And so it begins... | by Dylan

Purdue dives head first into the trough to feed on some Division I-AA Sycamore meat. I'll post the entire text, because it's just too good:

Purdue will fill the opening for a 12th game on its football schedule next season by hosting Division I-AA Indiana State.

The Boilermakers and Sycamores will play Sept. 2, 2006 at Ross-Ade Stadium, Indiana State sports information director Jason Yaman said. It will be the season opener for both teams.

Purdue coach Joe Tiller said last month when the NCAA passed legislation permitting a 12th game for Division I schools that he hoped the Boilermakers would be able to play at home against a lower-level Division I team or nearby Division I-AA team.

Indiana State will receive a $250,000 payout, Yaman said.

“We thought it (the 12th game) would lend itself to us and other members of our league to having some opportunities like this,’’ Yaman said.

Indiana State is a member of the Gateway Conference. The Sycamores play at Indiana University in 2007.

The addition of Indiana State means Purdue will play its first four games at home in 2006. It also will play 13 regular-season games for the first time in school history because of a game at Hawaii, which doesn’t count toward the 12-game limit.

This game makes PU's '06 campaign look like this:

09/02 Indiana State
09/09 Miami (Ohio)
09/16 Ball State
09/23 Minnesota
09/30 at Notre Dame
10/07 at Iowa
10/14 at Northwestern
10/21 Wisconsin
10/28 Penn State
11/04 at Michigan State
11/11 at Illinois
11/18 Indiana
11/25 at Hawaii

This redefines cream-puffery. Indiana State, Miami (OH), and Ball State, all at home. Hawaii on the road. Indiana, Northwestern, and Penn State are gimmes, be they gifts from the Big 1?. Eight patsies in one year. Since Hawaii doesn't count (?), if they go 2-2 against Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, they will have 9 wins and will be BCS eligible.

The NCAA really, really sucks.