Purdue Boilermakers


The Purdue Boilermakers are the official intercollegiate athletics teams representing Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. As is common with athletic nicknames, the Boilermakers nickname is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large. The nickname is often shortened to "Boilers" by fans. Purdue is one of the few college athletic programs that is not funded by student fees or subsidized by the university.

Origin of "Boilermakers" nickname

In 1889, the Purdue football team played Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and won the game 18–4. Students from the college and citizens of Crawfordsville began calling the Purdue players "a great big burly gang of corn-huskers", "grangers", "pumpkin-shuckers", "railsplitters", "blacksmiths," "cornfield sailors", and "foundry hands". The Purdue students experienced hands-on education at the university, including the maintenance of a fully operational steam locomotive.
Purdue defeated Wabash College again in 1891, 44–0. An account of the game in the Crawfordsville Daily Argus News of October 26, 1891, was headlined, "Slaughter of Innocents: Wabash Snowed Completely Under by the Burly Boiler Makers from Purdue". Purdue became known as the Boilermakers the next year.
Several of the local schools added to the boilermaker tradition by suggesting that Purdue was going up the Wabash River and hiring workers from the nearby Monon railroad yards to play football. Purdue's official mascot is a locomotive, the Boilermaker Special. The Monon Railroad had its main locomotive shops in Lafayette, not far from campus.
Purdue's athletic teams wear a combination of old-gold, black, and white, colors that have identified Purdue since 1887.

Varsity sports

Baseball

The Purdue Boilermakers baseball team have been conference champions twice, in 1909 and 2012. In 1987, 2012 and 2018 they appeared in the NCAA tournament.

Basketball

The Boilermaker men's and women's basketball teams have won more Big Ten Championships than any other conference school, with 37 conference banners, including a league-leading 24 for the men's team. Men's former head coach Gene Keady coached his final season with the Boilermakers in the 2004–2005 season after 25 years with the Boilermakers. Coach Keady became Purdue's all-time-winningest coach on December 6, 1997. In his years at Purdue, Keady led the Boilermakers to a 512–270 record and a.655 winning percentage.
The current coach of the Boilermaker men's basketball team is Matt Painter. A former player and Purdue Alum under Keady, Painter is now in his 20th season as the head coach and is currently second on the school's all-time wins list.
In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Painter guided Purdue to their first Final Four in 44 years, and first National Championship game since 1969.

Football

In the early 1890s Purdue fielded dominating football teams. In 1891 Purdue went 4–0, outscoring opponents 192–0. In 1892 Purdue went 8–0, outscoring opponents 320–24. In 1893 Purdue went 5–2–1, outscoring opponents 334–144. In 1894 Purdue went 9–1, outscoring opponents 288–36. Over these four years, Purdue's combined record was 26–3–1, outscoring opponents 1134–204. Purdue beat in-state rival Indiana University 60–0, 68–0, 64–0, and 6–0 by an understandable forfeit. Purdue went 2–1 against Illinois, 2–1 Wisconsin, 3–0 against Chicago and split 2 games with Michigan.
The Purdue Boilermakers competed as an independent until 1889. In 1890, they joined the Indiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association and, finally, was a founding member of the Big Ten Conference in 1896. The Purdue Boilermakers were Big Ten Conference Champions in 1918, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1943, 1952, 1967, and 2000. However, they made their first appearance in the Rose Bowl – the "grand-daddy of them all" – with a 1966 second-place finish in the Big Ten; conference rules at that time prevented Michigan State from appearing in consecutive Rose Bowls. The Boilermakers, under NFL hall-of-famer Bob Griese, defeated the University of Southern California Trojans 14–13 to win the 1967 Rose Bowl. When the Boilermakers shared the Big Ten title the following season, the consecutive-appearance rule kept them out of the 1968 Rose Bowl. Purdue did not return to the Rose Bowl until 2001, under future New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, losing to the University of Washington Huskies 34–24.
The Boilermakers have appeared in a total of 21 post-season bowl games, compiling a record of 11–10. Their most recent victory was a 48–45 victory over the University of Tennessee Volunteers in the 2021 Music City Bowl, with their most recent appearance being a 63–7 defeat dealt by the LSU Tigers at the 2023 Citrus Bowl.
Purdue has traditionally been called the "Cradle of Quarterbacks", having produced NFL stars Cecil Isbell, Dale Samuels, Bob DeMoss, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP Len Dawson, NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Gary Danielson, Mark Herrmann, Scott Campbell, Jim Everett, Eric Hunter, Billy Dicken, Kyle Orton, and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. Purdue QBs have thrown more touchdowns in the NFL than those from any other university, 1,754 at the end of the 2023 season. In 2011, there were three starting quarterbacks in the NFL from Purdue: Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, Kyle Orton of the Denver Broncos, and Curtis Painter of the Indianapolis Colts. Current NFL QBs are David Blough of the Detroit Lions and Aidan O'Connell of the Las Vegas Raiders. The team is currently coached by Barry Odom.

Men's golf

The Purdue golf team inaugural season was in 1921. The team earned a national championship in 1961, and have been Big Ten champions twelve times. The team has had two NCAA individual champions: Fred Wampler in 1950 and Joe Campbell in 1955. The team has also earned 12 Big Ten championships through 2017.

Women's soccer

The Boilermakers' first season of soccer was in 1998, but began Big Ten play in 1999. The team has achieved seven NCAA tournament berths, their first being in 2002 and their most recent being in the 2021 season. The Boilermakers furthest run in the NCAA tournament was in 2003, advancing to the third round. The Boilermakers have also reached the Big Ten tournament in ten different seasons, with a tournament win in 2007 under coach Jack Warner. The current head coach of the Boilermakers is Drew Roff, who is in his ninth year as head coach as of 2023.

Softball

The Boilermaker softball team began play in 1994. The team has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. The current head coach is Magali Frezzotti.

Women's volleyball

The Purdue Boilermakers Women's Volleyball team started play in 1975 and has made the AIAW/NCAA tournament 27 times since. This includes five trips to the regional finals. The team has been coached by Dave Shondell since 2003.

Wrestling

The Purdue Boilermaker wrestling team started in the 1913–1914 season. As a team, the Boilermakers have placed as high as 2nd at the NCAA National Championships, and have had individual wrestlers qualify for the NCAA tournament for over 25 years straight. The team is coached by Tony Ersland, who wrestled for the University of Iowa under legendary coach Dan Gable. He is assisted by Tyrel Todd, Kendric Maple, and Jake Sueflohn. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference. Purdue Wrestling practices in the Blake Wrestling Training Center and competes on campus in the Holloway Gymnasium.

Championships

NCAA team championships

Purdue University has won 3 NCAA national championships:
  • Men's
  • *Golf : 1961
  • Women's
  • *Basketball : 1999
  • *Golf : 2010

    Other national team titles

  • Not bestowed by the NCAA:
  • *Men's basketball : 1932
  • * Football : 1931

    Athletic accomplishments

Baseball

  • Big Ten Champions: 1909, 2012

    Basketball

Men's

  • NCAA Championship Runner-Up: 1969, 2024
  • NCAA Final Four: 1969, 1980, 2024
  • NIT Champions: 1974
  • NIT Championship Runner-Up: 1979, 1982
  • Big Ten Champions: 1911, 1912c, 1921c, 1922, 1926c, 1928c, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935c, 1936c, 1938, 1940, 1969, 1979c, 1984c, 1987c, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2010c, 2017, 2019c, 2023, 2024
  • Big Ten tournament Champions: 2009, 2023
  • Helms National Champions: 1932
  • Premo-Porretta Champions: 1932

    Women's

  • NCAA National Champions: 1999
  • NCAA Championship Runner-Up: 2001
  • NCAA Final Four: 1994, 1999, 2001
  • Big Ten Champions: 1991, 1994c, 1995c, 1997c, 1999, 2001, 2002
  • Big Ten tournament Champions: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013

    Cross country: men

  • Big Ten Champions: 1916, 1941, 1943

    Cross country: women

  • Big Ten Champions: 1980†

    Football

  • Bowl Game Victories: 1967 Rose Bowl, 1978 Peach Bowl, 1979 Bluebonnet Bowl, 1980 Liberty Bowl, 1997 Alamo Bowl, 1998 Alamo Bowl, 2002 Sun Bowl, 2007 Motor City Bowl, 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, 2017 Foster Farms Bowl, 2021 Music City Bowl
  • Big Ten Champions: 1918c, 1929, 1931c, 1932c, 1943c, 1952c, 1967c, 2000c
  • National Championship: 1931 – Parke Davis

    Field hockey

  • Big Ten Champions: 1978†, 1979†

    Golf: men

  • NCAA Championship : 1950 – Fred Wampler, 1955 – Joe Campbell
  • NCAA National Champions : 1961
  • Big Ten Champions: 1950, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1981

    Golf: women

  • NCAA Championship : 2009 – María Hernández
  • NCAA National Champions: 2010
  • Big Ten Champions: 2000, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013

    Soccer: women

  • Big Ten tournament Champions: 2007

    Softball

  • Women's College World Series appearance: 1972