1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season

1989 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record3–8 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
  • Fred Akers (3rd season)
Offensive coordinatorBob Stanley (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorPhil Bennett (3rd season)
MVPCalvin Williams
CaptainDennis Dotson, Bill Hitchcock, Calvin Williams
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Michigan $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 10 Illinois 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 16 Michigan State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
No. 24 Ohio State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Purdue 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Wisconsin 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Northwestern 0 – 8 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 9Miami (OH)*W 27–1038,840
September 16at No. 15 Washington*L 9–3866,392
September 3012:00 p.m.No. 1 Notre Dame*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
ABCL 7–4067,861
October 7at MinnesotaL 15–3536,621
October 14No. 16 Illinois
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
L 2–1441,101
October 21at Ohio StateL 3–2189,091
October 28Michigan Statedagger
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 21–2841,402
November 41:00 p.m.at No. 4 MichiganL 27–42105,128
November 11Northwestern
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 46–1531,470
November 18Iowa
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 0–2431,863
November 25at IndianaW 15–1451,502
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1][2]

Personnel

1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
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
Pos. # Name Class
P, QB Shawn McCarthy Sr
K Larry Sullivan
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Preseason

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]

Game summaries

Miami (OH)

At Washington

Notre Dame

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3–0) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 14 20 0640
Purdue 0 0 077

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 67,861
  • TV: ABC
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 6-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:38. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 55 yards.
  • ND – Tony Rice 4-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 2:04. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 57 yards.

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

  • No scoring

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

At Minnesota

Purdue Boilermakers (1–2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 3 01215
Minnesota 7 7 14735

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: October 7, 1989
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 36,621
  • [4]
  • 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

Illinois

#16 Illinois Fighting Illini (3–1) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Illinois 7 0 0714
Purdue 0 0 022

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: October 14, 1989
  • Game attendance: 41,101

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

At Ohio State

Purdue Boilermakers (1–4) at Ohio State Buckeyes (3–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 0 303
Ohio St 14 0 7021

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 89,091
  • Referee: Jim Kemerling
  • Box 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
  • No scoring
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
  • No scoring
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

Michigan State

Michigan State Spartans (2–4) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–5)
Period 1 2 Total
Michigan St 0 28 28
Purdue 0 21 21

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: October 28, 1989
  • Game attendance: 41,402
  • [9]

Homecoming
Jeff Lesniewicz knocked out of game with concussion[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

At Michigan

Purdue Boilermakers (1–6) at #4 Michigan Wolverines (6–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 7 02027
Michigan 7 21 7742

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 4, 1989
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 105, 126
  • Box Score

[11]

External videos
video icon Game highlights
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

Northwestern

Northwestern Wildcats (0–8) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–7)
Period 1 2 34Total
Northwestern 0 7 8015
Purdue 32 0 01446

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: November 11, 1989
  • Game attendance: 31,470
  • [12]

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

Iowa

At Indiana

Purdue Boilermakers (2–8) at Indiana Hoosiers (5–5)
Period 1 2 Total
Purdue 3 12 15
Indiana 11 3 14

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Date: November 25, 1989
  • Game attendance: 51,502
  • [14]

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] Fred Akers was carried off the field by his players.[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

Awards

Eric Hunter

  • Big Ten Freshman of the Year[17]

References

  1. ^ 1989 Purdue Football Schedule
  2. ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 91. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "QB Fox Leaving Purdue for Florida". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Orlando Sentinel. June 14, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "Minnesota 35, Purdue 15". UPI Archives. October 7, 1989. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Matt Youmans (October 11, 1989). "Loss to Minnesota sidelines key PU starters". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Slater, Jim (October 14, 1989). "Illinois 14, Purdue 2". UPI Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Tatlock, David (October 16, 1989). "Purdue Defense Shines in Loss". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Youmans, Matt (October 16, 1989). "Boiler Defense Goes to Waste as Illinois Wins". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Bedics, Mark (October 30, 1989). "Rally Leaves Spartans Grateful". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Bedics, Mark (October 30, 1989). "Rally Leaves Spartans Grateful". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Cook, Bob (November 11, 1989). "Purdue 46, Northwestern 15". UPI Archives. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  14. ^ Slater, Jim (November 25, 1989). "Purdue 15, Indiana 14". UPI Archives. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "Upset of IU in 1989 Bucket game shows anything is possible". Rivals.com. December 8, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Youmans, Matt (November 27, 1989). "PU Plays 'Spoilermaker' in 15-14 Win Over IU". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Daily Press. 1990 Oct 24. Archived 2014-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2014-Oct-20.
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