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Introduction

1996 proved to be trying season for Purdue fans. The 'three headed quarterback' of Rick Trefzger, John Reeves, and Billy Dicken seemed to confuse and stall the Purdue offense, and the Boilermakers fell to a 3-8 record. There were some good things to come from that season, however. Shortly after a heartbreaking 25-33 loss at Wisconsin, head coach Jim Colletto announced he would be leaving Purdue at the end of the season. The Boilermaker players wanted to send their coach out with a great win, and the following week they did, upsetting No. 9 Michigan 9-3.

On November 22, 1996, Purdue hired Wyoming head coach Joe Tiller to replace Colletto. Tiller immediately began recruiting players and despite his late start, many 'sleepers' such as QB Drew Brees and WR Vinny Sutherland decided to play ball in West Lafayette.

During the offseason, Tiller revamped his team. Chike Okeafor, who was a Butkus Award finalist the previous season, was dismissed from the team for unspecified reasons. Though Tiller had named John Reeves as the starting quarterback during spring practice, coach changed his mind and moved Reeves to linebacker. Billy Dicken was then named the starter.

Tiller's first season as head coach of the Boilermakers started off with an embarrassing loss at Toledo 22-36. With players doubting his 'aerial assault' strategy, coach Tiller needed to motivate his team in a hurry, as no. 12 Notre Dame would be traveling down to West Lafayette the following week.

Tiller certainly did motivate his players, and the Boilers shocked Notre Dame 28-17. The win was especially sweet for Purdue's players, because Jim Colletto had joined the Irish coaching staff in the offseason. Before the game, Colletto was quoted as saying, "I'm a good coach when I have good players." Quite an insult to the players he brought to Purdue. After the game, Colletto claimed that he "didn't leave (Purdue's) cupboards empty."

The Boilermakers went on to their first winning season and bowl game since 1984. Great games of the 1997 campaign include the 59-43 win at Minnesota, a 45-20 win over Wisconsin, a 22-21 miracle against Michigan State, and a blow out in Bloomington, 56-7. Purdue even captured all of their traveling trophies (The Shillelagh-Notre Dame, The Cannon-Illinois, The Old Oaken Bucket-Indiana). The 9-3 Boilermakers ended their season with a 33-20 victory over Oklahoma State in the Builder's Square Alamo Bowl.

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the 1998 Purdue Boilermakers stormed to a 9-4 record and repeated as Alamo Bowl champions with a shocking 37-34 win over No. 4 Kansas State. Sophomore quarterback Drew Brees established himself as the preseason 1999 Heisman Trophy favorite by shattering countless Purdue, Big Ten, and NCAA records. Other great games from that season include the destruction of Daunte Culpepper's Heisman Trophy chances in a 35-7 win over Central Florida on ESPN, another thriller against Michigan State at East Lansing, 25-24 (one week after MSU upset No. 1 Ohio State), and another Bucket blowout against Indiana, 52-7.

Purdue's Final Records

Year	Record	Coach	Final Ranking
1995	4-6-1	Jim Colletto	NR
1996	3-8	Jim Colletto	NR
1997	9-3	Joe Tiller	#15
1998	9-4	Joe Tiller	#24

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