The Unofficial OTE Guide To Dealing With Sub-Mediocrity: Purdue Edition

With a certain team from New Jersey reaching new heights of ineptitude, Rutgers’ “writer” Ray Ransom asked the question in the Slack Channel:

So I mean...this is uncharted territory even for Rutgers. I’ve never seen anything this bad. How does one cope? I think we need an OTE guide.

Well, friends, some of us ‘writers’ were all too happy to oblige. So here’s the Purdue Edition of the OTE Guide to Dealing With Sub-Mediocrity.

My priorities have definitely changed over the years since graduating from Purdue in 2005.

During the late Joe Tiller years, I was a diehard who traveled to every game no matter what. I’d wake up around 5 AM to pack up the tailgating gear to be in West Lafayette by 8 to head into the golf course and get my drink on. I’d usually get into Ross-Ade 30-45 minutes before kickoff to watch the pre-game festivities. Afterwards, I’d either be super celebratory or pissed-off by the result of the game (and thus, ruining the rest of the weekend). After sobering up a bit, I’d drive home.

During the Danny Hope Era, this started to erode. I kept season tickets and still would get to West Lafayette but the experience had changed. Instead of getting into the stadium earlier, I’d maybe stick around the tailgate for an extra beer or shot. If the game wasn’t in doubt by the end of the 3rd quarter, I’d head back out for a beer and a sandwich before heading home. The close losses and heart stompings still held their sting but I was usually over it by the time I saw the lights of home.

The Darrell Hazell Era started off similarly, but by the end, I was borderline apathetic. The season tickets were cancelled. I’d still go to 3-4 home games but it was mostly to tailgate. We typically missed kickoffs because the on-field and in-stadium product had slipped considerably. It was simply better to hang around the tailgate instead of paying inflated prices for concessions and have the restrooms run out of paper towel. Add into that the birth of my son and priorities had changed significantly. I can remember flat out not caring by using the game as background noise while I played with my son at home.

The Jeff Brohm Era has brought some of the life back. The in-game and in-stadium experience has vastly improved with AD Mike Bobinski at the helm. I’m back to Hope Era levels of interest to the point that I might even get season tickets (probably start with a 3-4 game package) again at some point. I still go to a couple of games during the season but now with Boilerboy in tow as he can sit through most of a game without losing interest. Yes, I might not get to my seats before the band comes marching in, but the product on the field at least justifies some attention.

If apathy isn’t for you, here are some Train themed cocktails to ease the pain:

Boilermaker (A little too obvious, no?)

• 1 shot whisky (Rye, Bourbon, Irish, whatever works)
• 1 Beer

Depth charge the shot and chug.

The Blue Train

• 2 oz Dry Gin
• ³⁄₄ oz Triple Sec
• ¹⁄₂ oz Blue Curacao
• ³⁄₄ oz Lemon Juice

Shake all ingredients over ice and pour into chilled glass.

And for a little hope:

Train’s A-comin’

• 1 oz Cognac
• ³⁄₄ oz Blanc Vermouth
• 1/8 oz Crème Yvette
• ³⁄₄ oz Lemon Juice
• ³⁄₄ oz Concord Grape Syrup
• Absinthe

Shake all ingredients over ice and double strain into Absinthe rinsed glass. Garnish with lemon twist.