IU beat the Boilermakers 33-16, and Purdue leads the series 49-24-3.\nThe Boilermakers highlights make a Hoosier upset seem dim. This past weekend, Purdue came from behind to beat Michigan State in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers forced six turnovers, including four fumbles and two interceptions.\nPurdue has caused 32 turnovers leading 58 points, and ranks second in the nation for turnover margin.\nScore one for Purdue.\nBut the Boilermakers defense has yet to face the record-breaking Hoosier offense this season. Compared to the Purdue offense, which averages over 308 total yards per game, IU gains over 453 yards, while its opponents average just over 415.\nThe Hoosier offense has allowed only four interceptions and five fumbles in the past nine games, while the defense has forced eight fumbles and eight interceptions. As for getting to the quarterback, IU has allowed an opponent through the offensive line a Big Ten-leading eight times, while Purdue has permitted its quarterback to get sacked 29 times.\nScore one for IU.\n"It's our rivalry game," senior tackle Kemp Rasmussen said. "Both Kentucky and Purdue are our rival games, so we'll still be able to get up and play for these games."\nWhile Purdue was fending off the Spartans last Saturday, IU was trying to win its third straight game at Penn State. The Hoosiers fell short of a victory, but senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El still managed to come up with 366 total yards.\nPurdue's combined passing and rushing yards totalled 266. That's 100 yards less than Randle El got by himself. \nWhile the teams statistics relatively balance out, what is really going to determine the winner this weekend is who is able to perform to the best of their ability, performance and attitude-wise. \nArguably, IU's biggest challenge will be overcoming the bitter disappointment of the disappearance of a postseason. For Purdue, their biggest challenge will be to escape an upset by the hands of a Hoosier team that has made a spoiling the other team's aspirations a habit this season.\n"We can win these next two games," Randle El said. "They're trophy games, they mean a lot. The traditions of it and all. It will be good to get them back home where they belong"