Oct. 6, 2008
2008 Purdue Schedule
2008 Ticket Information
Purdue Related Events Airing On The Big Ten Network
Purdue Football Game Notes 
SOME GAME THEMES
Purdue heads to Columbus in search of its first win in Ohio Stadium since 1988 ... It's another opportunity to snap a 16-game winless streak against top 25 teams, as the Boilers get a crack at a ranked team for a second consecutive week and the third time this season ... Something's got to give, as it's a matchup of the Big Ten's top-rated passing offense (Purdue, 254.2) against the league's top-rated passing defense (Ohio State, 155.0) ... Purdue's all-time touchdown scorer, running back Kory Sheets, will attempt to extend his streak to nine straight games with at least one TD scored ... Expect quarterback Curtis Painter to bounce back from a rough start last weekend against Penn State (more on that later) ... After holding Penn State's "Spread HD" offense to it lowest point total of the season, the Purdue defense continues its quest to prove that statistics don't always tell the truth.
A LOOK AT THE BOILERMAKERS
The Purdue football team, under 12th-year head coach Joe Tiller, enters its sixth week of the 2008 season 2-3 after falling to No. 6 Penn State 20-6 in West Lafayette, Ind., last Saturday.
THIS DATE IN BOILERMAKER HISTORY
The Boilermakers are 6-8 on October 11, and have won their last two games on the date. Purdue has played only one ranked opponent on this date in school history, dropping a 31-6 decision at No. 6 Wisconsin in 1958.
QUICK HITS - PENN STATE
Purdue lost its Big Ten opener for just the second time in 12 seasons under Joe Tiller ... Running back Kory Sheets' one-yard TD in the fourth quarter broke the tie he shared with Mike Alstott for the career rushing touchdown record at Purdue. Sheets has now rushed for 40 career TDs ... Sheets' TD run helped the Boilermakers avoid just the second shutout loss under Tiller (2005, 12-0 vs. Penn State) ... Chris Summers' missed PAT attempt in the fourth quarter snapped his school-record streak of 111 successful conversions dating back to the 2006 season ... Penn State's TD at 7:34 in the second quarter marked the first time that Purdue did not score first in a game this season ... Purdue was held scoreless through the first three quarters for the first time this season and for the first time since Oct. 6 last year at Ohio State ... The Boilermaker defense held Penn State to its fewest points scored this season. The Nittany Lions entered the game averaging 49.8 points per game to rank fourth in the NCAA ... Kory Sheets moved into seventh all-time in Purdue history for rushing attempts (523) ... With five catches, Greg Orton moved into a tie for ninth for career receptions at Purdue (164, with Brian Alford) ... Brandon King's eight tackles were a career-high (6, twice) ... DeVarro Greaves and Ryan Kerrigan each had sacks for Purdue. It was the first of Greaves' career and the second for Kerrigan ... Curtis Painter moved past Mark Herrmann for second on the career passing yardage list at Purdue on a seven-yard throw in the second quarter. Painter has thrown for 9,988 in his career with the Boilermakers ... He also moved to fourth all time in Big Ten history in total offense (10,337) ... Joey Elliott came on in relief of Painter and help guide the Boilermakers to their longest touchdown drive of the season time-wise. Elliot, who went 3 for 5 for 46 yards through the air, directed the 6:38 drive over 82 yards that was capped off by Sheets' historic run.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
When Penn State declined an illegal substitution penalty on Purdue's second possession in the third quarter last Saturday it unknowingly helped the Boilermakers achieve a Joe Tiller Era first - a zero penalty game. The waved-off foul was the only flag thrown by the officials against the Boilermakers all day. The previous Tiller Era-low for infractions was one (three times). Purdue is now tied for 18th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in fewest penalties per game (4.4, also Fresno State) and 21st in fewest penalty yards per game (37.0).
BOUNCING BACK
While it is certainly rare for Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter to struggle like he did against Penn State last weekend, it is not entirely unprecedented. Much like last Saturday, backup Joey Elliott relieved an ineffective Painter last season in the fourth quarter of a 48-21 loss at Michigan. The next weekend the Boilermakers' starting signal caller was back to his old ways, going for 315 yards and three scores through the air in a 31-6 win over Iowa. Purdue will need a similar 29 of 48 passing performance that Painter had against the Hawkeyes last year against No. 12 Ohio State this weekend.
BOUNCING BACK PART II
Excluding the current two-game slump, the Boilermakers have lost back-to-back games only 10 times in the previous 11 seasons under Joe Tiller. Five times Purdue has halted the losing streak in its next contest, three times it has ended at three straight losses and only twice has it gone past three (six in 2005 and four in 2004).
Back-to-Back Losses Under Joe Tiller
Year Back-to-Back Defeats Next Game (Length of Skid)
2007* at Penn State and vs. Michigan State L at Indiana (3)
2006* Wisconsin and Penn State W at Michigan State (2)
2006* at Notre Dame and at Iowa W at Northwestern (2)
2005 Notre Dame and Iowa L vs. Northwestern (6)
2004* Wisconsin and Michigan L at Northwestern (4)
2002* at Iowa and at Illinois L vs. Michigan (3)
2001* at Indiana and vs. Notre Dame L vs. WSU Sun Bowl (N/A)
2001* Illinois and at Ohio State W vs. Michigan State (2)
1999* at Michigan and at Ohio State W vs. Michigan State (2)
1998* at Wisconsin and vs. Penn State W vs. Illinois (2)
* Denotes Bowl Season
HEY JOE, WHATTA YA KNOW?
Considered the Godfather of the spread offense in the Big Ten, Purdue head coach Joe Tiller knows quite a bit actually. The Boilers' 12th-year head man enters his final season at the helm of the program with an 85-57 overall record at Purdue- the most wins in school history - and a 51-38 mark in Big Ten games - fourth-most wins for any league team during his tenure. He has guided Purdue to 10 bowl games in 11 seasons, including the Boilers' first Rose Bowl berth since 1967 and two other New Year's Day. He has collected at least seven wins in eight of his previous 11 seasons at Purdue and has tallied three nine-win campaigns. Additionally, he has delighted Ross-Ade Stadium fans with a .730 winning percentage (54-20) at home to boot. Not too shabby for a coach that inherited a program that had just one winning season in the 12 years prior to his arrival and had not appeared in a single bowl game since 1984. In January this year Tiller was awarded the Order of the Griffin, one of Purdue's highest honors that is presented to individuals whose commitment to the University goes well beyond on the call of duty, and whose strength and vision have greatly benefited the institution.
TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS
The Boilermakers are 12-36 (.250) when facing a ranked opponent in the 11-plus years with Joe Tiller ... Three of Tiller's 12 wins over ranked teams at Purdue have come on the road ... The Boilers are 3-18 against top 25 teams away from home under Tiller ... Purdue is 3-6 all time against the No. 12 team in the AP Poll, the spot currently held by Ohio State ... The Boilermakers last defeated a 12th-ranked club in 2000 when Drew Brees led No. 18 Purdue to a 31-27 upset win over Ohio State at Ross-Ade en route to a Rose Bowl berth ... No. 4 Kansas State in the 1998 Alamo Bowl is the highest ranked opponent Purdue has knocked off in the Tiller Era ... Purdue last defeated a top 25 team in 2003 when it bested No. 10 Iowa 27-14 in West Lafayette. Its last win over a top 25 team on the road was at No. 14 Wisconsin (26-23), also in 2003.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOES
Joe Tiller took over the mantle as the winningest coach in school history against Central Michigan on Sept. 20. Upon achieving his milestone 85th win, the Boilers' chief joined Penn State's Joe Paterno as the only two active Big Ten Conference coaches to lead their respective schools in coaching victories.
PURDUE-OHIO STATE HISTORY
The Boilermakers and the Buckeyes will meet up for the 51st time this Saturday in a series that dates back to 1919 ... Ohio State holds a 36-12-2 edge in the series and has won four of the last five games played ... Purdue is 5-24-2 all-time in Columbus and last won there in 1988 (31-26) ... The Boilers' last trip to Ohio Stadium in 2003 resulted in a heartbreaking 16-13 loss in overtime. Tied 6-6 after three quarters, undefeated Ohio State pulled ahead on a defensive score when Will Smith and Tim Anderson stripped the ball from Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton and Mike Kudla recovered it in the endzone. No. 11 Purdue rallied to tie the game on a Jerod Void 11-yard TD run with 4:36 to play in the fourth quarter and blocked a last-second Ohio State field goal attempt in regulation to force overtime. The Purdue defense held fourth-ranked OSU to a field goal to open the overtime frame, but Ben Jones' 37-yard attempt to force a second overtime missed wide left to give the Buckeyes a three-point victory.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
The Boilermakers are 73-21 (.777) in 94 games against unranked opponents under Joe Tiller.
POLLING PLACE
Although not ranked to enter this week, Purdue has been among the Associated Press' Top 25 80 weeks (out of 190 possible) in the 11-plus seasons under Joe Tiller. That figure is tied for the most by any Purdue coach. Jack Mollenkopf also was on the sidelines for 80 ranked teams from 1956 to 1969, including five weeks at No. 1 in the 1968 season. The Boilermakers have been ranked 238 weeks in their history.
NO NON-SENSE
The Boilermakers took care of business outside of the Big Ten in Joe Tiller's 12 years, compiling a 30-13 (.698) record in 43 games against non-conference foes during the regular season.
COMEBACK JOE
In the 14 fourth quarter comeback wins in the Joe Tiller Era, the Boilermakers have never won a game when trailing as late as they did (1:18) against Central Michigan. The Boilermakers fell behind No. 4 Kansas State with 1:24 left in the 1998 Alamo Bowl before pulling out a 37-34 win.
IRON MEN
Purdue began its season-long stretch of 12 straight Saturdays without a weekend off against Northern Colorado on September 6. After being the only school in the Bowl Subdivision (nee Division I-A) to play 13 and 12 straight regular season games without an open week in 2006 and `07, respectively, New Mexico will join the Boilermakers with such `distinction' this year.
30 SOMETHING
The Boilermakers have scored 30 or more points in a game an impressive 66 times in 142 tries (46%) since 1997 and have posted a dominating 61-5 record (.923) when doing so. To put those numbers in perspective, Purdue scored 30 or more points just 21 times in the 121 games over the 11 seasons from 1986-96 (17%) and went 17-3-1 (.833) when doing so.
NOT ENOUGH?
If 30 points in a game doesn't do it for you, will 40 work? The Boilers have scored 40 or more points in a contest 34 times during Tiller's tenure, including five times last year and once already this season, and have yet to meet defeat when doing so.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
For his 12th season at Purdue head coach Joe Tiller took a different route when it came time to name team captains. Previously chosen after fall camp ended, Tiller had the players vote during the summer and the squad picked out four fifth-year seniors - DTs Ryan Baker and Jermaine Guynn, QB Curtis Painter and WR Joe Whitest - to serve for the 2008 season. It is the first time Baker, Guynn and Whitest will take on the role as the team's leaders, while Painter will assume a captain slot in successive seasons to join him with former Boilermakers Rosevelt Colvin, Akin Ayodele, Drew Brees, Gene Mruczkowski and Landon Johnson as two-time team captains under Tiller.
HEY, HE'S GOOD
Fifth-year linebacker Anthony Heygood enters his final season in the Gold and Black as the leading returning tackler from last year. The converted fullback finished the 2007 season with 94 total tackles, including 59 solo stops, and routinely found himself in the opposition's backfield to help him rack up a team-best 15 tackles for loss. In five games this season, Heygood has picked up where he left off, leading the team in tackles (44), including two stops behind the line. He recorded a career-high 14 total tackles and nine solo stops against Central Michigan on Sept. 20 and finished with a game-high 11 tackles at Notre Dame on Sept. 27. His 8.8 tackles per game average is tied for fourth in the Big Ten and for 36th nationally.
KING FOR A DAY
Safety Brandon King racked up a career-best eight total tackles against Penn State last weekend to pace the Boilermaker defense. The senior is third on the team with 24 stops and tied for second with four passes broken up.
YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!
Purdue's four interceptions this season have proved to be quite bountiful. Including a 60-yarder by Brandon King and a 58-yarder for a TD by Frank Duong, the Boilers have racked up 134 yards going the opposite directions thus far. Purdue needs just four more interception yards this season to match last year's total of 138 yards on 14 picks. The school record for interception return yardage is held by the 1957 club that amassed 353 yards on 13 picks.
LEARNING ON THE FLY
Sophomore Joe Holland has had to just that. The first-year starter was moved from safety to linebacker very late in fall camp and has had to learn on the job. Despite moving so late he has picked up his new position pretty well. In five games Holland is averaging 6.6 stops per contest and he enters the Ohio State game tied for second on the team in total tackles (33). He posted a career-best 11 tackles against Notre Dame on Sept. 27.
HEALTHY, HAPPY AND HELPFUL
After enduring a broken leg in spring practice that cost him the entire 2005 season, falling victim to a season-ending knee injury in the first game of 2006 and then rupturing his Achilles tendon in the seventh game of last season, safety Torri Williams is finally healthy. He has responded to his good health by tallying a career-high 33 tackles in five games so far, tied for second on the team, and coming up with a personal-best four PBUs, which places him in a tie second for Purdue.
NO PASSING
Cornerback David Pender has a knack for getting into passing lanes. The senior has knocked down six passes in five games, tying the single-season career-high he established last year. He needs just two more PBU this year to match his career total heading into the 2008 campaign. With 21 team PBUs this season, Purdue is on pace for 50 in the 12-game regular season, a figure that would fall just outside of the top 10 all time for any Boilermaker team.
IT'S COME DOWN TO ME AND DREW
Curtis Painter has climbed his way past all but one of the members in Purdue's "Cradle of Quarterbacks" in the career record book. Painter took over Mark Herrmann`s No. 2 slot in school history for career passing yards against Penn State last weekend and he now trails only Drew Brees in attempts, completions, yards passing, total offensive plays and total offense at Purdue. To see where Painter ranks in Big Ten history, please refer to page 9 of the notes.
Purdue Career Passing and Total Offense Numbers
No. 1 Brees 1,678 att., 1,026 comp., 11,792 yards passing, 1,975 off. plays, 12,692 off. yards
No. 2 Painter 1,460 att., 870 comp., 9,988 yards passing, 1,667 off. plays, 10,337 off. yards
ELITE COMPANY
Fifth-year senior Curtis Painter is one of six quarterbacks to have started a game for the Boilermakers under Joe Tiller's watch and he is currently second in career wins. Painter needs to guide the Boilers to four more victories this season to supplant Drew Brees for the most wins by a starting QB in 12 years under Tiller.
Starting Quarterback Records Under Joe Tiller
Drew Brees 24-13
Curtis Painter 21-16
Kyle Orton 19-16
Billy Dicken 9-3
Brandon Hance 6-3
Brandon Kirsch 6-6
NEED A FOURTH?
Curtis Painter is just 13 yards shy of become only the fourth player in Big Ten history to throw for more than 10,000 yards in a career. The others to achieve the yardage milestone in league history are Purdue's Drew Brees (11,792), Northwestern's Brett Basanez (10,580) and Iowa's Chuck Long (10,461).
STRINGING THEM TOGETHER
Purdue's Curtis Painter is one of seven QBs nationally to enter the year as a potential four-year starter. The Boilermakers' fifth-year signal caller started the final five games his sophomore season of 2005, all 14 games as a junior in 2006, 13 games last season as a senior and five this season to give him 37 consecutive starts - tops among the seven potential four-year guys.
Bowl Subdivision Four-Year Starters at QB
Curtis Painter, Purdue - 37 Consecutive Starts
Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State - 36 Consecutive Starts
Mike Teel, Rutgers - 34 Consecutive Starts
Willie Tuitama, Arizona - 21 Consecutive Starts
Pat White, West Virginia - 19 Consecutive Starts
Drew Willy, Buffalo - 17 Consecutive Starts
Drew Weatherford, Florida State - 0 Consecutive Starts
QUARTERBACKS EVERYWHERE
Purdue has quarterbacks - mostly former quarterbacks - all over the field. In addition to starting quarterback Curtis Painter, running back Justin Siller was moved during fall camp from QB to his current position, while safety-turned-wide receiver Keith Smith was recruited to Purdue as a signal caller and has since gone through the position transition. Desmond Tardy, another wide receiver, was a high school quarterback and special teamer/wide receiver Jeff Panfil is yet another QB convert.
GEE-OH
Fifth-year wide receiver Greg Orton entered the season labeled as Curtis Painter's go-to guy in the passing game, and so far he's done nothing to disprove that. Purdue's leading returning receiver from last year tops the pass-catching charts early this year with 30 grabs for 330 yards and a TD. Nationally he is tied for 33rd in receptions per game (6.0) and is 69th among all Bowl Subdivision players in receiving yards per game (66.0). He posted a season-high nine receptions at Notre Dame on Sept. 27.
INTO THE TOP 10
Greg Orton has joined the all-time top 10 at Purdue in both career receptions and yards. After a five-catch day against Penn State last weekend, the fifth-year senior pushed his career total to 164 receptions to move him into a tie for ninth with Brian Alford on the receptions list.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
After playing behind Dorien Bryant for the last three years, fifth-year wide receiver Desmond Tardy has taken flight in 2008. Ranked 40th nationally in receiving yards per game (78.6), he posted career-highs at Notre Dame on Sept. 27 in receptions (10) and receiving yards (175). His 54-yard catch-and-run TD in South Bend was the longest scoring reception in his career. Tardy is averaging 118.8 all-purpose yards per game, which places him 63rd in the FBS.
CHAIN MOVERS
Kory Sheets has made the sideline chain gang get their exercise. The fifth-year running back has 26 rushing/receiving first downs this year. Classmate Greg Orton is nipping at heels, as the wide receiver has 30 catches this season, 19 of which have been good for first downs. Between the two of them, Orton and Sheets have accounted for 52 percent of Purdue's non-penalty related first downs this year (45 of 87).
BUCKING THE LABEL
Fair or not, Purdue running back Kory Sheets entered the season labeled as a "fumbler". With eight fumbles lost on 430 carries heading in to play in 2008 (a pretty decent average of one fumble lost for every 53.8 carries), Sheets has made a point to prove his critics wrong. The all-time touchdown leader at Purdue has rushed a team-high 93 times this year and has yet to even put the ball on the turf, let alone turn it over. For his career Sheets is averaging one touchdown every 13.1 carries.
2005 - 2 fumbles lost on 104 carries (one fumble lost every 52 carries) - 10 rushing TD
2006 - 2 fumbles lost on 158 carries (one fumble lost every 79 carries) - 11 rushing TD
2007 - 4 fumbles lost on 168 carries (one fumble lost every 42 carries) - 11 rushing TD
2008 - 0 fumbles lost on 93 carries (N/A) - 8 rushing TD
Career - 8 fumbles lost on 523 carries (one fumble lost every 65 carries) - 40 rushing TD
SHEETS' MUSIC
Fifth-year running back Kory Sheets is Purdue's all-time touchdown king. Sheets surpassed Mike Alstott's career record for total touchdowns on a game-winning 46-yard jaunt against Central Michigan on Sept. 20. The Manchester, Conn., native scored 11 TDs his sophomore season (10 rushing/1 special teams on a blocked punt), and 13 in both his junior and senior campaigns (11 rushing, 2 receiving each time). He has scored eight rushing touchdowns this season to raise his career total to 45 and his rushing total to 40, both are tops all time at Purdue.
Purdue's Total And Rushing Career TD Charts
Total
1. Kory Sheets - 2005- / 45
2. Mike Alstott - 1992-95 / 42
3. Leory Keyes - 1966-68 / 37
Rushing
1. Kory Sheets - 2005- / 40
2. Mike Alstott - 1992-95 / 39
3. Jerod Void - 2002-05 / 36
STAT SHEETS
Along with toppling the touchdown records, Kory Sheets is quickly climbing the rushing record book as well. With 2,708 rushing yards, Sheets is fourth all-time in Boilermaker history and needs just 155 more yards to equal Scott Dierking's 2,863 career yards for the No. 3 slot in the rushing annals at Purdue. His 523 attempts are currently sixth all time and his 5.18 yards per rush average places him in a tie for seventh in the Purdue record book.
RANKING SHEETS
Fifth-year running back Kory Sheets has been the Boilers' top offensive threat this year. Purdue's leading rusher ranks 26th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 99.6 yards per game average. He is tied for 17 nationally in scoring (9.6 points per game) and is ninth in the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game (171.2).
A BAD THING FOR A GOOD GUY
Senior Jaycen Taylor, who rushed for 560 yards and four TDs in just nine games played in 2007, was lost for the year when he suffered a season-ending knee injury one week into fall camp. Taylor, a two-year letterwinner after transferring from LA Harbor Community College in 2006, was expected to play a significant role in the Boilermakers' plans this year, but will instead utilize a redshirt season and become one of the main offensive components in Danny Hope's first year as Purdue's head coach in 2009.
TILLER MOVES SILLER
In an effort to get the athletic Justin Siller on the field (not to mention provide some relief after the loss of senior Jaycen Taylor), head coach Joe Tiller asked the talented sophomore to move from quarterback to running back after the first week of fall camp. The position change was met with zero hesitation on Siller's part and was more than welcomed by running backs coach Joel Thomas. Siller, who was ranked as the No. 14 dual threat QB by Rivals.com coming out of high school, did not play running back during his prep career yet still rushed for a combined 625 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior and senior at St. Mary's High School in Detroit.
SPECIAL TEAMS CHANGES
Freshman Carson Wiggs will take over the place kicking duties for the Boilers. Used primarily as the kickoff specialist through the first five games, Wiggs takes over for Chris Summers who saw both of his field goal attempts sail wide and his streak of 111 PAT conversions come to an end last weekend against Penn State. Additionally, in a effort to give do-it-all running back Kory Sheets a break, junior Aaron Valentin has moved into the first line kickoff return team. The first-year Boilermaker will be slotted alongside fellow wide receiver Desmond Tardy as the two primary deep threats on kicks.
WATCH THIS
Headlined by fifth-year quarterback Curtis Painter, a number of Boilermakers have made their way on to national watch lists for post season honors.
Curtis Painter Maxwell Award (Outstanding player)
Curtis Painter Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Outstanding Sr. QB)
Curtis Painter Davey O'Brien Award (Outstanding QB)
Curtis Painter Manning Award (Outstanding QB)
Kory Sheets Doak Walker Award (Outstanding RB)
Sean Sester Outland Trophy (Outstanding interior lineman)
Anthony Heygood Dick Butkus Award (Outstanding linebacker)
Anthony Heygood Chuck Bednarik Award (Outstanding defensive player)
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
The Boilermakers have been at both ends of the time spectrum this season. Purdue played one of the longest games of the Joe Tiller era against No. 16 Oregon on Sept. 13 and more recently one of the shortest games under Tiller's guide against Penn State on Oct. 4.
Longest Games Of The Joe Tiller Era
4:15 - 2000 Outback Bowl vs. Georgia
4:08 - 2004 Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State
3:54 - 2002 Sun Bowl vs. Washington
3:53 - 2002 vs. #3 Ohio State
3:51 - 2001 Sun Bowl vs. Washington State
3:51 - 2005 vs. Northwestern
3:50 - 2004 Capital One Bowl vs. Georgia
3:50 - 2008 vs. #16 Oregon
Shortest Games of the Joe Tiller Era
2:48 - 2004 vs. Ball State
2:48 - 1997 vs. Ball State
2:49 - 2008 vs. Penn State
2:53 - 1997 at Illinois
2:54 - 2006 vs. Wisconsin
2:54 - 2005 vs. Illinois
2:54 - 1998 vs. Iowa
2:54 - 1997 vs. Wisconsin
