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1996 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1996 record3–8 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coachJim Colletto (6th season)
Offensive coordinatorTim Salem (3rd season)
Offensive schemePro Set
Defensive coordinatorTy Smith (2nd season)
Base defense4-3
MVPBrian Alford (junior year)
CaptainJon Krick (senior year)
CaptainEmmett Zitelli (senior year)
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
(Capacity: 67,861)
Seasons
← 1995
1997 →
1996 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#2/2 Ohio State §   7 1         11 1  
#15/16 Northwestern §   7 1         9 3  
#7/7 Penn State   6 2         11 2  
#18/18 Iowa   6 2         9 3  
#20/20 Michigan   5 3         8 4  
Michigan State   5 3         6 6  
Wisconsin   3 5         8 5  
Purdue   2 6         3 8  
Minnesota   1 7         4 7  
Indiana   1 7         3 8  
Illinois   1 7         2 9  
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana and competed in the Big Ten Conference. The team attempted to build from its second best season (win wise) in its 5-year football history under head coach Jim Colletto, and they failed starting the season 0-3 and averaging under 7 points per game. Over the final eight games the Boilermakers went 3-5 however, ending the season with a 3-8 record and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the twelfth straight year. The Boilermakers also failed to win a road game.

However, several individuals excelled. Brian Alford received numerous post-season accolades including First Team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media, as well as breaking Purdue record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season. Senior captain, Emmett Zitelli was selected to the Second Team All-Big team by both the coaches and the media. After the season, non of the Boilermakers were selected in the 1997 NFL Draft but immediately after the draft Zitelli signed as an undrafted free agent.

Preseason preview[]

In 1995 the Purdue Boilermakers had the second best season in the Colletto era. The team finished with a 4-6-1 regular season record, failing to qualify for a postseason bowl game for the twelfth straight year. The Boilermakers struggled to win games, facing what was rated as the 3rd most difficult schedule in the nation in 1995.[1] However, Purdue did finish first in the Big Ten in rushing offense.[2]

Going into 1996, there was doubt that Purdue could replace all-time leading rusher Mike Alstott, and have a winning season.[3] Entering the season, Colletto thought that each of his quarterbacks would be a contributor on offense, electing Rick Trefzger as the team's starting quarterback, and moving former tailback, Edwin Watson to fullback to replace Alstott.[4]

Schedule[]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3112:30 PMat Michigan StateESPNL 14–5272,511
September 142:30 PMat No. 9 Notre Dame*NBCL 0–3559,075
September 217:00 PMWest Virginia*L 6–2039,445
September 2812:00 PMNC State*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
ESPN+W 42–2139,739
October 52:00 PMMinnesota
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
W 30–2745,805
October 1212:30 PMat No. 10 Penn StateESPNL 14–3196,653
October 193:30 PMNo. 2 Ohio Statedagger
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
ABCL 14–4258,323
November 212:30 PMat WisconsinESPNL 25–3378,330
November 912:30 PMNo. 9 Michigan
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
ESPN2W 9–339,328
November 1612:00 PMat No. 13 NorthwesternL 24–2741,178
November 231:00 PMIndiana
L 16–3349,197
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5]

Roster[]

1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Winston, DonaldDonald Winston Fr
QB 3 Reeves, JohnJohn Reeves File:Redshirt.svg So
WR 5 Tillman, WillieWillie Tillman Jr
WR 6 Jones, IsaacIsaac Jones Jr
QB 12 Dicken, BillyBilly Dicken File:Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 13 Trefzger, RickRick Trefzger Sr
FB 16 Haddad, EricEric Haddad Jr
WR 20 Daniels, ChrisChris Daniels File:Redshirt.svg Fr
WR 24 Olivadotti, KirkKirk Olivadotti Sr
RB 25 Taylor, CurtisCurtis Taylor Jr
FB 36 Watson, EdwinEdwin Watson Jr
FB 37 Sanders, DartanianDartanian Sanders Sr
RB 43 Matthews, KendallKendall Matthews Sr
FB 45 Bryant Jr., CullenCullen Bryant Jr. Fr
OT 52 Sweeney, NickNick Sweeney So
OT 54 Fischer, MarkMark Fischer Sr
OG 56 Okobi, ChukkyChukky Okobi Fr
C 63 Niedrach, JimJim Niedrach So
OG 72 Zitelli, EmmettEmmett Zitelli Sr
OT 73 Cohen, DavidDavid Cohen So
OG 74 Finchum, WayneWayne Finchum So
OG 76 Maly, DanDan Maly Sr
C 78 Nicley, BrianBrian Nicley Sr
OT 79 Manning, ChadChad Manning Sr
WR 80 Alford, BrianBrian Alford File:Redshirt.svg Jr
TE 81 Jewell, BrandonBrandon Jewell Sr
TE 90 VanderWeele, PetePete VanderWeele Jr
TE 91 Light, MattMatt Light Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
FS 2 Brown, DerrickDerrick Brown Jr
CB 4 Winston, DerrickDerrick Winston Sr
SS 7 Beasley, AdrianAdrian Beasley So
DB 10 Brush, LeeLee Brush Jr
FS 11 Hawthorne, MichaelMichael Hawthorne So
CB 14 Coleman, JamelJamel Coleman Jr
LB 19 Hagins, JoeJoe Hagins Sr
DB 22 Conard, LamarLamar Conard Fr
SS 23 Burroughs, WillieWillie Burroughs Jr
CB 27 Washington, WillieWillie Washington Fr
LB 28 Rose, MikeMike Rose Fr
DB 29 Johnson, ReggieReggie Johnson
LB 32 Jones, NobleNoble Jones So
LB 34 Okeafor, ChikeChike Okeafor Jr
CB 38 Gillins, BryceBryce Gillins Fr
LB 29 Zitelli, NickNick Zitelli
DB 46 Davis, GlennGlenn Davis
LB 48 Koeppen, ChrisChris Koeppen Sr
DE 49 Nwokorie, ChukieChukie Nwokorie So
LB 51 Bacon, TroyTroy Bacon
DT 53 Krick, JonJon Krick Sr
LB 57 Lee, RayRay Lee So
DE 58 Williams, CraigCraig Williams Sr
DE 59 Colvin, RoseveltRosevelt Colvin So
DT 71 Gutwein, AnthonyAnthony Gutwein Jr
DE 82 Nugent, DavidDavid Nugent Fr
LB 86 Dobbins, ScottScott Dobbins
DT 97 Smith, GregGreg Smith Sr
DT 98 Perez, LeoLeo Perez Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 17 Arnce, ChrisChris Arnce Jr
P 26 Rogers, DannyDanny Rogers Fr
P 29 Kaser, BrandonBrandon Kaser So
PK 96 Ryan, ShaneShane Ryan Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Tim Salem (Offensive Coordinator)
  • Ty Smith (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
  • Chester Caddas (Defensive Line)
  • Randy Fichtner (Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator)
  • Tom Freeman (Offensive Line)
  • Leroy Keyes (Running Backs)
  • Karl Morgan (Defensive Line)
  • Bob Morris (Defensive Backs)
  • Kurt Van Valkenburgh (Defensive Backs

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 3, 2013

Depth Chart[]

Defensive Starters
[7]


FS
Derrick Brown
Michael Hawthorne


WLB MLB SLB
Joe Hagins Chris Koeppen Chike Okeafor
Noble Jones Ray Lee Noble Jones
SS
Willie Burroughs
Adrian Beasley
CB
Derrick Winston
Willie Washington


DE DT DT DE
Rosevelt Colvin Jon Krick Leo Perez Craig Williams
Chukie Nwokorie Anthony Gutwein Greg Smith David Nugent
CB
Jamel Coleman
Bryce Gillins
Offensive Starters
[9]
WR
Brian Alford
Kirk Olivadotti
LT LG C RG RT
Mark Fischer Wayne Finchum Brian Nicley Emmett Zitelli Nick Sweeney
Chad Manning Dan Maly Jim Niedrach Chukky Okobi David Cohen
TE
Brandon Jewell
Pete Vander Weele
WR
Willie Tillman
Isaac Jones
QB
Rick Trefzger
John Reeves
RB
Kendall Matthews
Curtis Taylor
FB
Edwin Watson
Dartanian Sanders
Special Teams
PK Shane Ryan
PK Chris Arnce
P Danny Rogers
P Brandon Kaser
KR Joe Hagins
PR Donald Winston
LS Chris Daniels
H Rick Trefzger


Results[]

Michigan[]

#9 Michigan at Purdue
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan 0 0 3 0 3
Purdue 0 3 0 6 9
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Game attendance: 40,624

Purdue's first win versus Michigan since 1984[10]


Statistics[]

Passing[]

Player Comp Att Yards TD INT
Rick Trefzger 96 170 1,158 8 8
John Reeves 51 102 772 6 5
Billy Dicken 40 81 518 1 4

Rushing[]

Player Att Yards TD
Edwin Watson 194 768 6
Kendall Matthews 123 471 3
John Reeves 52 157
Rick Trefzger 43 56 1
Donald Winston 2 49
Lee Johnson 12 43
Eric Haddad 6 24
Chris Koeppen 1 24
Brian Alford 3 22
Dartanian Sanders 5 18
Billy Dicken 20 -40

Receiving[]

Player Rec Yards TD
Brian Alford 63 1,057 12
Willie Tillman 40 557 2
Edwin Watson 25 220
Isaac Jones 14 241 1
Kirk Olivadotti 16 171
Brandon Jewell 11 92
Kendall Matthews 9 29
Chris Daniels 1 22
Eric Haddad 2 19
Lee Johnson 2 16
Matt Light 1 16
Reggie Johnson 1 7
Donald Winston 1 5
Dartanian Sanders 1 -4

[11]

References[]

  1. "1995 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". www.sports-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties.. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1995.html. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  2. "Tim Salem Bio". www.fightingillini.com. University of Illinois-Champaign. http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/salem_tim00.html. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  3. Andrew Bagnato (November 5, 1996). "Purdue's Colletto 2nd Coach To Exit Big Ten Within Week". Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-11-05/sports/9611050148_1_boilermakers-mike-alstott-indiana. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  4. Geoff Mosher (August 29, 1996). "Boiling point". ww.collegian.psu.edu. The Daily Collegian. http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_c2e89198-e9c5-5948-8414-d185c909308a.html. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  5. 2010 Purdue football information guide
  6. "Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  7. "Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  8. Recap/Box Score
  9. 1996 Purdue football final statistics
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