1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1996 Purdue Boilermakers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 3–8 2–6 Jim Colletto 6th Tim Salem 2nd Pro set Bob Morris 2nd Ty Smith 1st 4–3 Brian Alford Jon Krick Emmett Zitelli Ross–Ade Stadium 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. Schedule 1996 AP Eastern August 31 12:30 pm l y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN 14–52 72,511 September 14 2:30 pm l y y Notre Dame 9 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry NBC 0–35 59,075 September 21 7:00 pm l y West Virginia Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 6–20 39,445 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-purdues-offense-f/140696913/ The Indianapolis Star Purdue's offense feels mountain of W. Va. pressure September 22, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 28 12:00 pm w y NC State Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ESPN Plus 42–21 39,739 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-reeves-watson-ke/140687969/ The South Bend Tribune Reeves, Watson key easy Purdue victory September 29, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 5 2:00 pm w Minnesota Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 30–27 45,805 October 12 12:30 pm l y Penn State 10 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ESPN 14–31 96,653 October 19 3:30 pm l y Ohio State 2 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ABC 14–42 58,323 November 2 12:30 pm l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI ESPN 25–33 78,330 November 9 12:30 pm w Michigan 9 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ESPN2 9–3 39,328 November 16 12:00 pm l y Northwestern 13 Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 24–27 41,178 November 23 1:00 pm l Indiana Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN Old Oaken Bucket 16–33 49,197 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 93 February 5, 2023 February 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230212093414/https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf dead Preseason 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.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1995.html 1995 Purdue Boilermakers Stats USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. www.sports-reference.com December 4, 2013 However, Purdue did finish first in the Big Ten in rushing offense.http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/salem_tim00.html Tim Salem Bio University of Illinois-Champaign www.fightingillini.com December 4, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131013110222/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/salem_tim00.html October 13, 2013 dead Going into 1996, there was doubt that Purdue could successfully replace all-time leading rusher Mike Alstott and have a winning season.http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-11-05/sports/9611050148_1_boilermakers-mike-alstott-indiana https://web.archive.org/web/20131216183334/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-11-05/sports/9611050148_1_boilermakers-mike-alstott-indiana dead December 16, 2013 Purdue's Colletto 2nd Coach To Exit Big Ten Within Week November 5, 1996 Chicago Tribune Andrew Bagnato December 4, 2013 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.http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_c2e89198-e9c5-5948-8414-d185c909308a.html Boiling point Geoff Mosher August 29, 1996 The Daily Collegian ww.collegian.psu.edu December 4, 2013 Game summaries NC State Edwin Watson 29 rushes, 227 yards Minnesota Kendall Matthews 30 rushes, 131 yards Michigan 1996 Michigan Wolverines football team #9 Michigan at Purdue Michigan 0 0 3 0 Purdue 0 3 0 6 November 9 Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana 40,624 yes 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 yes Purdue's first win versus Michigan since 1984 Personnel Roster 1996 Purdue Boilermakers y Donald Winston 1 WR F John Reeves American football 3 QB SO y y Willie Tillman 5 WR Jr y Isaac Jones 6 WR J y Isaac Jones (American football) Billy Dicken 12 QB J y y Rick Trefzger 13 QB SR Eric Haddad 16 FB J y Drew Haddad#Personal life Chris Daniels 20 WR F y Kirk Olivadotti 24 WR SR y Curtis Taylor 25 RB J Edwin Watson 36 FB J Dartanian Sanders 37 FB SR Kendall Matthews 43 RB SR Cullen Bryant Jr. 45 FB F Nick Sweeney 52 OT SO Mark Fischer 54 OT SR Chukky Okobi 56 OG F y Jim Niedrach 63 C SO Emmett Zitelli 72 OG SR David Cohen 73 OT SO Wayne Finchum 74 OG SO Dan Maly 76 OG SO Brian Nicely 78 C SO Chad Manning 79 OT SO Brian Alford 80 WR J y y Brandon Jewell 81 TE SR Pete VanderWeele 90 TE J Matt Light 91 TE F y Derrick Brown 2 FS J Derrick Winston 4 CB SR Adrian Beasley 7 SS SO Lee Brush 10 DB J Michael Hawthorne 11 FS SO y Jamel Coleman 14 CB J Joe Hagins 19 LB SR Lamar Conard 22 DB F Willie Burroughs 23 SS J Willie Washington 27 CB F Mike Rose 28 LB F Reggie Johnson 29 DB ? Noble Jones 32 LB SO Chike Okeafor 34 LB J y Bryce Gillins 38 CB F Nick Zitelli 29 LB ? Glenn Davis 46 DB ? Chris Koeppen 48 LB SR Chukie Nwokorie 49 DE SO y Troy Bacon 51 LB ? Jon Krick 53 DT SR y Ray Lee 57 LB SO Craig Williams 58 DE SR Rosevelt Colvin 59 DE SO y Anthony Gutwein 71 DT J David Nugent 82 DE F Scott Dobbins 86 LB ? Greg Smith 97 DT SR Leo Perez 98 DT SR Chris Arnce 17 PK J Danny Rogers 26 P F Brandon Kaser 29 P SO Shane Ryan 96 PK F Jim Colletto 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) Depth chart Pro-Set 4-3 Yes No No Rick Trefzger John Reeves Kendall Matthews Curtis Taylor Edwin Watson Dartanian Sanders Brian Alford Kirk Olivadotti Willie Tillman Isaac Jones Brandon Jewell Pete Vander Weele Mark Fischer Chad Manning Wayne Finchum Dan Maly Brian Nicely Jim Niedrach Emmett Zitelli Chukky Okobi Nick Sweeney David Cohen Joe Hagins Noble Jones Chris Koeppen Ray Lee Chike Okeafor Noble Jones Derrick Brown Michael Hawthorne Willie Burroughs Adrian Beasley Derrick Winston Willie Washington Jamel Coleman Bryce Gillins Rosevelt Colvin Chukie Nwokorie Jon Krick Anthony Gutwein Leo Perez Greg Smith Craig Williams David Nugent Shane Ryan Chris Arnce Danny Rogers Brandon Kaser Joe Hagins Donald Winston Chris Daniels Rick Trefzger http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996 Purdue University www.purduesports.com December 3, 2013 April 24, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130424131812/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html dead http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996 Purdue University www.purduesports.com December 3, 2013 April 24, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130424131812/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-96depth.html dead 100 85 No Statistics Passing 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 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 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 http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-finstats.html 1996 Purdue football final statistics 2010-11-29 2011-01-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20110105091413/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/pur-m-footbl-finstats.html dead References Purdue Category:Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Purdue Boilermakers football