Boiling Point

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Beginning August 6, Boiling Point will have a new Web address. The blog will be moving to http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/Section?Category=BLOGS10.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Tiller's take: receivers

Joe Tiller got plenty of questions about his retirement and successor Danny Hope at the Big Ten media day, but when talk turned to specific units, many reporters were curious about Purdue's receiving corps.
Tiller is confident senior Greg Orton will be a nice go-to option. Orton was slowed by a groin injury in the spring, but Tiller is excited to see how Orton performs this fall. Tiller always has been impressed with Orton's maturity and skill level, and his intense work ethic improved his stock.
"I don't think in the winter, we've had a wide receiver that has worked harder than he worked," Tiller said. "He hit the field running. He was a full-speed guy, was a leadership guy from 6 a.m. conditioning. If he picks up in the fall where he left off in the winter, he could be a real difference-maker for us."
Tiller still isn't sure how the receiving corps will fare, though.
Besides Orton, the majority of the options are unproven. Arsenio Curry and Aaron Valentin are talent-laden transfers. Keith Smith is a converted quarterback. Returning players Joe Whitest and Desmond Tardy have yet to produce in limited action.
But Tiller likes the talent, calling Curry a big, physical guy and "a mature Selwyn Lymon." Valentin athleticism has impressed, and Smith gives the team a tall, physical option in the slot. Still, Tiller worries they may be slow getting started.
"I think because of the evolution of the position, our receivers may not be as productive as we'd like them to be until about the third or the fourth game of the year," Tiller said. "It may take them that long to really get in sync with Curtis (Painter)."

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Tiller's take: eligibility, true freshmen PT

Joe Tiller has been spending much of Purdue's offseason in Wyoming where he and his wife, Arnette, are building a house. That's where they'll settle when Tiller retires after this season. But that doesn't mean Tiller is out of the loop with his team.
Though Tiller won't return to campus until August 4, he's been checking in with coaches and academic advisers. In terms of the latter, it sounds like most of the players will be ready to go when camp starts August 10.
Tiller said only freshman receiver Jordan Brewer currently is academically ineligible. Brewer will enroll in junior college. Purdue should be able to absorb that loss with Greg Orton, Desmond Tardy, Keith Smith, Arsenio Curry and Aaron Valentin all as nice options at the position.
Tiller will find out more on potential academic casualties when he returns to campus.
"There probably will be a surprise," Tiller said at the Big Ten media day. "There always is. What you hope is you only have one surprise -- you don't have six. ... We don't have many guys on the bubble anymore. We don't have the 19 we had the first year we were at Purdue. We may have three or four (per year)."

• Tiller can't pinpoint just which freshmen will get playing time this season, but he's high on linebacker Dwayne Beckford. Tiller likes Beckford's speed and strength combination, though that may be on display sparingly. Anthony Heygood and Jason Werner are "locks" to start at linebacker, according to Tiller. It looks like Kevin Green may be moving toward that label, too. Tiller said Green had "looked like Tarzan and played like Jane" early in his career, but in spring ball, Green showed the kind of physical style of play the coaches' desire.
• Another true freshman to watch: running back Ralph Bolden. Tiller said Bolden is rehabbing from an injury, but if he's given the OK by doctors, "he's talented enough to play as a true freshman."

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Boiler bits, Big Ten media day edition: Heygood

Purdue linebacker Anthony Heygood made his first trip to the Big Ten media days in Chicago last week. Here's what he had to say about the event, among other things.
It's your first time here in the craziness. How has it been?
Interesting. I've never been around this much chaos. (Teammate Greg Orton) said his TV guy was weird because the light was there, and the TV guy was behind the light. So (Orton) couldn't see him. So it was like a fist asking questions.
What's been the most-asked question you've gotten?
"How do you think the defense is going to do this year?" It's like, what do you expect me to say? We're going to be terrible on defense? I expect my defense to do very well, of course.
Have you seen many movies this summer? I've only been to the movies one time this summer. I went to see "Hancock," and it was OK. It is funny, but with Will Smith, you expect something else when you go to see a movie because he's getting paid like $30 million. You expect him to be there and get wild. It could have been better.
You're too busy to go more often?
(Kory) Sheets lives with me this summer, and he goes all the time. I'm like, 'I'm not going to pay $10 to watch a movie.' I can wait until it comes out on DVD. I have, like, 600 DVDs. I love DVDs. My DVD collection is ridiculous. I own pretty much everything.
What's your most prized DVD?
Probably "No Country for Old Men." Great movie. I went and bought that when it came out.
If you didn't see it in the theater, how did you know it was good?
I heard a bunch of people raving about it. I'm like, 'I haven't seen it.' (People said) 'You have to see it because it has a shotgun with a silencer.' I'm like, 'That's great. What's in the rest of the movie?' It turned out to be a great movie.
Do you have a favorite genre?
I watch everything. I'm a homebody, so I watch a lot of TV and DVDs.
Are there any you bought but haven't opened yet?
The "Powerpuff Girls" movie. It's still in the wrapper. That and "War" with Jet Li. One of my favorites is "Dude, Where's My Car?" Everybody hates that movie. I think it is hilarious. It's just so stupid that it's so funny to me.
Any weird dreams lately?
I had a dream that Barack Obama won the presidency and the entire United States had a party. It was the weirdest dream ever. I swear. I turn on the TV (in the dream), and they're like, 'Barack Obama wins.' I turn the channel, and they're like, 'They're partying in Wisconsin.' I turn the channel, 'They're partying in Massachusetts.' It was like people in the street everywhere. I go outside in Lafayette, and everybody is dancing and running down the street. I'm like, 'What is going on?'

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Boiler bits, Big Ten media day edition: Painter

Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter was one of the most sought-after players during Friday's session at the Big Ten media days in Chicago. Rarely was Painter alone at his table, but there still was time to ask the Heisman hopeful some random questions for our Boiler Bits.
Are you big man on campus yet?
You go places, and some people notice you. But I don't have people following me around or anything.
You have DVDs, calendars, your own Web site for the Heisman campaign. You're much more of a team guy, but some of this can be good for Purdue as a whole.
Yeah. Maybe they turn on a game because they saw a calendar. We've had a guy in our department follow us around with a camera while we're here. It gives us a chance for people to get to know us. They see us on the field, but this gives them a chance to get to know us. Maybe it will get people excited about Purdue football.
Are you insulted at all that there are still quite a few left?
Not really. That means more for my mom, and she'll love it. She'll just hang calendars up all over the place.
Anything for the ladies who maybe aren't Purdue football fans -- shots of you by the pool maybe?
No, these are all action shots. It's not summer time (during the season's calendar months), so I'm not going to be in board shorts.
Does the DVD have any behind-the-scenes stuff?
It's just a highlight tape. It's only three or four minutes long.
Would you make for good reality TV?
I'm not a very exciting guy. If they tell me what to say, I might make it funny.
Have you had a chance to go to many movies this summer?
I haven't been to a movie in a long time. I'm real excited to go to the "Step Brothers" movie. I'm a big Will Ferrell fan. But I do like movies.
There are a lot of guys here looking sharp, including yourself (grey pinstripe suit, white tie). Do you like getting dressed up?
My girlfriend got me this (shirt). I don't know what you call it. Green? Pastel? I used to wear a salmon shirt under it with this suit, and it looked nice. But I decided to switch up the color. I've got four suits. I try to get one every year. I wore my new one (Thursday).
Your hair is getting long.
I need a trim. It's the longest I've ever had it. It's a little different, I guess.
When Kyle Orton went through his Heisman push, they made him shave his beard and cut his hair.
I don't have a beard, really, so I'm OK there. They haven't told me to cut my hair yet. (But) the season hasn't started yet.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Boiler bits, Big Ten media day edition: Orton

With three football players from each of the Big Ten's 11 schools packed into a ballroom in the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, naturally, talk mostly is about football.
But I like to let the guys relax a bit, so I asked Purdue's Curtis Painter, Anthony Heygood and Greg Orton some random questions last week in Chicago.
A sampling of my conversation with Orton is below. Check back to hear from Painter and Heygood.
What's the best movie you've seen this summer?
I'm definitely up to date on my movies. I'd probably say the best one I've seen this summer was "The Dark Knight." It was really good. "Wanted" with Angelina Jolie was really good.
"Wanted" was really bloody.
Yeah. It was kind of like the Matrix a little bit. That and "Hancock" was good. Hancock was hilarious.
Everyone is saying Heath Ledger was amazing in Batman. What's your take?
Oh my goodness. I wouldn't say give him an Oscar because he passed away. He really deserved it. If you didn't know that was Heath Ledger, you wouldn't know who it was. He was outstanding. He puts a different persona on the Joker. It's more modern. He's darker. He's killing people left and right. He's hilarious, too. It's really good.
Switching gears a bit -- have you had any weird dreams lately?
Yeah. I was just telling somebody, too. Everybody was in it. We were at some type of show or something. It was like an awards show a little bit. I had just seen the ESPYs. I just started seeing everybody, and I was talking to David Beckham, but I was talking in his accent. It was really weird.
This is your first time at the Big Ten media days. Has it been OK?
Yeah, for the most part. It's just waking up early (is tough). I'm not a morning person. (Thursday) we had the thing where we go around to each podium (for TV). That was just hectic. It was chaos seeing everybody scrambling everywhere. You never really get to see the behind the scenes, so it was just like, 'Wow.'
Has there been a question you keep getting asked?
"This is coach Tiller's last year, so how do you feel about it and how does he feel about it?"
When you know you're going to get a question over and over, do you change up your answer?
I try to change it up a little bit, but for the most part, a lot of it is just recycled. (laughs) But I enjoy it, though. It's fun.
I know you got in Thursday. Have you gotten out at all?
Got a chance to hang out with Javon Ringer at Michigan State. We grew up together. We were talking and hanging out with some Wisconsin guys and IU guys. It was fun to talk to guys off the field.
You're looking nice in your suit. Are you a bit of a fashionista?
I think I'm a little GQ a bit. I picked it up back at home. I like the look. I've got about four suits. My mom is proud of me. I got deals, two for 150 (dollars). Trying to look sharp.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Heisman hopeful

Curtis Painter, dressed sharply in a grey pinstripe suit, wasn't only surrounded by reporters at his table inside the Hyatt Regency Friday at the Big Ten media day.
He was joined by stacks of DVDs with his picture on the cover and calendars spread over the table top.
Purdue is "Painting a Masterpiece" this season -- that's the tagline for the Heisman push for its quarterback.
The sports information department also launched CurtisPainter12.com to promote the fifth-year senior. It conveniently debuted Thursday, the first day of the two-day media festitivies.
Painter doesn't seem to know what to make of the hype.
"My mom likes it," said Painter, smiling. "It's neat. They did a good job with it. It looks pretty cool. But this kind of stuff certainly is the result of a good season, and it comes later. There's a lot of focus right now on Purdue football. A lot has to be done before any of this can even happen. It's a cool thing, but it doesn't really mean much for me."

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Painter fills staff

With Jack Owens' addition to the men's basketball coaching staff last month, head coach Matt Painter needed only fill the supervisor of men's basketball operations position to solidify his staff.
That job is done.
Elliot Bloom, who served as the team's sports information director the last seven seasons, will take over the role vacated by Kent Williams. Williams left with associate head coach Cuonzo Martin, who was hired as Missouri State's head coach.
Bloom, a Purdue graduate, will handle scheduling, travel arrangements, oversee summer camps and serve as the liaison between the program and the community.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

More Boilermakers agree to free agent contracts

Can we please focus on Aaron Lane for a moment?
A two-time All-Big Ten academic selection. A kid who never whined publicly about being benched his senior season. A kid who knows how to work hard. A kid who has used faith -- in himself, in his family and in God -- to fuel him to never quit striving for his ultimate goal of the NFL.
Lane made the first step when he landed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.
He'll join fellow Fort Wayne native and former Purdue teammate Selwyn Lymon on a 6 a.m. flight to Miami Thursday. They'll join perhaps 10 other free agent pick-ups -- along with the players who were drafted -- at the team's rookie mini-camp.
Don't be surprised if Lane sticks around after that.
He provides versatility with the ability to play slot receiver, cornerback or on special teams. His best chance is to stick on special teams first, and he showed during his senior season at Purdue he can make an impact there. Coach Joe Tiller and special teams coordinator Mark Hagen praised Lane's fearless and consistent play. They also loved his attitude and work ethic, certainly traits that only can be respected at the next level.

• Neither Selwyn Lymon nor his father, Terry, will return my calls. I've heard they're not happy we reported Selwyn's off-field incidents. They may not be the only ones. Lymon's former high school coach, Sherwood Haydock, said Lymon's "off-field antics weren't as bad as perceived to be by the media." I asked him to explain that. "Obviously, he did wrong. I'm not backing him by any means. But there's a lot of college athletes in the same situation that just don't get caught. He got caught enough that it really hurt him, and it's cost him some money. I think after next season, he would have been drafted."
• According to Purdue's Web site, seven Boilermakers have agreed to terms on free agent contracts. Besides Lane and Lymon, linebacker Josh Ferguson, cornerback Terrell Vinson and center Robbie Powell landed with the Browns; safety Justin Scott will be with the Redskins; and Dorien Bryant is headed for Pittsburgh. No word yet on whether offensive guard Jordan Grimes has hooked up with a NFL team.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette

Tiller announces spring awards

Not surprisingly with how many impact players missed time this spring due to injury, quite a few new faces earned Purdue's spring awards.

• Quarterback Joey Elliott and linebacker Jason Werner earned Most Improved.
• Receiver Aaron Valentin and defensive tackle Nick Mondek were given the Newcomer Award.
• The Pit Bull Award, given to the player who sustains tenacity and intense play throughout the spring, went to center/guard Cory Benton and defensive tackle Ryan Baker. It was the second consecutive year Baker earned the honor.
• Safety Frank Duong, known for his consistent special teams play, got the Hammer Award. That's presented to the outstanding hitter of the spring.

-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette