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.
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* | | - Ross–Ade Stadium
- West Lafayette, IN
| | W 28–14 | 45,947 |
September 27 | 11:30 am | Northwestern | | - Ross–Ade Stadium
- West Lafayette, IN
| 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 | | - Ross–Ade Stadium
- West Lafayette, IN
| | 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 | - Ross–Ade Stadium
- West Lafayette, IN
| ESPN2 | W 22–21 | 55,539 |
November 15 | 12:00 pm | No. 6 Penn State | No. 19 | - Ross–Ade Stadium
- West Lafayette, IN
| 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 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked т = Tied with team above or below | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
---|
AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 18 | 23 | 19т | 23 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
---|
Coaches | — | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 18 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
---|
Game summaries
Toledo
Purdue at Toledo
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Purdue |
7 |
7 | 0 | 8 |
22 |
• Toledo |
21 |
6 | 3 | 6 |
36 |
Scoring summary |
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 |
Scoring summary |
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
[3]
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
[4]
- 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 |
Scoring summary |
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.
[6]
Wisconsin
Wisconsin at Purdue
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 |
[8]
- 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 |
[10]
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
[11]
- 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
[13]
- 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 |
Scoring summary |
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 |
[15]
[16]
- Edwin Watson 18 rushes, 163 yards [17]
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State vs. Purdue
Alamo Bowl
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Purdue |
7 |
3 | 20 | 3 |
33 |
Oklahoma State |
3 |
3 | 7 | 7 |
20 |
[18]
Personnel
Roster
1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
PK
|
22
|
Aaron Bunten
|
Fr
|
P
|
26
|
Danny Rogers
|
So
|
LS
|
60
|
Andy Standifer
|
So
|
P
|
92
|
Brandon Kaser
|
Jr
|
PK
|
96
|
Shane Ryan
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: November 28, 2016
|
Coaching staff
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
References
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-27.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ "Boilermakers Rout Wisconsin." 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
- ^ 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-21.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ^ 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2021-Jan-02.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ^ 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-29.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
- ^ USA Today.
- ^ 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-21.
- ^ 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
- ^ 2011 Purdue football information guide
- ^ 2011 Purdue football information guide
- ^ 2011 Purdue football information guide
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Bowls & rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|