Fitzgerald wary of 2-4 Purdue
Purdue drags a three-game losing streak and a 140-minute touchdown-less streak into Northwestern on Saturday.
Those facts make the Boilermakers sound like the perfect guest for the Wildcats' homecoming celebration (11 a.m., ESPN2).
But there are other indications that suggest Joe Tiller's final trip to Evanston won't necessarily be his least memorable:
• Purdue (2-4, 0-2) leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th nationally in strength of schedule. That's attributable to playing Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State the last three Saturdays.
• The Boilers held No. 3 Penn State to 20 points, a season low for the Nittany Lions that stands in stark contrast to their 45.3 points per game average.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald says so.
While the stats show Purdue senior quarterback Curtis Painter ranks 10th in the Big Ten in pass efficiency (55 percent completion rate, 1,453 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs), Fitzgerald turns on the tape and sees something else.
"Early in my film study, I see a football team that has gotten better each week," Fitzgerald said. "For me, to see the way that Curtis has played the last few weeks, it just looks like they're getting better and better and better each week."
Early in last week's loss at Ohio State, Painter became the fourth quarterback in Big Ten history to throw for more than 10,000 yards.
Painter joined Drew Brees (11,792), Arlington Heights native Brett Basanez (10,580) and Wheaton native Chuck Long (10,461) in the club.
That exalted status didn't stop Tiller from benching him for the final quarter against Penn State on Oct. 4.
"We need to make throws, and they need to be in an area where we can catch the ball," Tiller said during his news conference last Tuesday, "not at the ankle level or behind or on a deep throw two yards over the top of his head."
Meanwhile . . . Bacher: After Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher threw 2 critical interceptions in Saturday's loss to Michigan State, Pat Fitzgerald wants the fifth-year senior to stick to the basics.
Bacher will make his 24th consecutive start Saturday. Purdue's Curtis Painter leads the nation with 38 straight starts.
"Especially for a guy at his point in his career, it just comes down to being as efficient as you possibly can," Fitzgerald said. "He knows what he's doing. He understands the concepts. He understands the expectations.
"Sometimes on third down, running out of bounds and punting the ball is the best thing that can happen."
Bacher eschewed that option in the first quarter against Michigan State and the resulting interception turned into a touchdown and 17-0 deficit.
"Can he still learn that? Absolutely," Fitzgerald said. "I've watched guys who have played in the NFL for 20 years learn that.
"That decision, that choice, I think he'd like to have back, but I thought the rest of the game he played pretty well."
Bacher ranks one spot ahead of Painter in the national pass efficiency ratings. Bacher's ranking is 108.64 (below last year's number) while Painter is at 107.25.
Welcome back: Northwestern's honorary captains for homecoming week are seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Chris Hinton and 15-year NFL punter John Kidd.
Both will address the team Friday and be honored prior to Saturday's game.
The stat: Northwestern owns an 11-4 record when senior Tyrell Sutton rushes for at least 100 yards.
Two of the Wildcats' losses in such situations have come against Michigan State, including Saturday's game.