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Aug. 26, 2002

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Purdue Boilermakers (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0-0, 0-0 Gateway)
Ross-Ade Stadium (66,295) - West Lafayette, Indiana
August 31, 2002 - 1 p.m. EST

ALL-TIME RECORD: 522-447-48 (.537) - 115th season BIG TEN RECORD: 280-312-32 (.474) - 107th season

PROJECTED ATTENDANCE: 45,000-50,000

RADIO: Boilermaker Sports Network (Flagship - WAZY, 96.5 FM, West Lafayette) - Joe McConnell (play-by-play), Pete Quinn (color commentary), Brett Schetzsle (sideline), Tim Newton (pregame/halftime/postgame)

TELEVISION: none

A LOOK AT THE BOILERMAKERS: The Purdue football team, under sixth-year head coach Joe Tiller, opens the 2002 season against Illinois State on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. The Boilermakers posted a 6-6 record in 2001 (4-4 Big Ten Conference - tied for fourth place) after losing to No. 13 Washington State 33-27 in the Sun Bowl. Purdue is one of merely two schools in the Big Ten Conference and one of only 13 nationally to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons. Illinois State is an NCAA Division I-AA school that competes in the Gateway Football Conference.

IF THE BOILERMAKERS WIN ...
* They will snap a three-game losing streak (the longest under head coach Joe Tiller), dating to last season.
* They will win their fourth straight season opener and improve to 4-2 in opening games under Tiller.
* They will improve to 26-5 at home in the friendly confines of Ross-Ade Stadium under Tiller.

HEAD COACH JOE TILLER: Joe Tiller is in his sixth season as head coach at Purdue with a 39-22 record (.639 winning percentage) and his 12th season as a collegiate head coach with a 78-52-1 record (.599 winning percentage). He is 26-14 in Big Ten Conference games (.650 winning percentage). Tiller was named Purdue's 33rd head coach on Nov. 22, 1996. Taking the reins of a program that had just one winning season and no bowl game appearances since 1984, he has engineered five consecutive winning regular seasons and bowl berths. Tiller was the head coach at Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and compiled a 39-30-1 record (.564 winning percentage). He was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Boilermakers from 1983 to 1986 (under head coach Leon Burtnett). Tiller is signed through the 2007 campaign.

TILLER'S TRIUMPHS: In five seasons under head coach Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers have won a total of 39 games (9 in 1997, 9 in 1998, 7 in 1999, 8 in 2000 and 6 in 2001). In the previous 10 seasons (1987-96), Purdue managed 33 victories (against 73 losses and four ties).

AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: The Boilermakers have played in five bowl games in as many years under head coach Joe Tiller. They played in the Alamo Bowl in 1997 and 1998, the 2000 Outback Bowl, the 2001 Rose Bowl and the 2001 Sun Bowl. Purdue is one of merely two schools in the Big Ten Conference and one of only 13 nationally to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons.

2002 ROSTER: Purdue's 103-player roster consists of 13 seniors (11 fifth-year), 26 juniors, 16 sophomores, 22 redshirt freshmen and 26 true freshmen. There are 17 offensive linemen, 17 wide receivers, 15 defensive backs, 11 linebackers, nine running backs, nine defensive ends, seven defensive tackles, six kickers/punters, five quarterbacks, five tight ends and two long snappers. The players hail from 20 different states. There are 29 from Indiana; 19 from Texas; 13 from Ohio; seven from Illinois; five from Florida; four from Connecticut, Michigan and New Jersey; three from Pennsylvania; two from California, Kansas, New York and Wisconsin; and one from Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington and Wyoming.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD: Purdue and Illinois State have met once previously, with the Boilermakers winning 28-0 in West Lafayette on Oct. 2, 1897. Famed aviator Amelia Earhart, who served as a part-time career counselor for women at Purdue, was born July 24, 1897. The Purdue Research Foundation helped fund her 1937 attempt to fly around the world.

STRAIGHT AA'S: The Boilermakers are 1-0 all-time against NCAA Division I-AA schools. They defeated Indiana State 41-13 on Sept. 22, 1990, in West Lafayette. Division I was divided into I-A and I-AA in 1978.

SEASON OPENERS: The Boilermakers have a 65-43-6 record in season openers. They are 3-2 in such games under head coach Joe Tiller, losing at Toledo 36-22 in 1997, losing at USC 27-17 in 1998, winning at Central Florida 47-13 in 1999, beating Central Michigan 48-0 at home in 2000 and winning at Cincinnati 19-14 in 2001.

HOME OPENERS: Purdue is 75-35-4 in home-opening games, including 5-0 under head coach Joe Tiller. The Boilermakers defeated Notre Dame 28-17 in 1997, Rice 21-19 in 1998, Notre Dame 28-23 in 1999, Central Michigan 48-0 in 2000 and Akron 33-14 in 2001.

DOG DAYS OF AUGUST: The Boilermakers are playing in August for just the fourth time in school history. Previously, they played at Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, 1985 (31-30 loss), at Michigan State on Aug. 31, 1996 (52-14 loss), and at USC on Aug. 30, 1998 (17-27 loss).

FAB FIVE: The Boilermakers' 39 wins over the last five years represent the second-best five-year span in school history. Purdue won 40 games from 1965 to 1969.

BURGEONING BIG TEN POWER: Over the last five seasons, only Michigan has won more Big Ten Conference games than Purdue (33-26). Ohio State and Wisconsin also have posted 26 conference victories. In overall games during that period, the Boilermakers rank fourth with 39 wins behind Michigan (49), Wisconsin (43) and Ohio State (42).

POLLING PLACE: The Boilermakers have been ranked in the Associated Press poll 49 weeks (out of 84 possible) under head coach Joe Tiller. That total stands as the second-most by any Purdue coach. Hall of Famer Jack Mollenkopf was on the sidelines for 80 ranked weeks from 1956 to 1969, including five at No. 1 during the 1968 season. Purdue has been ranked 207 weeks in its history, dating to 1936.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: The Boilermakers are 30-7 against unranked opponents under head coach Joe Tiller.

TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS: Purdue has a 9-15 record against ranked opponents under head coach Joe Tiller. The Boilermakers are 2-2 against top five teams, 3-6 against top 10 teams, 4-9 against top 15 teams and 7-9 and top 20 teams.

DEFENDING OUR TURF: Under head coach Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers have a 25-5 record at home in Ross-Ade Stadium. They are 19-1 against unranked opponents and 6-4 against ranked opponents.

ROAD RECORD: The Boilermakers have a 12-14 record in road games under head coach Joe Tiller and a 2-3 mark in neutral site games.

THE BOILERMAKERS TAKETH AWAY: Purdue led the Big Ten and tied for eighth in the nation with a plus-1.09 turnover margin per game during the 2001 regular season (36 takeaways and 24 giveaways). The Boilermakers and Fresno State tied for second nationally with 36 takeaways, while Purdue and Miami (Fla.) tied for second with 18 fumbles recovered. Hawaii led with 21 fumbles recovered, and Miami (Fla.) led with 45 takeaways and a plus-2.36 turnover margin per game.

STU'S NEWS: Junior free safety Stuart Schweigert is a candidate for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player) and the Jim Thorpe Award (outstanding defensive back), as well as All-America honors. He has led the Boilermakers in tackles and interceptions the last two years and already has tied the school career record with 11 interceptions. Media and fans can keep up to date on Schweigert on the World Wide Web at www.stuartschweigert.com.

STU STUFF: Stuart Schweigert tied the Purdue career record with his 11th interception vs. Michigan State on Nov. 17, 2001. He had six interceptions for the season, tied for third on the school list. He tied for second in the Big Ten with 0.50 interceptions per game and tied for fifth with three forced fumbles. His average of 0.55 interceptions during the regular season was tied for seventh in the nation. Schweigert was one of 12 semifinalists (the only sophomore) for the Thorpe Award.

A SECOND HELPING OF STU: Stuart Schweigert preserved two Purdue victories in 2001 with interceptions in the end zone - at Cincinnati on Sept. 2 with 36 seconds remaining and at Minnesota on Sept. 29 in overtime.

ORTON ON THE OFFENSIVE: Quarterback Kyle Orton, who started the last three games of the 2001 season, completed 38 of 74 passes for 419 yards vs. Washington State in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. The 74 attempts are the second-most in Purdue history and the most ever in NCAA bowl annals. The 38 completions rank third in school history and tied for sixth in bowl history, while the 419 yards rank 10th in school history and 17th in bowl history. Overall for the season, Orton completed 107 of 216 passes (49.5 percent) for 1,105 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

LOWE RIDER: Senior running back Montrell Lowe ranks third on the Purdue career rushing attempts list with 582 and fifth on the rushing yards list with 2,479. He is tied for 10th with 15 rushing touchdowns, 16th with 2,568 all-purpose yards, 20th with 2,510 yards total offense and tied for 20th with 15 total touchdowns.

O-LINE FIXTURE: Entering the 2002 season, senior Gene Mruczkowski has made 36 career starts (12 at left guard in 1999, 12 at left guard in 2002 and 12 at center in 2001). That total is the second-most among all offensive linemen in the nation behind Marshall senior tackle Steve Sciullo with 39.

STAND UP FOR STANDEFORD: Junior wide receiver John Standeford is on pace to set the Purdue career record for receptions and figures to make a run at the receiving yards mark, as well. He currently ranks 14th with 114 receptions and 19th with 1,331 receiving yards. The records are 204 receptions by Tim Stratton and 3,029 yards by Brian Alford.

TAYLOR THE TERRIFIC: Taylor Stubblefield paced Purdue with 73 catches for 910 yards in 2001. The 73 receptions rank fourth on the school season list. Stubblefield's average of 6.1 receptions per game ranked third in the Big Ten. Against Washington State in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, Stubblefield had 196 receiving yards (on nine catches), the fifth-most in Purdue history.

BALL HOGS: Linebacker Niko Koutouvides and defensive end Shaun Phillips both came up with four fumble recoveries to share the Big Ten lead in 2001.

GOOD AS GOLD: Head coach Joe Tiller wants Ross-Ade Stadium to be a "sea of gold" during the 2002 season. His team will do its part by wearing new gold jerseys. The jerseys, designed by Nike, feature white numerals outlined in black on the front, back and shoulders. The Purdue train logo is on both sleeves, and a Big Ten Conference logo is on the right front. With the gold jerseys, the Boilermakers will don white pants with a black stripe down both legs and the train logo on the left thigh. For road games, Purdue will have new Nike jerseys that are white with gold numerals outlined in black, and gold pants with black stripes. The home and road jerseys and pants will feature the same logos. The Boilermakers will continue to sport their same gold helmets with a black "P" logo. In the past, Purdue has worn black jerseys at home. The Boilermakers last donned gold in Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 12, 1986, against intrastate rival Indiana (a 17-15 victory). Before that, they had not worn gold since the late 1940s.

REMAKING ROSS-ADE: Year two of a three-year renovation project is complete on Ross-Ade Stadium, the home of the Boilermakers since 1924. Highlights of the renovation to date include new seating and handrails in the north bend; wider concourses on the north and west sides; new concession and restroom buildings; new sound system; the relocation of Beering Drive and University Avenue; and the seven-story pavilion on the west side that houses club seating, suites, press box and photo deck. Capacity for the 2002 season is 66,295. Following the current campaign, aisles will be widened and new seating installed on the east and west sides, the east concourse will be widened and the entire field will be resodded. For more on the renovation, see pages 14-15 of the 2002 Purdue Football Information Guide.