1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team

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	Joe Tiller (1st season)
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	Brian Alford (Senior year) Rosevelt Colvin (Junior year) Mark Fischer (Senior year)
Home stadium	Ross–Ade Stadium

1997 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
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
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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*		Glass Bowl Toledo, OH		L 22–36	27,700
September 13	2:30 pm	No. 12 Notre Dame*		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	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		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	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	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)		W 48–3	45,122
November 1	12:30 pm	at No. 15 Iowa	No. 18	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	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	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)		W 56–7	46,599
December 30	8:00 pm	No. 24 Oklahoma State*	No. 17	Alamodome San Antonio, TX (Alamo Bowl)	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

See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football 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

Personnel

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^[1]

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^[2]

Game summaries

Toledo

See also: 1997 Toledo Rockets football team

Purdue at Toledo

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

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^[3]

Notre Dame

See also: 1997 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Notre Dame at Purdue

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

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."^[4]

Ball State

See also: 1997 Ball State Cardinals football team

Ball State at Purdue

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

^[5]

Northwestern

See also: 1997 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Northwestern at Purdue

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

^[6]

• Kendall Matthews 29 rushes, 152 yards ^[7]

Minnesota

See also: 1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Purdue at Minnesota

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

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.

^[8]

Wisconsin

See also: 1997 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Wisconsin at Purdue
Homecoming

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.^[9]

Illinois

See also: 1997 Illinois Fighting Illini football team and Purdue Cannon

Purdue at Illinois

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

^[10]

• Kendall Matthews 16 rushes, 177 yards ^[11]

Iowa

See also: 1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Purdue at Iowa

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

^[12]

Michigan State

See also: 1997 Michigan State Spartans football team

Michigan State at Purdue

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

^[13]

• Edwin Watson 24 rushes, 115 yards ^[14]

Penn State

See also: 1997 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Penn State at Purdue

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

^[15]

• Edwin Watson 19 rushes, 133 yards ^[16]

Indiana

See also: 1997 Indiana Hoosiers football team and Old Oaken Bucket

Purdue at Indiana

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

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

^{[17] [18]}

• Edwin Watson 18 rushes, 163 yards ^[19]

Oklahoma State

See also: 1997 Alamo Bowl

Oklahoma State vs. Purdue
Alamo Bowl

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

^[20]

Roster

1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Donald Winston So QB 3 John Reeves Sr WR 5 Willie Tillman Sr WR 6 Isaac Jones Sr WR 52 Fahim Chesti So QB 12 Billy Dicken  Sr WR 20 Chris Daniels  So RB 36 Edwin Watson Sr RB 43 Kendall Matthews Sr OT 54 Mark Fischer Sr G 56 Chukky Okobi  Fr OT 76 Dan Maly Sr G 79 Chad Manning Sr WR 80 Brian Alford  Sr TE 81 Brandon Jewell  Sr TE 84 Jon Blackmon Sr WR 88 Jason Loerzel Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class FS 2 Derrick Brown Sr LB 4 Mike Rose So SS 7 Adrian Beasley So SS 10 Lee Brush Sr CB 11 Michael Hawthorne So CB 14 Jamel Coleman Sr CB 28 Henry Bell Jr DE 49 Chukie Nwokorie Jr DE 58 Warren Moore Fr DE 59 Rosevelt Colvin Jr DT 71 Anthony Gutwein Jr DT 82 David Nugent So DE 87 Rocco Foggio Fr DT 97 Greg Smith Sr DT 98 Leo Perez Sr	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 Joe Tiller Coordinators/assistant coaches Tim Burke (defensive backs) Jim Chaney (offensive coordinator) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: November 28, 2016

Awards

• All-Americans: Brian Alford (Football News)
• All-Big Ten: Brian Alford (1st), Rosevelt Colvin (2nd), Billy Dicken (1st)^[21]

References

1. 2011 Purdue football information guide
2. 2011 Purdue football information guide
3. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
4. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
5. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
6. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
7. 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-27.
8. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
9. "Boilermakers Rout Wisconsin." 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
10. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011
11. 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-21.
12. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
13. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
14. 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2021-Jan-02.
15. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
16. 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-29.
17. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
18. USA Today.
19. 2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2020-Dec-21.
20. 1997 Purdue football archives. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011
21. 2011 Purdue football information guide