Purdue University has fired head football coach Danny Hope, and declining attendance seems to be a key factor. Remember that Hope received a two year contract extension last year, not that it matters now. So let's take a look at the Purdue Boilermakers using my Complex Invasion College Football production model to see how Purdue's football team has fared under Hope's tenure.
In 2009 Purdue went 5-7 and were bowl ineligible. Purdue's most impressive victory was against #9 ranked Ohio State and their worst loss was to #81 ranked Minnesota. Purdue finished as the #73 ranked team overall with the #78 ranked offense and the #63 ranked defense.
The following season, Purdue went 4-8 in the regular season. Purdue's best win was against #75 ranked Northwestern and their worst loss was to #84 ranked in-state rival Indiana. Purdue finished as the #92 ranked team overall with the #104 ranked offense and the #51 ranked defense.
In 2011 Purdue finished 6-6 in the regular season and finished with a win over #53 ranked Western Michigan to finish the season 7-6. Purdue finished as the #71 ranked team overall, with the #64 ranked offense and the #69 ranked defense against an average strength of schedule for that season.
This year Purdue is 6-6 and bowl eligible at the time of Hope's firing. Purdue is currently the #61 ranked team overall with the currently #52 ranked offense and the currently #64 ranked defense. Purdue is currently ranked above Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois - but this was not enough to keep Hope employed as the Boilermaker's head football coach.
Analysis of NCAA FBS coaches fired this season:
Arkansas's Smith,
Boston College's Spaziani,
Auburn's Chizik,
California's Tedford,
Western Michigan's Cubit,
Tennessee's Dooley,
Kentucky's Phillips,
Idaho's Akey.