1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team

The 1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1977 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Young, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

1977 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Mackovic (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorLeon Burtnett (1st season)
MVPFred Arrington
CaptainJerome King, John Skibinski
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 9 Michigan + 7 1 0 10 2 0
No. 11 Ohio State + 7 1 0 9 3 0
Michigan State 6 1 1 7 3 1
Indiana 4 3 1 5 5 1
Minnesota 4 4 0 7 5 0
Purdue 3 5 0 5 6 0
Iowa 3 5 0 5 6 0
Wisconsin 3 6 0 5 6 0
Illinois 2 6 0 3 8 0
Northwestern 1 8 0 1 10 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Michigan StateL 14–1953,014
September 17Ohio*W 44–749,354
September 24No. 11 Notre Dame*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
L 24–3168,966
October 1Wake Forest*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 26–1754,060[1]
October 8at No. 4 Ohio StateL 0–4687,707
October 15Illinois
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
L 22–2960,242
October 22Iowa 
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 34–2162,443
October 29at NorthwesternW 28–1617,525
November 5at WisconsinW 22–073,322
November 12No. 6 Michigan
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 7–4068,003[2][3]
November 19at IndianaL 10–2152,914
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[4]

Roster

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1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 87 Bart Burrell Fr
QB 9 Mark Herrmann Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 48 Fred Arrington
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Scott Sovereen
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Starters

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  • Offense: QB Mark Herrmann, TB Mike Brown/Robert Williams, FB John Skibinski, SE Reggie Arnold, FL Ray Smith, TE Dave Young/Tim Eubank, LT Mike Barberich, LG John Fincuan/Dale Schwan, C Pete Quinn/Steve Schlundt, RG Steve McKenzie, RT John LeFeber
  • Defense: LDE Lee Larkins, LDT Marcus Jackson/Calvin Clark, NG Roger Ruwe, RDT Jeff Senica, RDE Keena Turner, LB Fred Arrington/Kevin Motts, CB Jerome King/Pat Harris, S Willie Harris/Paul Beery/Rock Supan
  • Special teams: K Scott Sovereen, P Dave Eagin

Staff

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Head coach: Jim Young

Assistants: Bob Bockrath, Leon Burtnett, Mike Hankwitz, Randy Hart, John Mackovic, Doug Redmann, Larry Thompson, Ed Zaunbrecher

Game summaries

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Michigan State

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  • Ray Smith 6 receptions, 108 yards
  • Reggie Arnold 7 receptions, 107 yards
  • Mark Herrmann's first start at quarterback

Ohio

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Notre Dame

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Northwestern

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1 234Total
• Purdue 14 0140 28
Northwestern 10 006 16

[5]

Statistics

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Passing

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Player Comp Att Yards TD INT
Mark Herrmann 175 319 2,453 18 27

Rushing

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Player Att Yards TD
John Skibinski 147 665 4
Mark Herrmann -80

Receiving

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Player Rec Yards TD
Reggie Arnold 44 840 8
John Skibinski 221

Awards

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All-Big Ten

  • Reggie Arnold (1st)
  • Mark Herrmann (2nd)
  • John Skibinski (2nd)

References

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  1. ^ "Sovereen gets kick out of Purdue win". The Courier-Journal. October 2, 1977. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 13, 1977). "U-M Paves Way for OSU By Rocking Purdue, 40-7". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Tom Cameron (November 13, 1977). "Ready for Woody: 'M' rolls, 40-7". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  4. ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 89. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 30.