Oct. 20, 2008
2008 Purdue Schedule
2008 Ticket Information
Purdue Related Events Airing On The Big Ten Network
Purdue Football Game Notes 
SOME GAME THEMES
It's Homecoming at Purdue ... The Boilers get another crack at halting a 17-game losing streak to top 25 teams when No. 25 Minnesota arrives in West Lafayette ... After moving into the top 25 this week, the Golden Gophers become the fourth ranked team Purdue has faced this season and the third in the last four weeks ... Purdue looks to end a four-game losing streak ... Touchdown machine Kory Sheets continues his quest to become the first 1,000-yard rusher at Purdue since Joey Harris in 2002 (1,115). The fifth-year running back has racked up 733 yards in seven games thus far ... Sheets needs just 57 more yards on the ground to become only the third player in Purdue history to rush for 3,000 or more yards (Mike Alstott 3,635 and Otis Armstrong 3,315) ... Wide receiver Greg Orton continues his climb up the career receptions and receiving yardage lists ... Leading tackler Anthony Heygood looks for a third straight game with double-digit stops.
A LOOK AT THE BOILERMAKERS
The Purdue football team, under 12th-year head coach Joe Tiller, enters its eighth week of the 2008 season 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten after falling to Northwestern 48-26 in Evanston, Ill., last Saturday.
THIS DATE IN BOILERMAKER HISTORY
The Boilermakers are 10-4 all time on October 25 and 1-1 under Joe Tiller. Purdue has played its Homecoming game on this date four time previous to this weekend and is a perfect 4-0. The Boilers defeated Wisconsin 7-6 in 1930, Iowa 7-6 in 1941, No. 5 Illinois 14-7 in 1947 and Northwestern 45-20 in 1969.
QUICK HITS - NORTHWESTERN
Curtis Painter moved past Northwestern's Brett Basanez for No. 2 in Big Ten history for completions. For his career, Painter has completed 919 passes ... The 24 first-half points allowed by Purdue were the most since surrendering 31 in the first 30 minutes to Michigan State last season on Nov. 10. (48-31 MSU final) ... Ryan Baker's interception in the first quarter was Purdue's first turnover forced in three games (211 plays between takeaways - Dwight Mclean INT vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 20) ... The Boilermakers scored more points in the first 28:51 against Northwestern (12) than they did in the previous nine quarters combined (nine points in 135 minutes dating back to the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame game.) ... Purdue's fumble recovery in the second quarter was its first since the Oregon game on Sept. 13 ... Purdue missed a second consecutive PAT attempt after a string of 111 straight successful conversions prior to the Penn State game ... Mike Neal's sack in the second quarter marked a fourth straight game that at least one Boilermaker has gotten to the opposing quarterback in a passing situation ... Neal posted his first two-sack game of his career. His third and fourth sacks of the season tied Ryan Kerrigan for the Purdue single-game high this year. For his career Neal has six sacks ... Fifth-year defensive tackle Ryan Baker recorded his second career interception on an inside screen pass in the first quarter (last vs. Wisconsin, 2006) ... Curtis Painter's 32-yard TD pass to Greg Orton in the fourth quarter was the longest completion for Purdue since the Notre Dame game on Sept. 27 ... Orton's TD reception in the fourth quarter was his second of the season and the 10th of his career ... Fifth-year linebacker Anthony Heygood recovered his second career fumble in the second quarter ... Heygood (14), cornerback Royce Adams (10) and safety Torri Williams (11) all finished with career-highs in tackles ... Fifth-year running back Kory Sheets finished with 168 yards on the ground to move past Scott Dierking (2,863) for the No. 3 spot on the career rushing yardage list. Sheets has now rushed for 2,943 yards in his career ... The 100-yard rushing day for Sheets was the eighth of his career and his second this season (Oregon) ... Sheets two rushing TDs marked the fourth time this season and 11th time in his career that he has found the endzone two or more time ... Sheets extended his school record for total TDs (47) and rushing TDs (42).
TOUGH SLATE
Purdue's first seven Football Bowl Subdivision opponents have racked up an impressive 41-9 (.820) overall record nine weeks into the 2008 season. No. 3 Penn State (8-0) is one of just nine FBS schools remaining with an undefeated record. Meanwhile, No. 10 Ohio State (7-1), Northwestern (6-1) and No. 25 Minnesota (6-1) have lost just once, and Oregon (5-2), Central Michigan (5-2) and Notre Dame (4-2) have but two losses each.
2008 Purdue Opponent Records
Northern Colorado 1-5
Oregon 5-2
Central Michigan 5-2
Notre Dame 4-2
No. 3 Penn State 8-0
No. 10 Ohio State 7-1
Northwestern 6-1
No. 25 Minnesota 6-1
Michigan 2-5
Michigan State 6-2
Iowa 5-3
Indiana 2-5
SILVER AND GOLD
Purdue will celebrate the 25th and 50th anniversaries of its 1983 and 1958 teams during Saturday's game. The 1983 Boilermakers won just three games - and tied one - but all three victories were Big Ten games, including a 31-30 thriller at Indiana in the season finale. Longtime NFL quarterback Scott Campbell and current Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack were team captains. Purdue, under head coach Leon Burtnett and assistant head coach Joe Tiller, played a rugged schedule that included five opponents ranked in the top 15. Head coach Jack Mollenkopf's third Purdue team finished 6-1-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the Big Ten for fourth place in 1958. The Boilermakers won five of their first six games and climbed to No. 8 in the national rankings. Among the victories: 14-6 over fifth-ranked Michigan State at Ross-Ade Stadium on Oct. 18 and 29-22 at 11th-ranked Notre Dame a week later. Tackle Gene Selawski earned first team All-America honors.
WELCOME BACK
Purdue welcomes back its alumni this weekend for the annual Homecoming game ... The Boilermakers have posted a 48-34-4 record in 86 Homecoming games dating back to the first one in 1921 ... Purdue has squared off against Minnesota seven times on Homecoming weekend - last in 2006 - and has gone 6-1 against the Golden Gophers ... Current head coach Joe Tiller has been an especially gracious host with a 9-2 mark in Homecoming games. His nine wins are the most by any Purdue coach on Homecoming and his .818 winning percentage is third-best with at least five Homecoming games coached.
Homecoming Coaching Records (min. five games)
Jim Young - 5-0 (1.000)
Noble Kizer - 6-1 (.857)
Joe Tiller - 9-2 (.818)
Jim Phelan - 3-1-2 (.667)
Jack Mollenkopf - 8-5-1 (.607)
Mal Elward - 3-2 (.600)
Stu Holcomb - 3-6 (.333)
Jim Colletto - 1-4-1 (.250)
Leon Burtnett - 1-4 (.200)
PURDUE-MINNESOTA HISTORY
The Boilermakers and Golden Gophers have met 64 times previous to this weekend's game ... It is one of two series for Purdue against Big Ten opponents that the all time lead is just one win. Minnesota currently holds a 31-30-3 edge over Purdue (Michigan State also leads the all time series against Purdue by just one win at 29-28-3) ... Purdue has won the last two games and nine of the past 10 dating back to 1996 ... Purdue's only loss to Minnesota over the last 12 years came in double overtime in 2005 at the Metrodome ... The Boilers hold an 18-4 advantage in games played in West Lafayette and have not lost to the Gophers in Ross-Ade Stadium since 1990 ... Purdue has scored 30 or more points against Minnesota, including a pair of 50-point contests, seven of the nine times the two schools have met in Joe Tiller's tenure.
PURDUE-MINNESOTA - THE LAST TIME OUT
In the Big Ten opener for both teams, Purdue's Desmond Tardy took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score and the Boilermakers never looked back in a 45-31 victory in Minneapolis last season. Quarterback Curtis Painter threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, as the Boilers racked up 500 yards of total offense for a third consecutive game. Cliff Avril returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown, to mark the first time Purdue scored on special teams and defense in the same game since 1995.
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 85-58 overall record at Purdue- the most wins in school history - and a 51-40 mark in Big Ten games. 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.
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.
BOUNCING BACK
Including the current four-game slump, the Boilermakers have lost four straight games only three times in the 12 seasons under Joe Tiller. In the other two instances, Purdue has seen the skid go longer than four only once (six in 2005).
Four Consecutive Losses Under Joe Tiller
Year - Opponents (Length of Skid)
2005 - vs. No. 13 Notre Dame, vs. Iowa, vs. Northwestern and at No. 19 Wisconsin (6)
2004 - vs. No. 10 Wisconsin, vs. No. 13 Michigan, at Northwestern and at No. 20 Iowa (4)
TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS
The Boilermakers are 12-37 (.245) when facing a ranked opponent in the 11-plus years with Joe Tiller ... Seven of Tiller's 12 wins over ranked teams at Purdue have come at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilers are 7-13 against top 25 teams at home under Tiller ... Purdue is 0-3 all time against the No. 25 team in nation - the spot currently held by Minnesota ... Purdue last faced the No. 25 team in the AP poll in 2006 when it dropped a 42-35 decision at Hawaii.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
The Boilermakers are 73-22 (.768) in 95 games against unranked opponents under Joe Tiller.
BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
The Boilers' defense has been pretty good on a short field. Opponents have posted a touchdown just 45 percent of the time when penetrating the redzone (15 for 33) and have found the endzone just 58 percent of the time when sitting at first and goal (11 for 19).
WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE
Proof that statistics can be misleading, Purdue's defense, ranked last in the Big Ten, limited the two highest ranked conference teams, No. 3 Penn State and No. 10 Ohio State, to 20 and 16 points, respectively. The Nittany Lions scored nearly 30 points below their season average of 49.8 heading into the game against Purdue and the Boilers did not allow an offensive touchdown to the vaunted OSU tandem of Chris Wells and Terrelle Pryor. Penn State, which has won its seven games by an average of 33.6 points, has scored 38 or more points seven times this year, with the one exception being the Purdue game.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE
No. 12 Ohio State ran 56 offensive plays against Purdue on Oct. 11, 22 of them went for no gain or for a loss (39%). The Boilermaker defense stopped Buckeye rushers at the line of scrimmage 10 times, had eight tackles for loss, including three sacks, and Ohio State finished with four incomplete passes in the game.
NO PASSING ZONE
The 97 yards passing by No. 12 Ohio State on Oct. 11 were the fewest surrendered by a Purdue defense since Illinois managed just 95 yards through the air in 2006. It marked the 11th time that the Boilers have held an opponent under 100 aerial yards in the last 11-plus years. The Joe Tiller Era low for passing yards in a game is 31 by Notre Dame in 2001.
BUILDING A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
In terms of yards, the Boilermakers allowance of just 222 yards against No. 12 Ohio State on Oct. 11 was the best effort in 54 games dating back to Sept. 11, 2004 when it gave up 197 yards in a 59-7 win over Ball State. It was the 12th-lowest output by an opposing offense since Brock Spack took over as defensive coordinator in 1997, and the lowest in a opposing Big Ten stadium in the Tiller Era.
LONG DISTANCE DIALING
Kicker Carson Wiggs has a big leg. How big you ask? Well, Joe Tiller thinks enough of the freshman that his first three collegiate field goal attempts were from 60, 52 and 53 yards out. His 60-yard attempt against Central Michigan was dead-on accurate but fell just short of going through, his 52-yard attempt at Ohio State on Oct. 11 missed wide left by about a foot and his 53-yard attempt against the Buckeyes later in the game sailed through the uprights for his first career make, breaking Purdue's school record in the process. After establishing he could dial it up from downtown, Wiggs made good on his two attempts closer in last weekend at Northwestern, hitting from 20 and 37 yards out.
NOT TOO SHABBY FOR HIS FIRST MAKE
Carson Wiggs' school-record 53-yard field goal at Ohio State on Oct. 11 is tied for the fourth-longest in the nation this season, and is the longest by a freshman.
64 - Jose Martinez (Sr.), UTEP vs. UCF, Sept. 27
54 - Leigh Tiffin (Jr.), Alabama at Clemson, Aug. 30
54 - Aaron Pettrey (Jr.), Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Aug. 30
53 - Graham Gano (Sr.), Florida State at Miami (Fla.), Oct. 4
53 - Louie Sakoda (Sr.), Utah at Michigan, Aug. 30
53 - Patrick Shadle (Sr.), Syracuse at West Virginia, Oct. 11
53 - Carson Wiggs (Fr.), Purdue at Ohio State, Oct. 11
53 - Graham Gano (Sr.), Florida State at N.C. State, Oct. 16
53 - Brooks Rossman (Sr.), Kansas State at Colorado, Oct. 18
POLLING PLACE
Although not ranked to enter this week, Purdue has been among the Associated Press' Top 25 80 weeks (out of 192 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 144 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.
HEY, HE'S BETTER THAN GOOD
Linebacker Anthony Heygood is having a whale of time in his final season at Purdue. The fifth-year senior is averaging an even 10 tackles per game to lead the Big Ten and place him in a tie for 13th nationally among all Football Bowl Subdivision players. Despite playing one less game thus far, his 70 total tackles are second in the conference to likely NFL Draft first-rounder James Laurinaitis of Ohio State (78). Heygood needs just 11 more stops this season to equal his single-season career high of 81 set last year and only 24 more tackles to match his career total of 94 heading into the 2008 season.
RYAN'S HOPE
After spraining his ankle during fall camp, defensive end Ryan Kerrigan finally shed his protective brace against Ohio State on Oct. 11 and the freedom proved to be quite bountiful. The second-year Boilermaker chased down elusive OSU quarterback Tyrelle Pryor to record a pair of sacks for a combined loss of 10 yards. It was the first multi-sack game of his career, the first by a Purdue player this season and helped raise his season tally to three. He also tied his career high with six total tackles against the Buckeyes.
MR. BOILER-BAKER
Team captain Ryan Baker is turning in quite an effort in his final season in the Gold and Black. The defensive tackle has been a menace to the opposition with a team-best seven tackles for loss. After posting a single-game-best three TFL against Ohio State on Oct. 11, he is on pace to smash his single-season high of 8.5 set during his sophomore season. His 19 total tackles this season are just six below his best season as a Boilermaker (25 in 2006).
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Baker's defensive tackle teammate Mike Neal posted his first two-sack day against Northwestern on Oct. 18. The pair of QB grabs marked the fourth consecutive game Purdue has posted a sack. The senior has racked up a team-best four sacks this season for a loss of 28 yards.
YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!
Purdue's five 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 138 yards going the opposite directions thus far to match last season's total on 14 interceptions. 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 seven games Holland is averaging 6.6 stops per contest and he enters the weekend third on the team in total tackles (46). 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 50 tackles in seven games, second on the team, and coming up with a personal-best four PBUs, which places him third for Purdue.
PBU PENDER
Cornerback David Pender has a knack for getting into passing lanes. The senior has knocked down seven passes in seven games, tying the single-season career high he established last year. He needs just one more PBU this year to match his career total heading into the 2008 campaign (8).
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 on Oct. 4 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 - 1,552 att., 919 comp., 10,489 yards passing, 1,767 off. plays, 10,824 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 - 21-18
Kyle Orton - 19-16
Billy Dicken - 9-3
Brandon Hance - 6-3
Brandon Kirsch - 6-6
FLINGING FOURSOME
Curtis Painter became just the fourth player in Big Ten history to throw for more than 10,000 yards in a career when he connected with Greg Orton on a six-yard throw-and-catch against Ohio State on Oct. 11. 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). For his career, Painter has thrown for 10,216 yards.
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 six this season to give him 38 consecutive starts - tops among the seven potential four-year guys.
Bowl Subdivision Four-Year Starters at QB
Curtis Painter, Purdue - 39 Consecutive Starts
Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State - 37 Consecutive Starts
Mike Teel, Rutgers - 36 Consecutive Starts
Willie Tuitama, Arizona - 23 Consecutive Starts
Drew Willy, Buffalo - 19 Consecutive Starts
Pat White, West Virginia - 0 Consecutive Starts
Drew Weatherford, Florida State - 0 Consecutive Starts
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 43 grabs for 503 yards and two TDs. Nationally he is tied for 28th in receptions per game (6.1) and is 51st among all Bowl Subdivision players in receiving yards per game (71.9). He posted a season-high nine receptions at Notre Dame on Sept. 27 and had 100 yards receiving against Northwestern on Oct. 18.
INTO THE TOP 10
Greg Orton has joined the all-time top 10 at Purdue in both career receptions and yards. After a seven-catch day against Northwestern last weekend, the fifth-year senior pushed his career total to 177 receptions to move him into seventh on the receptions list and his 100-yards receiving against the Wildcats pushed into eighth on the yardage 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 46th nationally in receiving yards per game (76.4), 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 107.9 all-purpose yards per game, which places him 88th in the FBS.
CHAIN MOVERS
Kory Sheets has made the sideline chain gang get their exercise. The fifth-year running back has 42 rushing/receiving first downs this year. Classmate Greg Orton is nipping at heels, as the wide receiver has 43 catches this season, 27 of which have been good for first downs. Between the two of them, Orton and Sheets have accounted for 54 percent of Purdue's non-penalty related first downs this year (69 of 127).
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 130 times this year and has yet to even put the ball on the turf, let alone turn it over.
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 130 carries (N/A) - 10 rushing TD
Career - 8 fumbles lost on 560 carries (one fumble lost every 70 carries) - 42 rushing TD
CENTURY SHEETS
Helped by a 76-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, fifth-year running back Kory Sheets recorded his second 100-yard rushing day of the season last weekend at Northwestern (also vs. Oregon). Sheets has topped the century mark on the ground eight times during his Boilermaker career to tie him with Montrell Lowe for the fifth-most in school history.
Career 100-yard Rushing Games
Mike Alstott - 16
Otis Armstrong - 13
Henry Szulborski - 11
Scott Dierking - 9
Montrell Lowe - 8
Kory Sheets - 8
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 10 rushing touchdowns this season to raise his career total to 47 and his rushing total to 42, both are tops all time at Purdue.
Purdue's Total And Rushing Career TD Charts
STAT SHEETS
Along with toppling the touchdown records, Kory Sheets is quickly climbing the rushing record book as well. With 2,943 rushing yards, Sheets is third all time in Boilermaker history and he needs just 57 more yards to become just the third player to rack up 3,000 yards in the rushing annals at Purdue. His 560 attempts are currently sixth all time and his 5.26 yards per rush average places him 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 24th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 104.7 yards per game average. He is tied for 26th nationally in scoring (8.6 points per game) and is 11th in the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game (167.9).
BACK UNDER CENTER
Backup quarterback Joey Elliott's season-ending shoulder injury has necessitated sophomore Justin Siller to move back to his original position. Siller, who will assume the No. 2 QB duties, was moved from quarterback to running back in fall camp. He has 12 carries for 38 yards and has yet to attempt a pass in his Purdue career.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
When Penn State declined an illegal substitution penalty on Purdue's second possession in the third quarter on Oct. 4 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 14th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in fewest penalties per game (4.3) and tied for 15th in fewest penalty yards per game (36.5).
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)
