Contents
Introduction
Final Records
Visitor Comments
Players & Coaches
Alford, Brian
Alstott, Mike
Brees, Drew
Colvin, Roosevelt
Dicken, Billy
Tiller, Joe
Great Games
Michigan, 1996
Notre Dame, 1997
Michigan State, 1997
Oklahoma State, 1997
Indiana, 1998
Kansas State, 1998
Related Links
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Purdue's Official Sports Website |
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Gold & Black Illustrated |
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Boilerstation.com |
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Purdue Exponent |
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Purdue University |
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Drew Brees Fan Site |
Brian Alford
One of the greatest receivers to play at Purdue, Brian Alford is a testament to hard work and determination. After nearly flunking out of Purdue following a dismal 3-8 season, Alford took summer school courses at a college in Kansas to regain his eligibility. Not only did Alford regain his eligibility, but he helped guide the team to an Alamo Bowl championship and a #15 national ranking. When he left Purdue, Alford held school records for career yards (3029), receiving touchdowns (31), most receiving yards in a game (215-1997), most receiving yards in a season (1228-1997), and most receiving touchdowns in a season (12-1996). He also ranked 3rd in all-time Purdue receptions (164), and 4th in all-time Purdue points (188). Alford was selected in the third round (pick 70) of the 1998 NFL draft by the New York Giants.
Brian's Stats
| RECEIVING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1995 | 34 | 686 | 20.2 | 8 |
| 1996 | 63 | 1057 | 16.8 | 12 |
| 1997 | 63 | 1228 | 19.5 | 10 |
| TOTALS | 160 | 2971 | 18.6 | 30 |
| RUSHING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1995 | 1 | -13 | -13.0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | -8 | -8.0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 5 | 1 | 0.2 | 0 |
| PASSING | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Com | Pct | Yds | Avg | Int | TD |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Mike Alstott
A human wrecking ball, Mike Alstott plowed through all opponents in 1995. Alstott kept the Boilermakers in every game they played that year, and became the first Purdue 3-time team MVP. When the debris of his senior campaign settled, Alstott was able to walk off the field holding such Purdue records as most career rushing yards (3635), most career rushing touchdowns (39), most yards in a season (1436, 1995), and most career points scored (265). He also finished 3rd on Purdue's career yards per carry list (5.64). Alstott was drafted in the second round (pick 31) of the 1996 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mike's Stats
| RUSHING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1995 | 1436 | 243 | 5.9 | 11 |
| RECEIVING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1995 | 25 | 162 | 6.5 | 0 |
| PASSING | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Com | Pct | Yds | Avg | Int | TD |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 69 | 69.0 | 0 | 1 |
Drew Brees
A member of Joe Tiller's first recruiting class as Purdue's head coach, Drew Brees exploded as a starter in 1998, shattering many Purdue, Big Ten, and even NCAA records. After starting the season 3-4, Drew and the Boilermakers ended the season on a 6 game winning streak, cumulating in another Alamo Bowl championship. Memorable games include Minnesota 1998, where Drew tore apart the Gopher man-to-man coverage for an unbelievable 522 yards and 6 touchdowns, and the 1998 Alamo Bowl upset, in which Drew led the Boilers on an 80 yard, game winning drive that cumulated with a 24 yard touchdown pass to Issac Jones with 30 seconds remaining. His spectacular sophomore campaign placed Drew as the preseason favorite to win the 1999 Heisman Trophy. When I graduated from Purdue in May 1999, Drew held the following records:
NCAA, Big Ten, Purdue: -Passing attempts in a game (83, Wisconsin 1998) -Completions in a game -(tie 55 Wisconsin 1998) Big Ten, Purdue: -Touchdowns in a season (39) -Completions in a season (361) -Attempts in a season (569) -Passing yards in a season (3,983) Purdue: -Passing yards in a game (522, Minnesota 1998) -Touchdown passes in a game (6, Minnesota and Northwestern, 1998)
Drew's Stats
| PASSING | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Com | Pct | Yds | Avg | Int | TD |
| 1997 | 43 | 19 | 44.2 | 232 | 5.4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 569 | 361 | 63.4 | 3983 | 7.0 | 20 | 39 |
| TOTALS | 612 | 380 | 62.1 | 4215 | 6.9 | 21 | 39 |
| RUSHING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1997 | 10 | 9 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1998 | 69 | 193 | 2.8 | 3 |
| TOTALS | 79 | 202 | 2.6 | 5 |
| RECEIVING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | -5 | -2.5 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 2 | -5 | -2.5 | 0 |
Roosevelt Colvin
A constant threat to sack the quarterback, Roosevelt Colvin gave opposing offenses headaches. When he was not 'raising the roof', Colvin was busy making the big play. In the 1997 game against Michigan State, Colvin picked up a blocked field goal attempt and rumbled 62 yards for a touchdown, sparking a miraculous 22-21 come-from-behind victory. Colvin may have saved his most gutsy performance for his final game, the 1998 Alamo Bowl, as he placed constant pressure on Heisman Trophy runner up Michael Bishop, caused a fumble, and was named the game's defensive MVP...all after injuring his shoulder early in the first quarter. During the 1998 campaign, he set a Purdue record for field goals blocked in a season (4) and tied the school record for most sacks in a season (13). Colvin was later named Purdue's MVP of the 1998 season, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears.
Billy Dicken
After being injured in the 1994 game with Indiana, Billy Dicken sat out the 1995 season. In 1996, Purdue coach Jim Colletto rotated three quarterbacks, leaving Dicken with little playing time and sour stats. In 1997's spring practice, new coach Joe Tiller named John Reeves the team's starting quarterback, leaving Dicken as the backup. But Dicken wasn't content to be a backup during his senior year, so during that offseason he worked and practiced as hard as he could, determined to regain his starting spot. During preseason practice, Tiller announced that he had changed his mind and that Dicken would be the 1997 starting quarterback. Dicken went on to have an outstanding season, as he lead the Boilers to a 9-3 record and an Alamo Bowl championship. When he left Purdue, Dicken ranked 8th on Purdue's all-time passing yards list with 4247 yards (right below Bob Griese) and also tied a Boilermaker record with 5 touchdown passes in a game (Minnesota, 1997), although this record would be broken the following year by Drew Brees.
Billy's Stats
| PASSING | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Com | Pct | Yds | Avg | Int | TD |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 81 | 40 | 49.4 | 518 | 6.4 | 4 | 1 |
| 1997 | 408 | 224 | 54.9 | 3136 | 7.7 | 16 | 21 |
| TOTALS | 489 | 264 | 53.4 | 3654 | 7.5 | 20 | 22 |
| RUSHING | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 20 | -40 | -2.0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 97 | 603 | 6.2 | 3 |
| TOTALS | 117 | 563 | 4.8 | 3 |
Joe Tiller
To read a story on the hiring of Joe Tiller, click here.Joe Tiller returned to Purdue as head coach prior to the start of the 1997 season. In his first year back at Purdue, Tiller took a team that had gone 3-8 the previous season and turned them into bowl champions. After concluding Purdue's second largest single season turnaround, Tiller was named the Big 10 and National Coach of the Year by several media outlets. In his first two seasons at Purdue, Tiller compiled an 18-7 record and won two Alamo Bowl championships.
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