OSU, Purdue in search of good feelings

The Boilermakers have lost four straight, while the Bucks are embroiled in controversy.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Purdue coach Joe Tiller tried to stay positive this week when discussing his team's recent struggles.
"It's always the darkest before dawn," Tiller said.
If that is the case, sunrise can't be far away for Purdue and Ohio State, because it is pretty dark on both campuses these days.
The Boilermakers (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) haven't won a game in more than a month. Four straight losses have dashed hopes of a Big Ten title born of a 5-0 start.
They also could be without starting quarterback Kyle Orton for the second week in a row while he recovers from an injury to his right hip. The one-time Heisman hopeful has watched his senior season go down the drain with lackluster performances in losses to Wisconsin, Michigan and Northwestern, where he was benched in favor of Brandon Kirsch.
Kirsch made his first start of the season in last week's loss to Iowa, and Tiller said he would wait as long as possible to decide who will start this week against the Buckeyes (6-3, 3-3).
More controversy
Purdue's problems seem small compared to the controversy swirling around Ohio State.
In an interview with ESPN The Magazine released this week, former Buckeyes star Maurice Clarett accused coach Jim Tressel, his staff and school boosters of arranging for him to get passing grades, cars and thousands of dollars, including for bogus summer jobs. The school immediately denied the claims. Athletic director Andy Geiger said many of them were found to be baseless in investigations by the NCAA and the university.
Tressel doesn't welcome the distractions.
"What I want to do right now is get ready for Purdue and take care of things as they need to be," Tressel said.
Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith defended Clarett, saying he never knew him to be untruthful. He said he was unaware of any payments to Clarett or other athletes and said his primary focus was on getting ready for today's game at Purdue.
Judging from the last two meetings between these teams, it better be.
Last season, the fourth-ranked Buckeyes prevailed 16-13 in overtime after Purdue kicker Ben Jones missed a 37-yard field goal.
Two years ago, Ohio State came into Ross-Ade Stadium and beat the Boilermakers 10-6 after Craig Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins for a 37-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-1 in the final two minutes. That win helped propel the Buckeyes to the national championship.
"You've got to expect a battle any time you go to West Lafayette," Ohio State cornerback Dustin Fox said. "Every year it seems like it's an Instant Classic on ESPN. I'm expecting to go in there and it to be a 60-minute war -- or a 60-plus-minute war. It's going to be a good game."
Close losses
That would be nothing new for Purdue, which has lost the last four games by a total of 10 points.
The close losses have made the team's fall even harder to take. But Orton said the Boilermakers have turned the corner and are ready for their first win against Ohio State in four tries, which would also make them eligible for a bowl for the eighth straight year.
"We're actually really excited," Orton said. "(Ohio State) is a team we've had close games with. We were kind of down about it for a while, but we realize where we're at right now."
To be successful, the Boilermakers will have to find a way to stop speedy Ohio State freshman Ted Ginn Jr., something that has become increasingly difficult in recent weeks.
Last week against Michigan State, Ginn scored on a run, a catch and a punt return to lead Ohio State to a 32-19 victory.
"You need to know where he is on the field at all times," Tiller said. "You can't lose him."
If the Boilermakers again fall to Ohio State, they will have one more shot -- against Indiana at home -- at bowl eligibility.
"It's important not to give up on the season, just because you've lost four games in a row," Purdue defensive tackle Brent Grover said. "We have to pay attention to detail."