Editor's note: Last in a series previewing Big Ten Conference football teams.

The table was covered in hype: DVDs and calendars promoting Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter for the Heisman Trophy.

Painting a masterpiece.

That was the theme.

Painter couldn't escape the hyperbole, either. He was seated at the table/shrine for two hours.

That was the length of the interview session during the Big Ten kickoff meetings in late July.

What question do you think Painter got asked the most?

"Everyone wanted to know about all of this and how I feel about it," he said, sighing.

Painter pointed to the seemingly endless supply of DVDs and calendars on the tabletop.

How does he feel about such an aggressive marketing campaign?

"It's definitely an honor to be thought of as a person who could potentially be in that spot (to win the Heisman)," he said. "But there's a lot that has to happen for any of this to happen.

"More than anything, I hope it gets people excited in Purdue. Maybe someone -- with no intention of watching us play -- will see the calendar and tune us in.

"At the end of the day, I hope it brings attention to the team."

At the end of the season, Painter could be the all-time leading passer in Big Ten history.

Painter needs 3,030 yards to move past Drew Brees, the former Boilermaker All-American.

That record would seem to be well within his grasp, since he threw for 3,846 yards last season and 3,985 yards in 2006.

"It would be a tremendous honor if I get a chance to finish at the top of that list," he said. "Statistics are great. But they really don't mean anything unless you win. That's my focus."

But he's not the only focal point on the Purdue campus. He's not even the biggest.

Joe Tiller is.

Never the retiring type, Tiller will nonetheless be calling it quits following the 2008 season, his 12th in West Lafayette.

His successor is already on board: assistant Danny Hope.

"We're going to try and treat him (Tiller) like a senior," Painter said. "It will probably be a little emotional at the end for us since we'll be going out together.

"As a senior, you want to go out on top and make it your best season. And we want to do it for him like he wants to do it for us."

What has been Tiller's most endearing characteristic?

"He loves his players,'' Painter said. "You can go into his office and talk to him for 45 minutes without saying anything about football. He's a mentor."

What would the perfect send-out for Joe Tiller entail?

"We need to take that next step," Painter said, "by going into big games and winning a few.

"That's a big theme. For me, this year is about staying consistent, and that also translates to the offense and team."