1985 Purdue Boilermakers football team

External videos
External videos
	Game highlights

External videos
External videos
	Television broadcast with Pittsburgh radio audio
	Final Purdue touchdown and two-point conversion attempt

1985 Purdue Boilermakers football
1985 Purdue Boilermakers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	5–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	Leon Burtnett (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	Bob Spoo (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Tiller (3rd season)
MVP	Jim Everett
Captains	Jim Everett; Bob Ziltz;
Home stadium	Ross–Ade Stadium

1985 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 10 Iowa $	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 2 Michigan	6	–	1	–	1	10	–	1	–	1
Illinois	5	–	2	–	1	6	–	5	–	1
No. 14 Ohio State	5	–	3	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Michigan State	5	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	2	–	6	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	1	–	7	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0	3	–	8	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented the Purdue University in the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Leon Burtnett, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing seventh in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Quarterback Jim Everett led the nation in total offense with 3,589 yards, which was also a program record, since broken by Drew Brees. Everett finished sixth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	7:30 pm	at Pittsburgh*	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA	ESPN	L 30–31	50,103	^[2]
September 21	2:00 pm	Ball State*	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN		W 37–18	63,162	^[3]
September 28	12:30 pm	Notre Dame*	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	TBS	W 35–17	69,338	^[4]
October 5	8:00 pm	at Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	TBS	L 15–45	59,503	^[5]
October 12	2:30 pm	Illinois	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)		W 30–24	68,837	^[6]
October 19	12:00 pm	at No. 11 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	CBS	L 27–41	89,888	^[7]
October 26	12:30 pm	Michigan State	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	TBS	L 24–28	67,660	^[8]
November 2	2:00 pm	Northwestern	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN		W 31–7	53,640	^[9]
November 9	1:00 pm	at No. 9 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		L 0–47	105,503	^[10]
November 16	2:30 pm	No. 5 Iowa	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	CBS	L 24–27	57,762	^[11]
November 23	2:00 pm	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)		W 34–21	51,752	^[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[13]

Game summaries

At Pittsburgh

Purdue Boilermakers (0–0) at Pittsburgh Panthers (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	10	0	14	6	30
Pittsburgh	7	14	0	10	31

at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: August 31, 1985
Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Clear, 60 °F (16 °C)
Game attendance: 50,103
TV announcers (ESPN): Jim Simpson and Paul Maguire
^[14]

Game information

First quarter

PUR – Jonathan Briggs 21-yard field goal. Purdue 3–0.
PITT – Charles Gladman 5-yard run (Mark Brasco kick). Pittsburgh 7–3.
PUR – Jim Everett 6-yard run (Jonathan Briggs kick). Purdue 10–7.

Second quarter

PITT – Charles Scales 19-yard pass from John Congemi (Mark Brasco kick). Pittsburgh 14–10.
PITT – Clint Wilson 5-yard pass from John Congemi (Mark Brasco kick). Pittsburgh 21–10.

Third quarter

PUR – Steve Griffin 13-yard pass from Jim Everett (pass failed). Pittsburgh 21–16.
PUR – Ray Wallace 10-yard pass from Jim Everett (pass good). Purdue 24–21.

Fourth quarter

PITT – Charles Gladman 10-yard run (Mark Brasco kick). Pittsburgh 28–24.
PITT – Mark Brasco 43-yard field goal. Pittsburgh 31–24.
PUR – Ray Wallace 31-yard pass from Jim Everett (pass failed), 0:48. Pittsburgh 31–30.

Top passers

PUR – Jim Everett – 34/53, 398 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
PITT – John Congemi – 10/19, 110 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

PUR – Ray Wallace – 12 rushes, 59 yards
PITT – Charles Gladman – 24 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

PUR – Steve Griffin – 7 receptions, 102 yards, TD
PITT – Charles Scales – 3 receptions, 48 yards, TD

Ball State

Jim Everett 24/32, 340 yards

Notre Dame

Jim Everett 27/49, 368 yards

Illinois

Jim Everett 27/47, 464 yards

At Ohio State

Purdue Boilermakers (3–2) at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (4–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	0	10	10	7	27
Ohio St	14	3	7	17	41

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: October 19, 1985
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Overcast, 75 °F (24 °C)
Game attendance: 89,888
Referee: Otho Kortz
TV: CBS
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

OSU – George Cooper 4-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Rich Spangler kick), 8:14. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 39 yards, 4:31.
OSU – Mike Lanese 12-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Rich Spangler kick), 3:11. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 2:56.

Second quarter

OSU – Rich Spangler 39-yard field goal, 13:32. Ohio St 17–0. Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:40.
PUR – Rodney Carter 15-yard pass from Jim Everett (Jonathan Briggs kick), 3:02. Ohio St 17–7. Drive: 11 plays, 95 yards, 3:42.
PUR – Jonathan Briggs 22-yard field goal, 0:01. Ohio St 17–10. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 1:54.

Third quarter

OSU – Cris Carter 4-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Rich Spangler kick), 9:37. Ohio St 24–10. Drive: 9 plays, 32 yards, 4:34.
PUR – Ray Wallace 8-yard pass from Jim Everett (Jonathan Briggs kick), 8:12. Ohio St 24–17. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:21.
PUR – Jonathan Briggs 21-yard field goal, 2:25. Ohio St 24–20. Drive: 14 plays, 45 yards, 4:36.

Fourth quarter

OSU – Rich Spangler 30-yard field goal, 12:46. Ohio St 27–20. Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards, 4:39.
PUR – James Medlock 2-yard run (Jonathan Briggs kick), 8:35. Tie 27–27. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:11.
OSU – Keith Byars 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 4:41. Ohio St 34–27. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:50.
OSU – Keith Byars 9-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:10. Ohio St 41–27. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 2:02.

Top passers

PUR – Jim Everett – 35/55, 497 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
OSU – Jim Karsatos – 14/26, 174 yards, 3 TD

Top rushers

PUR – Ray Wallace – 3 rushes, 35 yards
OSU – Keith Byars – 23 rushes, 106 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

PUR – Rodney Carter – 15 receptions, 190 yards, TD
OSU – Cris Carter – 4 receptions, 96 yards, TD

Mark Jackson – 6 receptions, 132 yards

Michigan State

Jim Everett 34/51, 315 yards

Northwestern

James Medlock 23 rushes, 129 yards

Iowa

#5 Iowa at Purdue

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Hawkeyes	7	17	0	3	27
Boilermakers	7	10	0	7	24

Date: November 16
Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
Game start: 3:42 p.m. EST
Elapsed time: 3:17
Game attendance: 57,762
Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), Cloudy, Wind WSW 23 mph (37 km/h)
Referee: Tom Quinn
TV announcers (CBS Sports): Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, and Pat O'Brien

Jim Everett 23/32, 315 yards^[15]

At Indiana

Purdue Boilermakers (4–6) at Indiana Hoosiers (4–6)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	10	21	0	3	34
Indiana	7	7	7	0	21

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Date: November 23
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 51,752
^[16]

Game information

First quarter

PUR – Rodney Carter 6-yard pass from Jim Everett (Jonathan Briggs kick). Purdue 7–0.
IU – Steve Bradley 1-yard run (Mark Rogers kick). Tie 7–7.
PUR – Jonathan Briggs 33-yard field goal. Purdue 10–7.

Second quarter

PUR – Ray Wallace 1-yard run (Jonathan Briggs kick). Purdue 17–7.
IU – Damon Sweazy 4-yard run (Mark Rogers kick). Purdue 17–14.
PUR – Rodney Carter 70-yard pass from Jim Everett (Jonathan Briggs kick). Purdue 24–14.
PUR – Ray Wallace 1-yard run (Jonathan Briggs kick). Purdue 31–14.

Third quarter

IU – Bobby Howard 1-yard run (Mark Rogers kick). Purdue 31–21.

Fourth quarter

PUR – Jonathan Briggs 37-yard field goal. Purdue 34–21.

Top passers

PUR – Jim Everett – 22/39, 293 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
IND – Steve Bradley – 10/20, 168 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

PUR – Ray Wallace – 19 rushes, 140 yards, 2 TD
IND – Bobby Howard – 18 rushes, 43 yards, TD

Top receivers

PUR – Rodney Carter – 9 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
IND – Dave Lilja – 6 receptions, 88 yards

External videos
Purdue Jim Everett 70-yard TD pass to Rodney Carter (second quarter)

Roster

1985 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`1`	Roberts Armenteros	Sr
TE	`96`	Jack Beery	Jr
OL	`94`	Kieth Brown	So
G	`66`	Bret Bunnel	Sr
WR	`22`	Rick Brunner	Sr
WR	`24`	Rodney Carter	Sr
OT	`78`	Mike Connors	Jr
G	`63`	Bruce Crites	Jr
QB	`14`	Doug Downing	Jr
OL		Mark Drenth
QB	`11`	Jim Everett	Sr
RB		Walt Foster
RB	`21`	Tony Grant	So
WR	`2`	Steve Griffin	Sr
WR	`80`	Jon Hayes	So
QB	`7`	Jeff Huber	Sr
WR	`36`	Mark Jackson	Sr
RB		James Medlock
G	`61`	Vince Panfil	Sr
RB		Bobby Pruitt
OT	`79`	Jim Richmond	Jr
TE	`85`	Brad Schumacher	So
TE	`84`	Marty Scott	Sr
C	`56`	Rick Skibinski	Sr
C	`73`	Pat Snyder	Jr
G	`53`	Todd Tyrie	Fr
WR	`43`	Ray Wallace	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DT	`98`	Don Baldwin	Sr
CB	`19`	Cris Dishman	So
LB	`30`	Art DuBose	Jr
DB	`3`	Marc Foster
DT	`86`	Sean Guy	Jr
DL	`99`	Kevin Holley	Jr
DL	`92`	Brad Hornor	Sr
DT	`95`	Mike Kohler	Fr
CB	`18`	Jeff Lee	Sr
LB	`59`	Matt Morgan	Jr
DL	`68`	Anthony Rose	Jr
LB	`48`	Fred Strickland	So
LB	`44`	Kevin Sumlin	Jr
DB		Damon Taylor
LB	`90`	Tony Vavrech	Fr
LB	`49`	Tony Visco	So
CB	`5`	Martial Wallace	Jr
S	`9`	Mike Weaver	Jr
LB	`42`	Merkle Williams	Jr
SS	`23`	Kennedy Wilson	Sr
DT	`89`	Derek Wimberly	Sr
FS	`26`	Rod Woodson	Jr
DL	`71`	Bob Ziltz	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		Jonathan Briggs
P		Ernie Schramayr

Head coach

Leon Burtnett

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Bob Spoo (OC)
Bill Doba

Legend

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

Injured
Redshirt

Awards and honors

Jim Everett, sixth in Heisman Trophy votinh

1986 NFL draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Jim Everett	Quarterback	1	3	Houston Oilers
Ray Wallace	Running back	6	145	Houston Oilers
Mark Jackson	Wide receiver	6	161	Denver Broncos
Rodney Carter	Running back	5	146	Pittsburgh Steelers
Mark Drenth	Tackle	11	279	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steve Griffin	Wide receiver	12	308	Atlanta Falcons

^[17]

References

^ "Purdue Boilermakers Football NCAA Records, Heisman Trophy Candidates :GoldFan.com". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
^ "Pittsburgh cllings to win over Purdue". Detroit Free Press. September 1, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Everett's passes fuel Purdue". The Courier-Journal. September 22, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Purdue's Everett puts frown on Notre Dame fans". The Kalamazoo Gazette. September 29, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Golden Gophers dominate Purdue with top defense". The Republic. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Purdue defense saves 30–24 win". Anderson Herald. October 13, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Byars leads OSU, 41–27". The Plain Dealer. October 20, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Yarema leads Spartans to win with clutch, last-ditch drive". The Saginaw News. October 27, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Reserves busy; Boilermakers roll". Chronicle Tribune. November 3, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Tommy George (November 10, 1985). "U-M pooh-poohs Purdue". Detroit Free Press. p. D1.
^ "Buckeyes' loss puts Iowa in driver's seat". Omaha World-Herald. November 17, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Everett passes Boilers past Indiana, 32–21". The Vincennes Sun-Commercial. November 24, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 91. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1985 Sep 01. Retrieved 17-Nov-2022.
^ "Iowa Wins, 27-24 on Late Field Goal". New York Times. November 17, 1985. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
^ "(none)". Gainesville Sun. November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.

[1] "Purdue Boilermakers Football NCAA Records, Heisman Trophy Candidates :GoldFan.com". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.

[2] "Pittsburgh cllings to win over Purdue". Detroit Free Press. September 1, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Everett's passes fuel Purdue". The Courier-Journal. September 22, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Purdue's Everett puts frown on Notre Dame fans". The Kalamazoo Gazette. September 29, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Golden Gophers dominate Purdue with top defense". The Republic. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Purdue defense saves 30–24 win". Anderson Herald. October 13, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Byars leads OSU, 41–27". The Plain Dealer. October 20, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Yarema leads Spartans to win with clutch, last-ditch drive". The Saginaw News. October 27, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Reserves busy; Boilermakers roll". Chronicle Tribune. November 3, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] Tommy George (November 10, 1985). "U-M pooh-poohs Purdue". Detroit Free Press. p. D1.

[11] "Buckeyes' loss puts Iowa in driver's seat". Omaha World-Herald. November 17, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Everett passes Boilers past Indiana, 32–21". The Vincennes Sun-Commercial. November 24, 1985. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 91. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

[14] Gainesville Sun. 1985 Sep 01. Retrieved 17-Nov-2022.

[15] "Iowa Wins, 27-24 on Late Field Goal". New York Times. November 17, 1985. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

[16] "(none)". Gainesville Sun. November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 13, 2022.

[17] "1986 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.

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1	9:21	Purdue	Griffin 49-yard pass from Jim Everett (Briggs kick)	Purdue 7-0

1	0:08	Iowa	Ronnie Harmon 2-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick)	Tied 7-7

2	14:02	Iowa	Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick)	IOWA 14-7

2	9:53	Purdue	Medlock 1-yard run (Briggs kick)	Tied 14-14

2	5:55	Iowa	Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick)	IOWA 21-14

2	1:30	Purdue	Briggs 37-yard field goal	IOWA 21-17

2	0:02	Iowa	Rob Houghtlin 33-yard field goal	IOWA 24-17

4	6:35	Purdue	Medlock 2-yard run (Briggs kick)	Tied 24-24

4	1:08	Iowa	Rob Houghtlin 25-yard field goal	IOWA 27-24

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
Culture & lore	Boilermaker Special Cradle of Quarterbacks Purdue Pete Purdue wreck "Hail Purdue!" All-American Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025