1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season

1996 Purdue Boilermakers football

Conference| Big Ten Conference
Record| 3–8 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach|

* Jim Colletto (6th season)

Offensive coordinator| Tim Salem (2nd season)
Offensive scheme| Pro set
Co-defensive coordinator| Bob Morris (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator| Ty Smith (1st season)
Base defense| 4–3
MVP| Brian Alford
Captain| Jon Krick, Emmett Zitelli
Home stadium| Ross–Ade Stadium

Seasons

<- 1995

1997 ->

1996 Big Ten Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 2 Ohio State \+  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 1  |
No. 15 Northwestern \+  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
No. 7 Penn State |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 2  |
No. 18 Iowa |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
No. 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

The 1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Jim Colletto in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing eighth in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Purdue started the season 0–3, averaging under seven points per game. Over the final eight games the Boilermakers went 3–5, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the 12 straight season. The Boilermakers also failed to win a road game.

Brian Alford received numerous postseason accolades, including First Team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media, and broke the 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, none of the Boilermakers were selected in the 1997 NFL draft, Zitelli signed as an undrafted free agent.

## Preseason

[edit]

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 11th straight year. The Boilermakers struggled to win games, facing what was rated as the third 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 successfully 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

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

August 31| 12:30 pm| at Michigan State|

* Spartan Stadium
* East Lansing, MI

| ESPN| L 14–52| 72,511|
September 14| 2:30 pm| at No. 9 Notre Dame*|

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| NBC| L 0–35| 59,075|
September 21| 7:00 pm| West Virginia*|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN

| | L 6–20| 39,445| [5]
September 28| 12:00 pm| NC State*|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN

| ESPN Plus| W 42–21| 39,739| [6]
October 5| 2:00 pm| Minnesota|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN

| | W 30–27| 45,805|
October 12| 12:30 pm| at No. 10 Penn State|

* Beaver Stadium
* University Park, PA

| ESPN| L 14–31| 96,653|
October 19| 3:30 pm| No. 2 Ohio State|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN

| ABC| L 14–42| 58,323|
November 2| 12:30 pm| at Wisconsin|

* Camp Randall Stadium
* Madison, WI

| ESPN| L 25–33| 78,330|
November 9| 12:30 pm| No. 9 Michigan|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN

| ESPN2| W 9–3| 39,328|
November 16| 12:00 pm| at No. 13 Northwestern|

* Dyche Stadium
* Evanston, IL

| | L 24–27| 41,178|
November 23| 1:00 pm| Indiana|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)

| | L 16–33| 49,197|

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[7]

## Roster

[edit]

1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

WR | `1` | Donald Winston | Fr
QB | `3` | John Reeves |  So
WR | `5` | Willie Tillman | Jr
WR | `6` | Isaac Jones | Jr
QB | `12` | Billy Dicken |  Jr
QB | `13` | Rick Trefzger | Sr
FB | `16` | Eric Haddad | Jr
WR | `20` | Chris Daniels |  Fr
WR | `24` | Kirk Olivadotti | Sr
RB | `25` | Curtis Taylor | Jr
FB | `36` | Edwin Watson | Jr
FB | `37` | Dartanian Sanders | Sr
RB | `43` | Kendall Matthews | Sr
FB | `45` | Cullen Bryant Jr. | Fr
OT | `52` | Nick Sweeney | So
OT | `54` | Mark Fischer | Sr
G | `56` | Chukky Okobi | Fr
C | `63` | Jim Niedrach | So
G | `72` | Emmett Zitelli | Sr
OT | `73` | David Cohen | So
G | `74` | Wayne Finchum | So
G | `76` | Dan Maly | So
C | `78` | Brian Nicely | So
OT | `79` | Chad Manning | So
WR | `80` | Brian Alford |  Jr
TE | `81` | Brandon Jewell | Sr
TE | `90` | Pete VanderWeele | Jr
TE | `91` | Matt Light | Fr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

FS | `2` | Derrick Brown | Jr
CB | `4` | Derrick Winston | Sr
SS | `7` | Adrian Beasley | So
DB | `10` | Lee Brush | Jr
FS | `11` | Michael Hawthorne | So
CB | `14` | Jamel Coleman | Jr
LB | `19` | Joe Hagins | Sr
DB | `22` | Lamar Conard | Fr
SS | `23` | Willie Burroughs | Jr
CB | `27` | Willie Washington | Fr
LB | `28` | Mike Rose | Fr
DB | `29` | Reggie Johnson |
LB | `32` | Noble Jones | So
LB | `34` | Chike Okeafor | Jr
CB | `38` | Bryce Gillins | Fr
LB | `29` | Nick Zitelli |
DB | `46` | Glenn Davis |
LB | `48` | Chris Koeppen | Sr
DE | `49` | Chukie Nwokorie | So
LB | `51` | Troy Bacon |
DT | `53` | Jon Krick | Sr
LB | `57` | Ray Lee | So
DE | `58` | Craig Williams | Sr
DE | `59` | Rosevelt Colvin | So
DT | `71` | Anthony Gutwein | Jr
DE | `82` | David Nugent | Fr
LB | `86` | Scott Dobbins |
DT | `97` | Greg Smith | Sr
DT | `98` | Leo Perez | Sr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

PK | `17` | Chris Arnce | Jr
P | `26` | Danny Rogers | Fr
P | `29` | Brandon Kaser | So
PK | `96` | Shane Ryan | Fr

Head coach

* Jim Colletto

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Tim Salem (offensive coordinator)
* Bob Morris (co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs)
* Ty Smith (co-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)
* Kurt Van Valkenburgh (defensive backs)

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## Depth chart

[edit]

Defense

[8]

| FS

Derrick Brown
Michael Hawthorne

| WLB | MLB | SLB

|
|

⋅ | Chris Koeppen  | ⋅
Noble Jones  | Ray Lee  | ⋅
| 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

Offense

[9]
| WR

Brian Alford
Kirk Olivadotti
|  | LT | LG | C | RG | RT

|
|
|
|

Mark Fischer | Wayne Finchum  | Brian Nicely  | 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
|  |

## Game summaries

[edit]

### NC State

[edit]

* Edwin Watson 29 rushes, 227 yards

### Minnesota

[edit]

* Kendall Matthews 30 rushes, 131 yards

### Michigan

[edit]

See also: 1996 Michigan Wolverines football team

#9 Michigan at Purdue  |  | 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

| Scoring summary

2| 7:22| Purdue| Shane Ryan 28 yard field goal| Purdue 3-0
3| 10:07| Michigan| Remy Hamilton 21 yard field goal| Tie 3-3
4| 7:20| Purdue| Brian Alford 5 yard pass from Rick Trefzger (kick failed)| Purdue 9-3

Purdue's first win versus Michigan since 1984

## Statistics

[edit]

### Passing

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 |

[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1995 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". www.sports-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
2. ^ "Tim Salem Bio". www.fightingillini.com. University of Illinois-Champaign. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
3. ^ Andrew Bagnato (November 5, 1996). "Purdue's Colletto 2nd Coach To Exit Big Ten Within Week". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
4. ^ Geoff Mosher (August 29, 1996). "Boiling point". ww.collegian.psu.edu. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
5. ^ "Purdue's offense feels mountain of W. Va. pressure". The Indianapolis Star. September 22, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Reeves, Watson key easy Purdue victory". The South Bend Tribune. September 29, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 93. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
8. ^ "Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
9. ^ "Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
10. ^ "1996 Purdue football final statistics". Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.

* v
* t
* e

Purdue Boilermakers football

Venues|

* Stuart Field (1892–1924)
* Ross–Ade Stadium (1924–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Chicago (defunct)
* Illinois
* Indiana: Old Oaken Bucket
* Notre Dame

Culture & lore|

* Boilermaker Special
* Cradle of Quarterbacks
* Purdue Pete
* Purdue Wreck
* "Hail Purdue!"
* All-American Marching Band

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number