Robbie Hummel’s season-ending knee injury is so unfortunate on many levels. First for Hummel: he missed several games last season with a bad back. He came back strong this season and was a finalist for some player of the year awards.  For the Purdue Boilermakers, they lose a player who does just about everything well. As Hummel goes, so goes the Boilers. But Hummel will not be going anywhere but rehab. And for Purdue fans, this was the season the Boilermakers could get back to the Final Four in Indianapolis, just like they did in 1980. Now that seems unlikely.

This Purdue team is playing so well. After a disappointing skid of three games early in the Big Ten season, the Boilermakers have won 10 straight games to take sole posession of first place in the conference. Purdue has climbed to 3rd in the national rankings. A top seed in the NCAA tourney is a definite possibility. But I’ve heard many people say Purdue just went from a Final Four team to a Sweet 16 squad. I can’t disagree.

If the Boilermakers still want to reach their goals of a Big Ten championship and Final Four run, they have to keep playing with the guts and determination they did at Minnesota after Hummel went down. JaJaun Johnson has to own the paint without getting in foul trouble. Keaton Grant has to play like a senior who only has a few games left and wants to save the best for last. Chris Kramer has to be a shut down defender against the opponent’s best player.

All that is possible, but difficult to sustain. Hummel is a huge loss. Purdue’s Sunday game against Michigan State will be a good indicator of the mental fortitude of the Boilermakers after taking such a big blow.

-Rich Nye, WTHR Sports Reporter

rnye@wthr.com

TheSportsGuy13 on Twitter

New Orleans has upset Indianapolis to win Super Bowl XLIV.

As Peyton Manning tried to rally the team to yet another fourth quarter comeback this season, he was intercepted by Saints defensive back Tracey Porter, who returned the pick 78 yards for a touchdown.

Porter, a Louisiana native, played collegiately at Indiana University.

After a first quarter dominated by Peyton Manning and the Colts’ defense, New Orleans has raced back, used a surprise to take the lead early in the third quarter.

Trailing 10-6 at halftime, the Saints recovered an onside kick after the break. After an extensive scrum, New Orleans was given possession and moved right down the field, getting into the end zone with a 16-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Pierre Thomas to take a 13-10 lead.

But the Colts didn’t take long to answer. Read more.

Coach Caldwell talks about his second-half strategy.

“They did a nice job, obviously, moving the ball down on us. We didn’t help with a couple penalties there. They kept drives going but we had a big stop down there and kept them out of the end zone. But our guys gotta pick it up in the second half,” said Colts Coach Jim Caldwell at the start of half-time.

Sent by Rich Nye:

President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism adviser says he’s not aware of any credible terrorist threats
against the Super Bowl.
 
John Brennan says officials are “very comfortable” with the security measures in place for Sunday night’s game in Miami between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.

Fans aren’t going to be allowed to bring large bags into the Super Bowl stadium.

Also, there will be 100 magnetometers – like those in use at airports – to detect metal objects.

Other measures include radiological, biological and chemical weapon detection and protection devices. And nearly everyone entering the stadium will be subjected to a pat-down search.

Davie, FLA – One day before Super Bowl XLIV, not much had changed for the Colts in the injury department.

The team held their final practice Saturday. Defensive end Dwight Freeney did not participate, spending the session on a golf cart. Freeney is out with an injured ankle…in case you hadn’t heard.

Cornerback Jerraud Powers did light work. Reggie Wayne, who left practice a little early Friday with an injured knee, participated in his usual first team offense duties no worse for wear.

The Colts had a light, 35-minute walk-through. Freeney’s ankle still appears to be tender, but he didn’t have it wrapped Saturday.

Colts Coach Jim Caldwell said Friday that Freeney had improved since Thursday, but it’s still going to be a game-day decision. Caldwell said that practice is going according to plan, and that the team’s overall condition had improved during the week.

The rookie coach says things are moving in the right direction for the Colts.