1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team
American college football season
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The 1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie in the Big Ten. Purdue had its best season since 1980. The team played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
| 1997 Purdue Boilermakers football | |
|---|---|
Alamo Bowl champion | |
Alamo Bowl, W 33–20 vs. Oklahoma State | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 15 |
| AP | No. 15 |
| Record | 9–3 (6–2 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Jim Chaney (1st season) |
| Co-offensive coordinator | Tim Lappano (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Brock Spack (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Ross–Ade Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Michigan $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 Ohio State | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 Penn State | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Purdue | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | 6:00 pm | at Toledo* | L 22–36 | 27,700 | |||
| September 13 | 2:30 pm | No. 12 Notre Dame* | ABC | W 28–17 | 68,789 | ||
| September 20 | 1:00 pm | Ball State* |
| W 28–14 | 45,947 | ||
| September 27 | 11:30 am | Northwestern |
| ESPN | W 21–9 | 42,112 | |
| October 11 | 6:00 pm | at Minnesota | ESPN Plus | W 59–43 | 37,821 | ||
| October 18 | 1:00 pm | No. 24 Wisconsin |
| W 45–20 | 54,252 | ||
| October 25 | 1:00 pm | at Illinois | No. 22 | W 48–3 | 45,122 | ||
| November 1 | 12:30 pm | at No. 15 Iowa | No. 18 | ESPN2 | L 17–35 | 70,397 | |
| November 8 | 12:30 pm | Michigan State | No. 23 |
| ESPN2 | W 22–21 | 55,539 |
| November 15 | 12:00 pm | No. 6 Penn State | No. 19 |
| ESPN | L 17–42 | 52,156 |
| November 22 | 1:00 pm | at Indiana | No. 23 | W 56–7 | 46,599 | ||
| December 30 | 8:00 pm | No. 24 Oklahoma State* | No. 17 | ESPN | W 33–20 | 55,552 | |
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Rankings
Game summaries
Toledo
Purdue at Toledo
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
| • Toledo | 21 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 36 |
- Date: September 6
- Location: Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
- Game attendance: 26,700
| 1 | PUR | Watson 45-yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 7-0 | |
| 1 | TOL | Reynolds 1-yard run (Merrick kick) | Tied 7-7 | |
| 1 | TOL | Harris 5-yard run (Merrick kick) | TOL 14-7 | |
| 1 | TOL | Freeman 29-yard pass from Wallace (Merrick kick) | TOL 21-7 | |
| 2 | TOL | Merrick 25-yard field goal | TOL 24-7 | |
| 2 | TOL | Merrick 37-yard field goal | TOL 27-7 | |
| 2 | PUR | Alford 73-yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | TOL 27-14 | |
| 3 | TOL | Merrick 21-yard field goal | TOL 30-14 | |
| 4 | TOL | Kreitzburg 6-yard pass from Wallace (two-point failed) | TOL 36-14 | |
| 4 | PUR | Sutherland 5-yard run (Watson rund) | TOL 36-22 | |
Joe Tiller's first game as Purdue head coach[1]
Notre Dame
Notre Dame at Purdue
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| • Purdue | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
- Date: September 13
- Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
- Game attendance: 68,789
| 1 | PUR | Edwin Watson 1-yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 7-0 | |
| 2 | ND | Sanson 34-yard field goal | PUR 7-3 | |
| 2 | PUR | Edwin Watson 1-yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 14-3 | |
| 2 | ND | Autry Denson 16-yard run (Sanson kick) | PUR 14-10 | |
| 4 | PUR | Adrian Beasley 43-yard fumble return (Ryan kick) | PUR 21-10 | |
| 4 | ND | Autry Denson 1-yard pass from Ron Powlus (Sanson kick) | PUR 21-17 | |
| 4 | PUR | Kendall Matthews 3-yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 28-17 | |
In Joe Tiller's first home game, Purdue snapped an 11-game losing streak to Notre Dame as fans tore down the goalposts after the victory. Edwin Watson, who had two touchdown runs, had said earlier in the week that former head coach and new Irish offensive coordinator Jim Colletto "was used to losing here (Purdue), so it would be nothing new for him."[2]
Ball State
Ball State at Purdue
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Purdue | 3 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 28 |
- Date: September 20
- Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
- Game attendance: 45,947
Northwestern
Northwestern at Purdue
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| • Purdue | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
- Game attendance: 42,112
- Kendall Matthews 29 rushes, 152 yards [5]
Minnesota
Purdue at Minnesota
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Purdue | 17 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
| Minnesota | 14 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 43 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
| Q1 | 10:31 | MINN | Nelson 31 yard pass from Atwell (Bailey kick) | MINN 7−0 |
| Q1 | 10:03 | PUR | Watson 65 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | Tie 7–7 |
| Q1 | 6:30 | PUR | Ryan 32 yard field goal | PUR 10–7 |
| Q1 | 3:21 | PUR | Matthews 33 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 17–7 |
| Q1 | 0:23 | MINN | Duerr 3 yard pass from Sauter (Bailey kick) | PUR 17–14 |
| Q2 | 8:05 | PUR | Watson 21 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | PUR 24–14 |
| Q2 | 5:07 | MINN | Wyrick 42 yard pass from Rindels (Bailey kick) | PUR 24–21 |
| Q2 | 4:45 | PUR | Alford 93 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | PUR 31–21 |
| Q2 | 1:36 | PUR | Watson 1 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 38–21 |
| Q3 | 13:53 | MINN | Evans 45 yard run (Bailey kick) | PUR 38–28 |
| Q3 | 10:11 | PUR | Dicken 11 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 45–28 |
| Q3 | 1:33 | PUR | Alford 89 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | PUR 52–28 |
| Q4 | 9:40 | PUR | Jones 4 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | PUR 59–28 |
| Q4 | 7:21 | MINN | Atwell 46 yard pass from Cockerham (Bailey kick) | PUR 59–35 |
| Q4 | 0:38 | MINN | Bean 1 yard run (Bean run) | PUR 59–43 |
- Purdue's first win in Minneapolis since 1983.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin at Purdue
Homecoming
Homecoming
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| • Purdue | 21 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
- Date: October 18
- Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
With the win over Wisconsin, Purdue is off to its best start since 1978 and produced their first five-game winning streak since 1980.[7]
Illinois
Purdue at Illinois
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Purdue | 14 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 48 |
| Illinois | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Champaign, IL - Game attendance: 45,122
- Kendall Matthews 16 rushes, 177 yards [9]
Iowa
Purdue at Iowa
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • Iowa | 0 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 35 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Kinnick Stadium
Iowa City, IA - Game attendance: 70,397
Michigan State
Michigan State at Purdue
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Purdue | 0 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 22 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: Ross–Ade Stadium
West Lafayette, IN - Game attendance: 55,539
- Edwin Watson 24 rushes, 115 yards [12]
Penn State
Penn State at Purdue
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Penn State | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Purdue | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 17 |
- Date: November 15
- Location: Ross–Ade Stadium
West Lafayette, IN - Game attendance: 52,156
- Edwin Watson 19 rushes, 133 yards [14]
Indiana
Purdue at Indiana
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Purdue | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 56 |
| Indiana | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 22
- Location: Memorial Stadium
Bloomington, IN - Game attendance: 46,599
| 1 | PUR | Watson 14 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 7–0 | |
| 1 | PUR | Dicken 6 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 14–0 | |
| 2 | IND | Conner 42 yard pass from Rodgers (Payne kick) | PUR 14–7 | |
| 2 | PUR | L. Johnson 35 yard fumble return (Ryan kick) | PUR 21–7 | |
| 3 | PUR | Watson 48 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 28–7 | |
| 4 | PUR | I. Jones 16 yard pass from Dicken (Ryan kick) | PUR 35–7 | |
| 4 | PUR | Rose 24 yard interception return (Ryan kick) | PUR 42–7 | |
| 4 | PUR | Brees 5 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 49–7 | |
| 4 | PUR | Graham 49 yard run (Ryan kick) | PUR 56–7 | |
- Edwin Watson 18 rushes, 163 yards [17]
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State vs. Purdue
Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Purdue | 7 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 33 |
| Oklahoma State | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
- Date: December 30
- Location: Alamodome
San Antonio, TX - Game attendance: 55,552
Personnel
Roster
| 1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Joe Tiller
- Assistants: Tim Burke, Jim Chaney, Scott Downing, Gary Emanuel, Danny Hope, Larry Korpitz, Tim Lappano, Randy Melvin, Greg Olson, Brock Spack[19]
Starters
- Offense: WR Brian Alford, WR Gabe Cox, LT Mark Fischer, WR F Chesti, LG Brian Nicely, C Jim Niedrach, RG Chukky Okobi, RT Dan Maly, TE Jon Blackman, WR Isaac Jones, QB Billy Dicken, RB Edwin Watson, K Shane Ryan
- Defense: LE Chukie Nwokorie, LT Leo Perez, RT Greg Smith, RE Rosevelt Colvin, WLB Willie Burroughs, MLB Willie Fells, SLB Mike Rose, LCB Michael Hawthorne, FS Adrian Beasley, SS Lee Brush, RCB Lamar Conrad, P Brandon Kaser[20]
Awards
- All-Americans: Brian Alford (Football News)
- All-Big Ten: Brian Alford (1st), Rosevelt Colvin (2nd), Billy Dicken (1st)[21]