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A bombshell was dropped tonight in West Laffayette, as local legend Joe Tiller announced that the 2008 season will be his last. In 11 seasons at Purdue, four times Tiller led the Boilermakers to a season with less than five losses! And his postseason trophy case includes a pair of Alamo Bowl wins, along with proud triumphs in the Sun and Motor City Bowls.

Of course Tiller will be remembered for always having Purdue ready for "the big game." In 23 tries against Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, Tiller's Boilermakers walked away victorious a whole five times!

Coach Tiller's hand-picked successor? Danny Hope, who pieced together a marvelous five-year run of 35-22 at Eastern Kentucky.

But it just won't be the same without Coach Tiller and his beautifuly bushy mustache prowling the sidelines at historic Ross Ade Stadium. His farewell tour will surely garner national headlines, and expect opposing schools across the Midwest to sell out instantly, with fans all wanting to tell their grandchildren that "they were there" for Coach Tiller's last trip to their stadium. And you can bet there won't be a dry eye in the house when Indiana comes a callin' for Coach T's last battle for the Old Oaken Bucket. The major networks will surely be fighting over the broadcast rights of that one.

LSU wins the battle. Ohio State wins the war.

OK, so LSU won the football game against Ohio State on Monday night. That's small potatoes compared to what the Buckeyes left New Orleans with -- their dignity. Sure, occasionally a football team finds a way to beat Jim Tressel's squad on the field, but you'll never beat them off of it. The day a school outclasses Coach Tressel's Buckeyes is the day I'll sell my pet goat, Brutus.

Even in defeat, the Buckeyes stayed together as one and displayed a sense of team unity that few institutions can rival. Tackle Alex Boone eloquently summed things up after the game:

“I couldn’t believe that guys were fighting with other guys, this isn’t a
barroom.” the massive junior tackle said. “You don’t need to be fighting with
your own teammates. We were here to play football, Some guys didn’t get that
though. But that’s not Ohio State football."

“Everyone was fighting with each other and I’m like, ‘Calm down. It’s okay. It’s half time.’ But everyone’s like, ‘This is your fault,’ and then ‘No, this is your fault.’ I was like ‘Calm down, we got a half to go.’ But some guys panicked like the game was over.”

Ohio State never gave up, and fought tooth and nail to the end. That's really all that matters in sports. And at halftime, four Honors Students at Ohio State University showed off the school's academic brilliance by proudly displaying the state's name in a breathtaking flag formation.

A tip of the hat to the Buckeyes; the BCS Title game was yet another banner night in a season of banner moments for the Big Ten Conference.