Fifty years ago, Sports Illustrated anointed Purdue as the No. 1 team in the country. The Associated Press did, too. That was in preseason. In season, Purdue proved so by overwhelming host Notre Dame 37-22 in “The Poll Bowl,” pitting college football’s No. 1 vs. No. 2.
That game was on Sept. 28, 1968. Of course, as Boilermaker historians well know, Purdue’s paramount period ended two weeks later with a 13-0 heart-breaker at No. 4 Ohio State, the eventual national champion. Four weeks after that came a shocking stumble at unranked Minnesota, leading to an 8-2, no-bowl finish. Those were the days of win your league or go home.
Purdue was no flash in the pan, though. The 1968 season was the fourth of five straight 2-loss seasons under Jack Mollenkopf -- 7-2-1, 9-2, 8-2, 8-2, 8-2 -- records reflecting “The Big Two, Little Eight.” More like “The Big Two and Purdue,” never finishing lower than third in the Big Ten. Jack left after the fifth, the 1969 season.
Purdue fans can relive and appreciate those weeks of ultimate glory days on the Golden [and Black] Anniversary of “Leroy On The Loose” -- the Notre Dame game story featured in the Oct. 7, 1968 edition of Sports Illustrated. That issue had a fold-out cover for “The Highest Paid Team In Baseball History,” plus an 11-page feature on the Cardinals’ 24th-year announcer, Harry Caray, and a piece on a rising young boxer, George Foreman. Best SI ever. For reading.
Thanks for the permanent memories, Leroy. And Mike, Chuck, Perry and all … Everyone loved seeing the guys at Homecoming. And a big tip of the hat to Jack.
https://www.si.com/vault/1968/10/07/550859/leroy-on-the-loose
https://www.si.com/vault/issue/43118/0
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/september-9-1968-sports-illustrated-cover-college-football-news-photo/107521700
That game was on Sept. 28, 1968. Of course, as Boilermaker historians well know, Purdue’s paramount period ended two weeks later with a 13-0 heart-breaker at No. 4 Ohio State, the eventual national champion. Four weeks after that came a shocking stumble at unranked Minnesota, leading to an 8-2, no-bowl finish. Those were the days of win your league or go home.
Purdue was no flash in the pan, though. The 1968 season was the fourth of five straight 2-loss seasons under Jack Mollenkopf -- 7-2-1, 9-2, 8-2, 8-2, 8-2 -- records reflecting “The Big Two, Little Eight.” More like “The Big Two and Purdue,” never finishing lower than third in the Big Ten. Jack left after the fifth, the 1969 season.
Purdue fans can relive and appreciate those weeks of ultimate glory days on the Golden [and Black] Anniversary of “Leroy On The Loose” -- the Notre Dame game story featured in the Oct. 7, 1968 edition of Sports Illustrated. That issue had a fold-out cover for “The Highest Paid Team In Baseball History,” plus an 11-page feature on the Cardinals’ 24th-year announcer, Harry Caray, and a piece on a rising young boxer, George Foreman. Best SI ever. For reading.
Thanks for the permanent memories, Leroy. And Mike, Chuck, Perry and all … Everyone loved seeing the guys at Homecoming. And a big tip of the hat to Jack.
https://www.si.com/vault/1968/10/07/550859/leroy-on-the-loose
https://www.si.com/vault/issue/43118/0
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/september-9-1968-sports-illustrated-cover-college-football-news-photo/107521700