1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team

1984 Purdue Boilermakers football
Peach Bowl, L 24–27 vs. Virginia
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	7–5 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Leon Burtnett (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Jim Colletto (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Tiller (2nd season)
MVP	Jim Everett
Captains	Bruce King Brian Thornson
Home stadium	Ross–Ade Stadium
Seasons ← 1983 1985 →

1984 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 Ohio State $	7	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Illinois	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Purdue	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
No. 16 Iowa	5	–	3	–	1			8	–	4	–	1
Wisconsin	5	–	3	–	1			7	–	4	–	1
Michigan State	5	–	4	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
Michigan	5	–	4	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
Minnesota	3	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Indiana	0	–	9	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1984 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by third-year head coach Leon Burtnett, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 6–3 in conference play, tying for second place in the Big Ten. Purdue was invited to the Peach Bowl, where the Boilermakers lost to Virginia. The team played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermakers defeated Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Michigan in the same season for the first and only time in college football history.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	vs. No. 8 Notre Dame*		Hoosier Dome Indianapolis, IN (rivalry)	W 23–21	60,672	[1]
September 15	No. 5 Miami (FL)*		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	L 17–28	56,761	[2]
September 22	Minnesota		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	W 34–10	61,538	[3]
September 29	at Michigan State		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 13–10	64,819	[4]
October 6	No. 2 Ohio State		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	W 28–23	66,261	[5]
October 13	Iowa	No. 14	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	L 3–40	66,359	[6]
October 20	at Illinois		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	L 20–34	76,101	[7]
October 27	at Northwestern		Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 49–7	28,884	[8]
November 3	Michigan		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	W 31–29	60,159	[9]
November 10	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 13–30	72,292	[10]
November 17	Indiana		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)	W 31–24	69,236	[11]
December 31	vs. Virginia*		Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Atlanta, GA (Peach Bowl)	L 24–27	45,983	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[13]

Game summaries

vs Notre Dame

See also: 1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	3	10	3	7	23
Notre Dame	14	0	0	7	21

at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: September 8, 1984
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 60,672
• Recap/Box Score

Game information

First quarter PUR – Mike Rendina 31-yard field goal, 13:16. Purdue 3–0. Drive: 3 plays, -1 yard, 1:38. ND – Allen Pinkett 11-yard run (John Carney kick), 7:55. Notre Dame 7–3. Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 5:21. ND – Mark Brooks 3-yard run (John Carney kick), 1:39. Notre Dame 14–3. Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:12. Second quarter PUR – Jeff Price 6-yard pass from Jim Everett, 10:11. Notre Dame 14–10. Drive: 14 plays, 86 yards, 6:28. PUR – Mike Rendina 18-yard field goal, 0:00. Notre Dame 14–13. Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 5:59. Third quarter PUR – Mike Rendina 20-yard field goal, 3:47. Purdue 16–14. Drive: 13 plays, 92 yards, 5:54. Fourth quarter PUR – Jeff Price 14-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 13:57. Purdue 23–14. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:32. ND – Allen Pinkett 6-yard run (John Carney kick), 4:21. Purdue 23–21. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:16. Top passers PUR – Jim Everett – 20/28, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT ND – Steve Beuerlein – 13/20, 233 yards, 3 INT Top rushers PUR – Rodney Carter – 22 rushes, 58 yards ND – Allen Pinkett – 22 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD Top receivers PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 79 yards ND – Joe Howard – 3 receptions, 61 yards

^[14]

External videos
Television broadcast

Miami (FL)

Miami (FL) at Purdue

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• No.5 Hurricanes	7	7	14	0	28
Boilermakers	10	7	0	0	17

• Date: September 14
• Location: Ross–Ade Stadium

Scoring summary

1		MIA	Highsmith 47-yard run (Cox kick)	MIA 7–0
1		PUR	Rendina 32-yard field goal	MIA 7–3
1		PUR	Wallace 4-yard run (Rendina kick)	PUR 10–3
2		MIA	Oliver 2-yard run (Cox kick)	Tie 10–10
2		PUR	Wallace 2-yard run (Rendina kick)	PUR 13–10
3		MIA	Kosar 1-yard run (Cox kick)	MIA 17–13
3		MIA	Highsmith 6-yard run (Cox kick)	MIA 24–13

See also: 1984 Miami Hurricanes football team

Minnesota

See also: 1984 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

• Ray Wallace 32 rushes, 158 yards

Michigan State

• Jim Everett 27/42, 335 yards

Ohio State

See also: 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Purdue Boilermakers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	7	3	7	6	23
Purdue	7	0	7	14	28

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: October 6, 1984
• Game time: 1:31 p.m.
• Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
• Game attendance: 66,261
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter PUR – Steve Griffin 20-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:00. Purdue 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:00. OSU – Keith Byars 20-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 4:09. Tie 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 29 yards, 0:50. Second quarter OSU – Rich Spangler 34-yard field goal, 0:02. Ohio St 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 0:26. Third quarter OSU – Keith Byars 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 17–7. Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:20. PUR – Steve Griffin 65-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), Ohio St 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:54. Fourth quarter PUR – Bruce King 4-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:03. Purdue 21–17. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:43. PUR – Rod Woodson 55-yard interception return (Mike Rendina kick), 10:03. Purdue 28–17. OSU – Cris Carter 5-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (run failed), 2:35. Purdue 28–23. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 0:52. Top passers OSU – Mike Tomczak – 20/41, 280 yards, TD, 2 INT PUR – Jim Everett – 17/23, 257 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers OSU – Keith Byars – 30 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TD PUR – Ray Wallace – 20 rushes, 89 yards Top receivers OSU – Keith Byars – 9 receptions, 102 yards PUR – Steve Griffin – 6 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD

Iowa

Iowa at Purdue

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Hawkeyes	6	13	21	0	40
No. 14 Boilermakers	3	0	0	0	3

• Date: October 13
• Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Game attendance: 66,359
• Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), Cloudy with scattered showers, Wind SSW 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Referee: Jim Kemerling

Scoring summary

Q1	3:52	IOWA	Smith 51-yard pass from Long (kick failed)	IOWA 6–0
Q1	0:48	PUR	Rendina 32-yard field goal	IOWA 6–3
Q2	9:00	IOWA	Nichol 22-yard field goal	IOWA 9–3
Q2	3:03	IOWA	Helverson 56-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick)	IOWA 16–3
Q2	0:03	IOWA	Nichol 38-yard field goal	IOWA 19–3
Q3	7:49	IOWA	Smith 31-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick)	IOWA 26–3
Q3	4:20	IOWA	Smith 38-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick)	IOWA 33–3
Q3	3:31	IOWA	Harmon 3-yard run (Nichol kick)	IOWA 40–3

See also: 1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Iowa won in West Lafayette for the first time since 1956, snapping a 12-game losing skid at Ross–Ade Stadium.^[15]

Illinois

See also: 1984 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Northwestern

See also: 1984 Northwestern Wildcats football team

• Jim Everett 25/35, 312 yards

Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	0	0	7	22	29
• Purdue	7	17	0	7	31

• Date: November 3
• Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Source: [1]

Scoring summary

1		PUR	Beery 2-yard pass from Everett (Rendina kick)	PUR 7-0
2		PUR	Price 6-yard pass from Everett (Rendina kick)	PUR 14-0
2		PUR	Rendina 22-yard field goal	PUR 17-0
2		PUR	Medlock 1-yard run (Rendina kick)	PUR 24-0
3		MICH	Jokisch 15-yard pass from Zurbrugg (Bergeron kick)	PUR 24-7
4		PUR	Carter 16-yard run (Rendina kick)	PUR 31-7
4		MICH	Markray 13-yard pass from Zurbrugg (Bergeron kick)	PUR 31-14
4		MICH	Bean 15-yard pass from Zurbrugg (Zurbrugg to Bean pass)	PUR 31-22
4		MICH	Nelson 6-yard pass from Zurbrugg (Bergeron kick)	PUR 31-29

PUR: Steve Griffin 6 Rec, 112 yards

Wisconsin

• Jim Everett 23/49, 328 yards

Indiana

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Indiana	14	0	3	7	24
• Purdue	7	7	10	7	31

• Date: November 17
• Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Game attendance: 69,236

Scoring summary

Q1		IND	Allen 25-yard pass from Bradley (Rogers kick)	IND 7–0
Q1		IND	Lilja 3-yard pass from Bradley (Rogers kick)	IND 14–0
Q1		PUR	Carter 1-yard run (Rendina kick)	IND 14–7
Q2		PUR	Wallace 4-yard run (Rendina kick)	Tie 14–14
Q3		PUR	Rendina 25-yard field goal	PUR 17–14
Q3		IND	Rogers 26-yard field goal	Tie 17–17
Q3		PUR	Everett 1-yard run (Rendina kick)	PUR 24–17
Q4		PUR	Griffin 27-yard pass from Everett (Rendina kick)	PUR 31–17
Q4		IND	Jones 37-yard pass from Bradley (Rogers kick)	PUR 31–24

• A grass fire was reported in the end-zone during the game as a result of a warming barrel tipping over.^[16]
• Rodney Carter 23 rushes, 148 yards
• Steve Griffin 6 receptions, 103 yards
• Jason Houston 16 solo tackles

Vs. Virginia (Peach Bowl)

Main article: 1984 Peach Bowl

See also: 1984 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Roster

1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class OL Paul Alekna OL 77 John Morrell OL Drew Banks TE Jack Beery OL Jerry Boat WR Rick Brunner RB Rodney Carter QB Doug Downing OL Mark Drenth QB 11 Jim Everett Jr RB Jeff Feulner WR Steve Griffin OL Doug Isbell WR 84 Mark Jackson So OL Dave Jaumotte RB 37 Bruce King (C) Sr RB Lorenzo McCline RB James Medlock WR Jeff Price TE Brad Schumacher TE Marty Scott OL Rick Skibinski OL Pat Snyder RB Ray Wallace	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB Don Anderson DL Don Baldwin DB 19 Cris Dishman Fr DL Kevin Holley DL Brad Hornor LB Jason Houston (C) DB Jeff Lee DL 91 Melvin Menke (C) Sr LB Bill Mulchrone DB Tommy Lee Myers LB 48 Fred Strickland So LB 44 Kevin Sumlin So DL Tony Visco LB Merkle Williams DB Kennedy Wilson DB 13 Corey Cooper DL 99 Kevin Holley DL Derek Wimberly DB 26 Rod Woodson So DL Bob Ziltz	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Mike Rendina P Brian Thornson	Head coach Leon Burtnett Coordinators/assistant coaches Urban Bowman – Linebackers Jim Colletto Bill Doba Bob Spoo Joe Tiller Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

References

1. "Purdue shocks Irish, 23–21". The Miami Herald. September 9, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Miami drops Boilers' lift". The South Bend Tribune. September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Purdue tramples Minnesota". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "MSU offense fails, losing streak at 3". The Flint Journal. September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Boilermakers stun Ohio State". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 7, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Iowa upsets Purdue". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Illini bomb Boilers with bombs". The Dispatch. October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Purdue sharp in romp over Wildcats". Journal and Courier. October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Tommy George (November 4, 1984). "Purdue passes U-M, 31–29". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Badgers smash Purdue, 30–13". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Purdue falls behind 14–0 before rolling to 31–24 win over Indiana". The Waterloo Courier. November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Virginia rallies to beat Purdue". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. January 1, 1985. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 91. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
14. Gainesville Sun. 1984-Sep-09. Retrieved 2022-Nov-19.
15. "Iowa, Long destroy Purdue jinx". Chicago Tribune. October 14, 1984. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
16. Gainesville Sun. November 18, 1984