Offensive lineman could face discipline
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 09/21/2009
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If Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has his way, Danny Hope will be getting a call from the Big Ten later this week.
Rodriguez has been complaining about the Big Ten being unfair in regards to suspensions after the league suspended Jonas Mouton for punching a Notre Dame player at the end of the Wolverines’ win Sept. 12.
Hope was brought into the conversation after Boilermaker Zach Reckman jumped on a Northern Illinois defender at the conclusion of Purdue’s 28-21 loss Saturday.
“Well, really he should worry about his own team,” Hope said Sunday. “I didn’t think Zach Reckman’s play at the end of the game was all that vicious. ... I’m sure it’s going to be brought up and we’ll address it. I don’t think he should have gone in there and jumped on that guy at the end of the play, but maybe he was hoping the ball would come loose. He was just trying to give us a chance to win.”
Reckman received a personal foul with no time left on the clock, though the play didn’t appear to be malicious. Purdue’s Ralph Bolden had tossed the ball, trying to keep play alive. An NIU defender recovered and Reckman jumped on him.
STAYING AT IT
Hope said, despite blaming himself for wearing his team down too much last week, he won’t be taking it easy on the Boilers in preparation for this weekend’s matchup against Notre Dame.
“When you lose, it can’t hardly be the same as when you win or else they might not know the difference between the two,” he said. “We’re certainly going to be out practicing hard and being very detailed.”
INJURY UPDATE
Hope said Sunday he didn’t know of any new injuries incurred by his team in Saturday’s game, though he said he won’t be sure until Tuesday. Hope speaks to the media before practice on Sundays and the team has Mondays off.
“No, nothing of any magnitude, but you never know around here until Tuesday,” he said. “We don’t see them until practice Sunday, then they don’t practice Monday, so we don’t see them until Tuesday.”
STOPPING BOLDEN
At first glance it would appear the Huskies did a great job containing sophomore Ralph Bolden, the nation’s leading rusher after the first two games. He ran the ball 12 times for 67 yards, well below his season averages.
This brought Bolden (421 yards on the season) down to No. 2 in the nation, behind Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews (447 yards). Bolden wasn’t even the Boilers leading rusher Saturday – quarterback Joey Elliott had 68 yards, including a 58-yard scamper.
Upon further review, however, it appears Bolden was on pace for his averages. He just didn’t have enough touches. The Boilers only ran 56 plays, compared to an average of 76.5 in their first two games. Bolden averaged 25 rushes and 184 yards per game in those games, an average of 7.36 yards per carry.
Saturday he averaged 5.59 yards every time he ran the ball.