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Purdue football could leave Wisconsin with the victory of a lifetime Saturday.
Not figuratively. These Badgers do not carry the aura of the ones largely responsible for 17 consecutive victories in this Big Ten rivalry. Not since Ben Jones’ 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining delivered a 26-23 victory on Oct. 18, 2003, have the Boilermakers beaten Bucky.
We mean the literal use of the word lifetime. Linebacker Winston Berglund, born in 2005, is one of many Purdue players younger than the losing streak they confront Saturday.
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“My second year here, we’re sitting in the meeting, and I’m probably one of the younger guys starting,” center Gus Hartwig said. “Coach (Jeff) Brohm is like, ‘The last time we beat them, Gus was like 1.’
“There’s guys who weren’t even born now. (Dillon) Thieneman probably wasn’t even alive.”
He’s correct — the starting safety was not born until the following August. He was alive, however, for this near-generational losing streak’s start on Oct. 16, 2004.
Purdue travels to Wisconsin on Saturday only a couple weeks shy of the 20th anniversary of “The Fumble.” That play and its aftermath effectively closed the book on one of the richest chapters in the program’s history.
Few Boilermaker teams have visited Camp Randall more in need of a victory than this one. With a three-game losing streak in tow and even tougher opponents ahead, this team will try do something it has not done once yet this season: Seize an opportunity.
Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton (18) fumbles the ball as he his hit by Wisconsin’s Robert Brooks (42). Scott Starks of Wisconsin returned the fumble for a game-winning touchdown. Wisconsin defeated Purdue, 20-17, in West Lafayette, Indiana, on October 16,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/20-years-since-fumble-vs-221124463.html
Author : Indianapolis Star
Publish date : 2024-10-04 22:11:24
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