One small step for man, one giant leap for... Zach Edey?
Purdue University: home of famed astronauts, popcorn magnates and outrageously tall basketball players. Its former president, James H. Smart, put forth the initiative that led to the Big Ten Conference’s founding in 1896. So, even with just three team national titles to their credit across all sports, there would be no Big Ten without the Boilermakers.
As the Oregon Ducks prepare for a move to the Big Ten in 2024, The Oregonian/OregonLive is taking a look at all of their newest conference rivals. While Ducks fans might be deeply familiar with fellow Pac-12 departees Washington, USC and UCLA, they have 14 new teams to get to know this year.
Next up is Purdue.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Nickname: Boilermakers
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
School founded: 1869
Joined Big Ten: 1896
Type: Public
Enrollment: 52,211
Endowment: $3.7 billion
Athletic department spending (2021-22): $93 million
Athletic department revenue (2021-22): $115.1 million
Football spending (2021-22): $24.9 million
Football revenue (2021-22): $62.5 million
Football stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium
Capacity: 61,441
Varsity sports: 20 (10 men’s, 10 women’s)
Mascot: Purdue Pete
Fight song: “Hail, Purdue!”
Notable alumni: Ted Allen, Neil Armstrong, Drew Brees, Len Dawson, Jim Gaffigan, Orville Redenbacher, Caleb Swanigan, John Wooden
Famous coaches: Carolyn Peck (women’s basketball), Jack Mollenkopf (football), Gene Keady (men’s basketball), Matt Painter (men’s basketball)
Biggest rivals: Indiana, Illinois, Notre Dame
Essential movie: First Man (2018) — The gripping story of Purdue’s most famous alumnus, astronaut Neil Armstrong, starring the incomparable Ryan Gosling. There is unfortunately no musical number called, “I’m Just Neil,” however.
Team national titles: Men’s golf (1), women’s golf (1), women’s basketball (1)
Did you know? Out of high school, Neil Armstrong had a chance to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) but chose Purdue after watching a football game between the Boilermakers and Ohio State in 1945. Purdue won in an upset over the No. 4 Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium, and a through line could be drawn between the stellar play of true freshman quarterback Bob DeMoss and Armstrong eventually setting foot on the moon. Cue the domino effect memes.
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