Hoosier pride on the line as Purdue defends Old Oaken Bucket in final game

The IU football team may be long out of bowl contention at 2-9, but that won't matter this weekend. The Hoosiers play host to No. 16 Purdue with the Old Oaken Bucket and bragging rights on the line.\n"Everybody's fired up to play," junior wideout Courtney Roby said. "When you go into the Bucket game, all records are out. Pride is on the line."\nPurdue comes into the game with an impressive array of stats. At 8-3 (5-2 Big Ten), a win for the Boilermakers would tie them for second in the conference and a spot in either the Outback or Capital One Bowl.\nOffensively, the Boiler-makers boast a duo of \n60-catch receivers, to go along with quarterback Kyle Orton, who's thrown for 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Wideouts junior Taylor Stubblefield and senior John Standeford have combined for 140 catches for 1608 yards and five touchdowns. IU has 1883 yards and four touchdowns as a team on the year.\n"They're very sound," IU junior linebacker Josh Moore said of the PU offense. "They can run the ball, they can pass the ball. They've got a good quarterback, good wide receivers and a good running back. They're a good team, so we've got to come out and be ready to play."\nThe Hoosiers will combat that offense with a defense that gave up 45 points and 438 yards to Penn State a week ago. There was one bright spot for IU in that game though, as freshman running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 203 yards.\nMeanwhile, Purdue is coming off of a 16-13 overtime loss at Ohio State. The Boilermakers blocked a 41-yard field goal to force overtime, but fell in the first extra period. \nStill, IU coach Gerry DiNardo said the Boilermakers will be a challenge.\n"This Purdue team is probably as good as any team we have played all year," he said. "We have a lot of work to do this week."\nSaturday's game will also mark Senior Day, and IU's seven seniors will be recognized in a ceremony prior to kickoff. Senior captain Joe Gonzalez said donning the cream and crimson one last time will be an emotional experience.\n"I've spent my entire career here and it's amazing how long it has been, but at the same time how short," he said. "It just passes by so fast. Playing Purdue will be a big challenge and it will be very special. I know I'll have a lot going through my mind."\nThe Boilermakers lead the all-time series 64-35-6 and have won six of the last seven meetings. IU last won two years ago, when it defeated the Boilermakers 13-7 at a rain-soaked Memorial Stadium.\nFor Roby, Saturday could be the biggest game of the season. \n"Biggest game of the year? Probably so, probably so," he said. "Rivalry games are always intense. Coach DiNardo, he emphasized in practice this week (that this) is a rival. So everything picks up, the intensity picks up. It's a big-time game."\n-- Contact staff writer Gavin Lesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.