Ayodele to battle with buddy
By Doug Healey
Assistant Sports Editor
When Purdue's veteran defense meets Minnesota's
experienced offense on Saturday in Minneapolis, Boilermaker defensive
end Akin Ayodele will be reunited with one of his old friends.
Ayodele grew up in Dallas with Gopher junior running
back Tellis Redmon. Although they didn't go to the same high school,
Ayodele said they were close and used to hang out together on weekends.
"There's definitely going to be a lot of trash
talking," said Ayodele.
No. 24 Purdue's (2-0) defense returns 10 starters
from last year. Minnesota's (1-1) offense has nine starters back, including
four from the offensive line.
Minnesota coach Glen Mason announced on Tuesday
that senior quarterback Travis Cole will start against the Boilers.
The Gophers have rotated between Cole and sophomore Asad Abdul-Khaliq
in the first two games this season.
Abdul-Khaliq, who has completed 14 of 20 passes
for 150 yards this year, started in the 38-7 season opening loss to
Toledo on Aug. 30. Cole, who is 22-of-42 passing for 237 yards in two
games, led Minnesota to a 44-14 win over Louisiana-Lafayette when the
Gophers last played on Sept. 8.
Ayodele said he's been impressed with Cole's ability.
"He's a very good Big Ten quarterback," said Ayodele.
"Not only can he throw the ball, but he can run the ball too, so we
have to key on him as a runner."
The Gopher quarterbacks have a talented group of
receivers to throw to, including 2000 first team All-Big Ten selection
Ron Johnson, who leads the team with 11 catches for 128 yards. Antoine
Henderson is second on the team with seven catches for 87 yards. Ayodele
said Minnesota's talented passing attack puts more pressure on the defense.
"I take it upon myself to get to the quarterback
and help our defensive backs or our linebackers," said Ayodele. "But
it's a whole team thing. Everybody has to work together to do it."
Not only do the Gophers rotate two quarterbacks,
but they also use two running backs. Redmon has carried the ball 25
times for 163 yards and one touchdown. True freshman Marion Barber leads
the team with 176 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Mason said Redmon is durable and possesses good
speed and hands. Barber, who was recruited as a defensive back, was
not expected to step in and contribute from the start, said Mason.
Mason knows his offense faces a tough challenge
against Purdue's defense.
"All guys (on Purdue's defense) are good players,"
he said. "They're strong and tough up front, their linebackers run well,
their defensive backs keep everything in front of them and they're playing
great team defense."
The Minnesota game is the start of Purdue's Big
Ten season, which changes things, Ayodele said.
"We have to turn it up a lot more, not just a little
bit but a lot," he said. "It's the same score — 0-0 — and
we have to get ready, block out everything we've done in the past and
start all over. Everything counts from here on out. You want to win
every game because you never know down the line how it will affect you."
And Big Ten play will be more intense, said Ayodele.
"The style of football is more powered, especially
on the runs," he said. "It's right at you, smash you in the mouth. You
have to be geared up for it all week. You can't just lag all through
the week and expect to perform on Saturday. You have to practice hard
all week and mentally focus."
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