The 1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented

Purdue University Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

in the

1997 NCAA Division I-A football season The 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-A level, began in late summer 1997 and culminated with the major bowl games in ea ...

. They played their home games at

Ross–Ade Stadium Ross–Ade Stadium is a stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the campus of Purdue University. It is the home field of Purdue Boilermakers football. The stadium was dedicated on November 22, 1924, and named in honor of Purdue alumni George Ade ...

West Lafayette, Indiana West Lafayette () is a city in Wabash Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, about northwest of the state capital of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette is directly across the Wabash River from its sister city, ...

and were members of the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...

. Purdue had its best season since

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning System time epoch begins at 00:00 UTC. * January 9 – ...

under new head coach

Joe Tiller Joseph Henry Tiller (December 7, 1942 – September 30, 2017) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, with a career record of know ...

Schedule

Personnel

Coaching staff

* Head coach:

* Assistants: Tim Burke,

Jim Chaney James Allen Chaney (born January 12, 1962) is an American football coach and former player who is an offensive analyst for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He previously served as an offensive analyst for the New Orleans Saints of the National F ...

Scott Downing Scott Downing (born November 7, 1956) is an American football player and coach. He is currently the vice president of athletics at Sterling College (Kansas), Sterling College. Playing history Downing played college football at Sterling College ( ...

, Gary Emanuel,

Danny Hope Charles Daniel Hope (born January 7, 1959) is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 2003 to 2007, and Purdue University from 2009 to 2012, compiling a career colle ...

, Larry Korpitz, Tim Lappano,

Randy Melvin Randy Melvin (born April 3, 1959) is the defensive line coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Playing career High school Melvin attended Aurora West High School in Aurora, Illinois and was inducted into their ...

, Greg Olson,

Brock Spack Brock D. Spack (born January 5, 1962) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at Illinois State University, position he has held since December 2008. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator at Purdue University under J ...

Starters

*Offense: WR

Brian Alford Brian Wayne Alford (born June 7, 1975) is a former American football wide receiver. During his National Football League career, he played for the New York Giants. Early life A 1993 graduate of Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Michigan, Alfor ...

, 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 Rosevelt Colvin, III (born September 5, 1977) is a former American football linebacker, who now works as a football analyst for the Big Ten Network. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played college footbal ...

, WLB Willie Burroughs, MLB Willie Fells, SLB Mike Rose, LCB

Michael Hawthorne Michael Seneca Hawthorne (born January 26, 1977) is a former cornerback in the National Football League. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. In the NFL, he played for the New Orleans Saints, the Green Bay Packers, and the St. ...

, FS Adrian Beasley, SS Lee Brush, RCB Lamar Conrad, P Brandon Kaser

Game summaries

Toledo

''Joe Tiller's first game as Purdue head coach''

Notre Dame

'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 Jim Colletto (born October 4, 1944) is a former American football player and coach. He attended Monterey High School (1958–1962) where he was an all conference baseball and football player and starter on the varsity basketball team. At UCLA Col ...

"was used to losing here (Purdue), so it would be nothing new for him."

Ball State

Northwestern

*Kendall Matthews 29 rushes, 152 yards

Minnesota

*Purdue's first win in Minneapolis since 1983.

Wisconsin

With the win over Wisconsin, Purdue is off to its best start since 1978 and produced their first five-game winning streak since 1980.

Illinois

*Kendall Matthews 16 rushes, 177 yards

Iowa

Michigan State

*Edwin Watson 24 rushes, 115 yards

Penn State

*Edwin Watson 19 rushes, 133 yards

Indiana

*Edwin Watson 18 rushes, 163 yards

Oklahoma State

Roster

Awards

* All-Americans:

(Football News) * All-Big Ten: Brian Alford (1st),

(2nd), Billy Dicken (1st)2011 Purdue football information guide

References

{{Purdue Boilermakers football navbox

Purdue Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Alamo Bowl champion seasons

Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team represents Purdue University in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of college football. Purdue plays its home games at Ross–Ade Stadium on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. ...