Notebook: Aidan O'Connell fairy tale story adds another chapter

The Las Vegas Raiders are undergoing midseason tumult with coach Josh McDaniels out after a 3-5 start along with the general manager. Another big change: Aidan O’Connell is taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo as the Raiders’ starting signal-caller the rest of the season.

It has been a fairy tale story for O’Connell, from walk-on, to Purdue starter, to fourth-round NFL draft choice, to NFL starter … all since 2017.

“We just feel like he gives us the best chance,” said interim Raiders coach Antonio Pierce.

O’Connell already has started one game this season for Las Vegas. He and the Lions’ David Blough are current former Boilermaker quarterbacks in the NFL.

Purdue has had a quarterback start an NFL game each season but one (2021) since 2002. In that span, former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton, Curtis Painter, Blough and O’Connell all have started games.

That has added to a lush Purdue history as the “Cradle of Quarterbacks,” producing NFL talent like Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Gary Danielson, Mark Herrmann, Scott Campbell and Jim Everett, among others.

In his limited action in 2023 as a rookie, O’Connell has hit 65.4 percent of his passes (34-of-52) for 313 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He has a stronger arm than either Garoppolo or Brian Hoyer, which is needed to execute the vertical game in the Vegas playbook.

“The guys are rallying behind him,” said interim G.M. Champ Kelly of the 25-year-old O’Connell. “They’re excited to watch him get his opportunity. I was there as A.P. was speaking to the team and he had their eyes. There was an energy that was tangible in the room. There was a true excitement and guys are geared up to prepare for this weekend.”

• Purdue was a 34-point underdog (this week’s 32.5-point spread is the biggest since) at Notre Dame in 1974, and Purdue won, 31-20. The last time Purdue was this big of an underdog at Michigan was in 1991, when Purdue was +26.5 under Jim Colletto and lost, 42-0.

• Purdue was a 30-point-plus underdog twice in the last decade: 2014 vs. Notre Dame (-30) at Lucas Oil Stadium and in 2013 vs. Ohio State (-31.5) at Ross-Ade Stadium.

• Purdue has beaten Michigan five times when it was ranked in the Top 10

Score	Year	Venue
Purdue 21, No. 5 Michigan 20	1964	away
Purdue 16, No. 1 Michigan 14	1976	home
No. 14 Purdue 24, No. 10 Michigan 21	1979	home
Purdue 9, No. 9 Michigan 3	1996	home
Purdue 32, No. 6 Michigan 31	2000	home

• The struggles for the Purdue offense are real.

Things hit a nadir last week in a 31-14 loss at Nebraska, when the Boilermakers had a season-low 195 yards of offense. There was just one 20-plus yard pass play vs. the Huskers and only two runs over 10 yards. And Purdue set a season-low on average first down yards gained for the second straight week, averaging just 2.8 yards per play.

“You can’t point to any one person, any one position group,” said Ryan Walters. “I think that’s where as a team we have to all get on the same page and take accountability for doing your individual job and doing it at a high level.

“So, we talked about really trust and belief and confidence in what we’re doing no matter the outcome of the previous play. You got to go back and reset and refocus and retrust the plan, your teammates and your own ability.”

Purdue’s offense only reached the red zone once last Saturday, starting a drive at the 13-yard line following a fumble recovery. It didn’t result in points for the Boilermakers, rather, it resulted in a blocked field-goal attempt, which Nebraska returned for a touchdown.

The lone offensive touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from Hudson Card to Jayden Dixon-Veal, so the Boilermaker offense never drove into the red zone.

“There are problems everywhere, right?” said Walters. “There are some things I think we can do schematically to calm us down and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves in games.

“Then, we also just as a roster need to execute the plan.”

• Purdue is 7-4 in conference games away from home the past three seasons.

• Purdue has 17 wins vs. AP Top 5 squads as an unranked team. No other school in the AP poll era (1936) has more than 11 wins vs. Top 5 clubs.

• Purdue is the lone Big Ten team with two fumble returns for TDs in 2023.

• OLB Kydran Jenkins paces the Big Ten in sacks (7.0) and TFLs (11.5). Those numbers rank ninth and 11th, respectively, in the nation.

• Purdue is last in the Big Ten in scoring defense (30.0 ppg).

MORE: First and 10: Purdue at Michigan | First Look: Michigan | Heavy underdog Purdue will struggle to find answers vs. mighty Michigan | Gold and Black Radio: Thoughts on charity game, football, more | The 3-2-1: Numbers don’t lie–Kydran Jenkins has All-Big Ten look | Opponent view: Michigan | In the huddle: OT Daniel Johnson | Matchup preview: Purdue at Michigan | Sacks, TFLs are business of Jenkins, Scourton. And business is good