1983 Purdue Boilermakers football team

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1983 Purdue Boilermakers football
1983 Purdue Boilermakers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	3–7–1 (3–5–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Leon Burtnett (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Jim Colletto (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Tiller (1st season)
MVP	Scott Campbell
Captains	Scott Campbell; Brock Spack;
Home stadium	Ross–Ade Stadium

1983 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 10 Illinois $	9	–	0	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 8 Michigan	8	–	1	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 14 Iowa	7	–	2	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 9 Ohio State	6	–	3	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Wisconsin	5	–	4	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
	3	–	5	–	1	3	–	7	–	1
Michigan State	2	–	6	–	1	4	–	6	–	1
Indiana	2	–	7	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	7	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Minnesota	0	–	9	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1983 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Leon Burtnett, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–7–1 with a mark of 3–5–1 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	No. 5 Notre Dame*	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	L 6–52	69,782	^[1]
September 17	at Miami (FL)*	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	L 0–35	34,557	^[2]
September 24	at Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	W 32–20	41,839	^[3]
October 1	Michigan State	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	T 29–29	69,203	^[4]
October 8	at No. 6 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 22–33	89,384	^[5]
October 15	at No. 14 Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 14–31	66,105	^[6]
October 22	No. 11 Illinois	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	L 21–35	69,328	^[7]
October 29	Northwestern	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	W 48–17	60,134	^[8]
November 5	at No. 13 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	L 10–42	104,946	^[9]
November 12	Wisconsin	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	L 38–42	58,342	^[10]
November 19	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)	W 31–30	52,038	^[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[12]^[13]

Game summaries

Notre Dame

At Miami (FL)

At Minnesota

Michigan State

Scott Campbell 30/50, 300 yards

At Ohio State

Purdue Boilermakers (1–2–1) at #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	7	0	0	15	22
Ohio St	6	6	14	7	33

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: October 8, 1983
Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
Game attendance: 89,384
Referee: Tom Quinn
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

OSU – Paul Allen 21-yard field goal, 9:41. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:11.
OSU – Paul Allen 41-yard field goal, 4:30. Ohio St 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:34.
PUR – Eric Jordan 40-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:27. Purdue 7–6. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:00.

Second quarter

OSU – Keith Byars 4-yard run (pass failed), 5:23. Ohio St 12–7. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:59.

Third quarter

OSU – Garcia Lane 63-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 19–7.
OSU – Garcia Lane 71-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 2:51. Ohio St 26–7.

Fourth quarter

PUR – Tim Clark 39-yard field goal, 14:20. Ohio St 26–10. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:31.
OSU – Keith Byars 2-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 10:56. Ohio St 33–10. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:19.
PUR – Cliff Benson 5-yard pass from Scott Campbell (pass failed), 3:50. Ohio St 33–16. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 3:59.
PUR – Mel Gray 20-yard run (pass failed), 2:58. Ohio St 33–22. Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 0:46.

Top passers

PUR – Scott Campbell – 23/36, 228 yards, TD
OSU – Mike Tomczak – 8/17, 145 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

PUR – Eric Jordan – 9 rushes, 89 yards, TD
OSU – Keith Byars – 23 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 62 yards
OSU – Keith Byars – 4 receptions, 120 yards

At Iowa

Illinois

Scott Campbell 30/43, 388 yards

Northwestern

At Michigan

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Badgers (5–4) at Purdue Boilermakers (2–6–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	7	14	7	14	42
Purdue	3	20	0	15	38

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: November 12, 1983
Game attendance: 58,342
^[14]

Game information

First quarter

WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rodhe kick). Wisconsin 7–0.
PUR – Tim Clark 20-yard field goal. Wisconsin 7–3.

Second quarter

WIS – Randy Wright 1-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 14–3.
PUR – Cliff Benson 18-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Wisconsin 14–10.
PUR – Cliff Benson 1-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 17–14.
WIS – Al Toon 73-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 21–17.
PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 1-yard run (kick failed). Purdue 23–21.

Third quarter

WIS – Randy Wright 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 28–23.

Fourth quarter

PUR – Bruce King 17-yard run (pass good). Purdue 31–28.
WIS – Randy Wright 8-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 35–31.
PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 3-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:35. Purdue 38–35.
WIS – Brett Pearson 13-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:32. Wisconsin 42–35.

Top passers

WIS – Randy Wright – 16/33, 317 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
PUR – Scott Campbell – 17/30, 181 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

WIS – Gary Ellerson – 21 rushes, 93 yards, TD
PUR – Mel Gray – 24 rushes, 106 yards

Top receivers

WIS – Al Toon – 8 receptions, 252 yards, TD
PUR – Jeff Price – 3 receptions, 66 yards

At Indiana

Purdue Boilermakers (2–7–1) at Indiana Hoosiers (3–7)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	0	21	3	7	31
Indiana	0	14	0	16	30

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Date: November 19, 1983
Game attendance: 52,038
^[15]

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

PUR – Mel Gray 1-yard run (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 7–0.
IU – Orlando Brown 8-yard run (Doug Smith kick). Tie 7–7.
PUR – Jeff Price 13-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 14–7.
PUR – Scott Campbell 1-yard run (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 21–7.
IU – Len Kenebrew 22-yard pass from Steve Bradley (Doug Smith kick). Purdue 21–14.

Third quarter

PUR – Tim Clark 34-yard field goal. Purdue 24–14.

Fourth quarter

IU – Doug Smith 43-yard field goal. Purdue 24–17.
PUR – Mel Gray 2-yard run (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 31–17.
IU – Bobby Howard 7-yard run (Doug Smith kick). Purdue 31–24.
IU – Duane Gunn 45-yard pass from Steve Bradley (pass failed). Purdue 31–30.

Top passers

PUR – Scott Campbell – 9/16, 102 yards, TD
IU – Steve Bradley – 16/30, 295 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

PUR – Mel Gray – 36 rushes, 176 yards, 2 TD
IU – Orlando Brown – 16 rushes, 53 yards, TD

Top receivers

PUR – Cliff Benson – 2 receptions, 40 yards
IU – Duane Gunn – 5 receptions, 140 yards, TD

Roster

1983 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
OL		Butch Adler
OL		Paul Alekna
RB		Tim Alspaugh
TE		Cliff Benson
WR		Rick Brunner
QB	`10`	Scott Campbell	Sr
RB		Rodney Carter
OL		Mark Drenth
QB	`11`	Jim Everett	RSo
RB		Jeff Feulner
OL		John Fitzpatrick
RB		Mel Gray	Sr
WR		Steve Griffin
RB		Lloyd Hawthorne
OL		Doug Isbell
WR		Mark Jackson
RB		Eric Jordan
RB	`37`	Bruce King	Jr
WR		Jeff Price
WR		Dave Retherford
RB		Tim Richardson
TE		Marty Scott
OL		Pat Snyder

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB		Don Anderson
DL		Andy Gladstone
DL		Kevin Holley
DL		Brad Hornor
DL		Derrick Hoskins
DL		Jason Houston
DL		Melvin Menke
DL		Chris Scott
LB		Brock Spack
LB		Kevin Sumlin
DB		Ray Wallace
DB		Kennedy Wilson
DL		Derek Wimberly
DB		Rod Woodson
DL		Bob Ziltz

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		Tim Clark
P		Walt Drapeza
K		Andrew Falender
P		Matt Kinzer

Head coach

Leon Burtnett

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

References

^ "Notre Dame rolls over Purdue 52–6". News-Press. September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Hurricanes race past Purdue 35–0 behind defense, Kosar's passing". News-Press. September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Reserve, Purdue top Gophers 32–20". The Forum. September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Late flurry leaves Purdue in standoff". Journal and Courier. October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Lane's punt returns aid Ohio State victory". The Post-Crescent. October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Iowa rolls past Purdue". The Marion Star. October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Illini top Purdue, eye Michigan". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Purdue wins big over Northwestern". The Muncie Star. October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Joe Lapointe (November 6, 1983). "U-M bowl outlook sweetens after rout". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 7E – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Wright leads UW in wild finish over Purdue". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Boilers ground Hoosiers, 31–30". The Indianapolis Star. November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ College Football @ Sports-Reference.com
^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 90. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Nov-25.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 20. Retrieved 2018-Dec-25.

[1] "Notre Dame rolls over Purdue 52–6". News-Press. September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Hurricanes race past Purdue 35–0 behind defense, Kosar's passing". News-Press. September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Reserve, Purdue top Gophers 32–20". The Forum. September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Late flurry leaves Purdue in standoff". Journal and Courier. October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Lane's punt returns aid Ohio State victory". The Post-Crescent. October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Iowa rolls past Purdue". The Marion Star. October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Illini top Purdue, eye Michigan". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Purdue wins big over Northwestern". The Muncie Star. October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] Joe Lapointe (November 6, 1983). "U-M bowl outlook sweetens after rout". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 7E – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Wright leads UW in wild finish over Purdue". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] "Boilers ground Hoosiers, 31–30". The Indianapolis Star. November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] College Football @ Sports-Reference.com

[13] "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 90. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

[14] Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Nov-25.

[15] Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 20. Retrieved 2018-Dec-25.

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Purdue Boilermakers football
Venues	Stuart Field (1892–1924) Ross–Ade Stadium (1924–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Chicago (defunct) Illinois Indiana: Old Oaken Bucket Notre Dame
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People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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