American college football season
The 1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by third-year head coach Fred Akers , the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing eighth in the Big Ten. It was Purdue's fifth straight losing season. The team played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana .
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 9 Miami (OH) * W 27–1038,840 September 16 at No. 15 Washington * L 9–3866,392 September 30 12:00 p.m. No. 1 Notre Dame * Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry ) ABC L 7–4067,861 October 7 at Minnesota L 15–3536,621 October 14 No. 16 Illinois Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry ) L 2–1441,101 October 21 at Ohio State L 3–2189,091 October 28 Michigan State Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN L 21–2841,402 November 4 1:00 p.m. at No. 4 Michigan L 27–42105,128 November 11 Northwestern Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN W 46–1531,470 November 18 Iowa Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN L 0–2431,863 November 25 at Indiana W 15–1451,502 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 1] [ 2]
1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
FB
38
Mike Doctor So
OL
Bruce Brinerman
OL
Jason Cegielski
FB
34
Earl Coleman Fr
OL
Scott Conover
RB
Don Delvy
WR
Rodney Dennis Fr
OL
Bob Dressel
RB
Adoaf Harris
OL
Bill Hitchcock
WR
Abe Hoskins Fr
QB
9
Eric Hunter Fr
WR
Kipp Koonce
QB
Jeff Lesniewicz RFr
QB
14
Steve Letnich
WR
Danny Lounsbury
TE
Dwayne O'Connor
WR
Robert Oglesby
TE
Andy Ozlowski
OL
Derick Schmidt
RB
Jerome Sparkman
OL
Larry Taylor
TE
Kelly Turner
RB
Tony Vinson Fr
WR
Jim Wallace
WR
Calvin Williams Sr
OL
Jeff Wormsley
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
LB
Eric Beatty
DL
Kris Burns
OL
Dennis Dotson
CB
Steve Jackson Jr
DB
Terry Johnson
CB
Derrick Kelson Sr
DL
Frank Kmet
DL
Ken Kushner
DL
Donzel Leggett
DB
Nat Martin
DL
Peyton Minter
S
Jarrett Scales
OLB
Jim Schwantz So
ILB
Darren Trieb Jr
DB
Sean Washington Fr
DL
Jeff Zgonina
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
Brian Fox transferred after spring practice to Florida , citing a desire to be closer to home and head coach Fred Akers ' adjustment of the offensive scheme.[ 3]
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
ND – Jeff Alm 16-yard interception return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:44. Notre Dame 21–0.
ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:35. Notre Dame 28–0.
ND – Ricky Watters 1-yard run (kick failed), 0:14. Notre Dame 34–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
ND – Craig Hentrich 19-yard field goal, 9:47. Notre Dame 37–0.
ND – Craig Hentrich 22-yard field goal, 6:18. Notre Dame 40–0.
PUR – Rodney Dennis 3-yard pass from Steve Letnich (Larry Sullivan kick), 0:33. Notre Dame 40–7.
Top passers ND – Tony Rice – 12/15, 270 yards
PUR – Steve Letnich – 11/28, 89 yards, INT Top rushers ND – Tony Rice – 12 rushes, 67 yards, TD
PUR – Steve Letnich – 13 rushes, 50 yards Top receivers ND – Derek Brown – 4 receptions, 101 yards
PUR – Earl Coleman – 2 receptions, 32 yards
Larry Sullivan tied a school record with 51-yard field goal
Darren Trieb was suspended for the game for violation of team rules[ 5]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Jeff Lesniewicz
13/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing
Receiving
Minnesota
Passing
Scott Schaffner
9/19, 144 Yds, 2 TD
Rushing
Marcus Evans
102 Yds, TD
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
PUR
MINN
1
Minnesota
Darrell Thompson 7-yard touchdown run, kick good
0
7
2
Purdue
51-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
3
7
2
4:16
84
Minnesota
Marcus Evans 2-yard touchdown run, kick good
3
14
3
2
Minnesota
James King 34-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good
3
21
3
Minnesota
Shane Strain 32-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good
3
28
4
Minnesota
Marquel Fleetwood 3-yard touchdown run, kick good
3
35
4
5:17
Purdue
Jerome Sparkman 20-yard touchdown run, 2-point conversion failed
9
35
4
0:00
Purdue
Rod Dennis 37-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, 2-point conversion failed
15
35
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
15
35
Jeff Lesniewicz made his first career start for Purdue[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
We feel real good about ourselves. All we did was read in the paper all week was that we were going to lose by 32 points, and Jeff George was going to come in and do his thing.
Darrin Trieb
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Illinois
Passing
Jeff George 24/42, 254 Yds, TD
Rushing
Howard Griffith 24 Rush, 94 Yds, TD
Receiving
Purdue
Passing
Jeff Lesniewicz
9/22, 82 Yds
Rushing
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
ILL
PUR
1
9:49
16
80
Illinois
Frank Hartley 3-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George , kick good
7
0
4
12:13
Purdue
Safety, Craig Davisson blocked punt by Brian Menkhausen out of end zone
7
2
4
0:36
80
Illinois
Howard Griffith 1-yard touchdown run, kick good
14
2
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
14
2
Purdue Boilermakers (1–4) at Ohio State Buckeyes (3–2)
at Ohio Stadium , Columbus, Ohio
Date : October 21Game time : 1:30 p.m.Game weather : Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)Game attendance : 89,091Referee : Jim KemerlingBox Score
Game information
First quarter OSU – Greg Frey 4-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 11:40. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 26 yards, 0:53.
OSU – Carlos Snow 1-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 3:59. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:43. Second quarter Third quarter OSU – Carlos Snow 3-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 9:50. Ohio St 21–0. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 0:59.
PUR – Larry Sullivan 25-yard field goal, 5:35. Ohio St 21–3. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 4:15. Fourth quarter
Top passers PUR – Eric Hunter – 6/16, 147 yards
OSU – Greg Frey – 3/9, 47 yards Top rushers PUR – Jerome Sparkman – 18 rushes, 85 yards
OSU – Carlos Snow – 18 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD Top receivers PUR – Jerome Sparkman – 6 receptions, 86 yards
OSU – Jeff Graham – 2 receptions, 37 yards
Homecoming[ 10]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Michigan St
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Courtney Hawkins 7 Rec, 193 Yds, TD
Purdue
Passing
Eric Hunter
18/26, 253 Yds, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Receiving
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
MSU
PUR
3
Michigan St
Courtney Hawkins 80-yard touchdown reception from Dan Enos , kick good
14
0
4
Purdue
Calvin Williams -yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
28
7
4
5
69
Purdue
Rod Dennis 20-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
28
14
4
2
41
Purdue
Abe Hoskins 34-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
28
21
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
28
21
[ 11]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Eric Hunter
27/42, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Jerome Sparkman
11 Rush, 50 Yds
Receiving
Calvin Williams 13 Rec, 156 Yds, 3 TD
Michigan
Passing
Michael Taylor 8/13, 124 Yds, TD
Rushing
Tony Boles 13 Rush, 80 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving
Chris Calloway 3 Rec, 68 Yds, TD
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
PU
UM
1
9:16
4
77
1:23
Michigan
Tony Boles 39-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good
0
7
2
12:50
3
9
1:17
Michigan
Desmond Howard 8-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor , J.D. Carlson kick good
0
14
2
5:46
8
77
3:25
Purdue
Calvin Williams 44-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
7
14
2
2:31
8
80
3:15
Michigan
Tony Boles 1-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good
7
21
2
0:09
5
79
0:55
Michigan
Chris Calloway 29-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac , J.D. Carlson kick good
7
28
3
1:10
3
16
0:57
Michigan
Leroy Hoard 2-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good
7
35
4
13:03
1
11
0:06
Purdue
Robert Oglesby 11-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
14
35
4
12:52
Michigan
Kickoff returned 85 yards for touchdown by Tony Boles, J.D. Carlson kick good
14
42
4
6:48
3
34
1:19
Purdue
Calvin Williams 3-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
21
42
4
2:33
4
61
1:14
Purdue
Calvin Williams 15-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick no good (wide right)
27
42
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
27
42
Purdue snapped a streak of 10 straight games without a first quarter point.[ 13]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Tim O'Brien
15/40, 213 Yds, 2 TD
Rushing
Bob Christian
21 Rush, 59 Yds
Receiving
Purdue
Passing
Eric Hunter
11/24, 263 Yds, 3 TD
Rushing
Eric Hunter
9 Rush, 55 Yds
Receiving
Rod Dennis
4 Rec, 146 Yds, 3 TD
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
NW
PUR
1
13:25
Purdue
Blocked punt returned 35 yards for touchdown by Rick Smith, Larry Sullivan kick good
0
7
1
2:02
Purdue
37-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
0
10
1
Purdue
Rod Dennis 39-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
0
17
1
2
Purdue
Larry Coleman 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good
0
25
1
1:02
Purdue
Rod Dennis 46-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
0
32
2
7:38
Northwestern
Richard Buchanan 13-yard touchdown reception from Tim O'Brien, kick good
7
32
3
6:32
Northwestern
Greg Fischer 6-yard touchdown reception from Tim O'Brien, 2-point pass good
15
32
4
11:23
Purdue
Calvin Williams 44-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good
15
39
4
1:51
Purdue
Rod Dennis 57-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, Larry Sullivan kick good
15
46
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
15
46
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Larry Sullivan kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:51 left and Scott Bonnell missed a 26-yard field goal for Indiana with 1:29 remaining.
[ 15] [ 16]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Eric Hunter
15/24, 184 Yds, TD
Rushing
Tony Vinson 9 Rush, 28 Yds
Receiving
Rod Dennis
4 Rec, 81 Yds
Indiana
Passing
Dave Schnell
11/21, 99 Yds
Rushing
Anthony Thompson 28 Rush, 97 Yds
Receiving
Anthony Thompson
4 Rec, 28 Yds
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
PUR
IU
2
Indiana
Dave Schnell 3-yard touchdown run, Scott Bonnell kick no good
Indiana
26-yard field goal by Scott Bonnell
Indiana
Safety, Jeff Zgonina snapped ball out of end zone
Purdue
24-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
3
1:11
Indiana
27-yard field goal by Scott Bonnell
3
14
4
14:42
8
79
Purdue
Calvin Williams 20-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, 2-point pass failed
9
14
4
11:23
3
Purdue
29-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
12
14
4
2:51
Purdue
32-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan
15
14
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
15
14
Eric Hunter
Big Ten Freshman of the Year[ 17]
^ 1989 Purdue Football Schedule ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF) . Purdue University Athletics. p. 91. Retrieved February 3, 2023 .^ "QB Fox Leaving Purdue for Florida" . South Florida Sun Sentinel . Orlando Sentinel. June 14, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2022 .^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15" . UPI Archives . October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022 .^ Matt Youmans (October 11, 1989). "Loss to Minnesota sidelines key PU starters" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Slater, Jim (October 14, 1989). "Illinois 14, Purdue 2" . UPI Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Tatlock, David (October 16, 1989). "Purdue Defense Shines in Loss" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Youmans, Matt (October 16, 1989). "Boiler Defense Goes to Waste as Illinois Wins" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Bedics, Mark (October 30, 1989). "Rally Leaves Spartans Grateful" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Bedics, Mark (October 30, 1989). "Rally Leaves Spartans Grateful" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 23, 2022 . ^ Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
^ Tatlock, David (November 13, 1989). "Purdue Collects First Big Ten Win, 46-15" . Purdue University Archives & Special Editions . The Purdue Exponent. Retrieved December 22, 2022 . ^ Cook, Bob (November 11, 1989). "Purdue 46, Northwestern 15" . UPI Archives . Retrieved December 22, 2022 . ^ Slater, Jim (November 25, 1989). "Purdue 15, Indiana 14" . UPI Archives . Retrieved December 25, 2022 . ^ "Upset of IU in 1989 Bucket game shows anything is possible" . Rivals.com . December 8, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2022 .^ Youmans, Matt (November 27, 1989). "PU Plays 'Spoilermaker' in 15-14 Win Over IU" . The Purdue Exponent Archives . Retrieved December 25, 2022 . ^ Daily Press. 1990 Oct 24. Retrieved 2014-Oct-20.
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