100 Years of Purdue Football at Ross-Ade: 1984-93
As we celebrate the 100th season of Purdue football at Ross-Ade Stadium, we will take a decade-by-decade look at the history of this almost century-old facility.
Purdue’s stadium has only minor improvements: 1984-93
For the second straight decade, Purdue didn’t make any major improvements to Ross-Ade Stadium. The visitors’ locker room in the southwest corner was added and in 1984 the home locker room under the east stands was remodeled. This remodel added meeting spaces, bathrooms, training rooms, and medical offices.
A new scoreboard was added to the south end of the stadium and an auxiliary board was added to the stadium’s north end in 1990.
Ross-Ade’s signature moment(s): 1984-93
Purdue’s lone bright spot was the 1984 season, so the fact that Purdue did something no Boilermaker team has done before or since; beat Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame in the same season. Yes, the Boilermakers beat Notre Dame in the Hoosier Dome Dedication Game in Indianapolis to open the ’84 campaign, but beating the Buckeyes and Wolverines at home was no small feat. An honorable mention top moment was Rod Woodson’s Superman performance, he played both ways, as a 2-8 Boilermaker team beat Indiana 17-15 on a last-second blocked field goal.
Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium W-L Record: 1984-93
Once the 2023 season is complete, the current decade could give this decade a run for its money, but for now, 1984-93 is the worst decade in terms of on-field success in Ross-Ade annals. Unsurprisingly, the Boilermakers posted just a 25-34-1 record considering Purdue’s one winning season was coach Leon Burtnett’s 1984 Peach Bowl team. Burtnett, Fred Akers and Jim Colletto all directed the Gold and Black in a very dark period for Purdue football.
Purdue best player in Ross-Ade: 1984-93
Woodson was the lone consensus All-American during the decade. The future NFL Hall of Famer was one of two first-round NFL picks, along with quarterback Jim Everett. Both are worthy of consideration, but hard to beat Woodson’s overall athletic acumen.
The best individual opponent(s) to play in Ross-Ade: 1984-93
Tim Brown, one of just seven Heisman Trophy winners to play in Ross-Ade the year they won the coveted award, had a 49-yard touchdown reception against Purdue in Notre Dame’s 44-20 win in 1987. One of the most impressive performances came in a Boilermakers upset of No. 2 Ohio State in ’84 when the Buckeyes’ Keith Byars rushed for 191 yards. Still, the Boilermakers and Woodson pulled the surprising 28-23 win.
Related: Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 1; 1924-33 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 2; 1934-43 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 3; 1944-53 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 4; 1954-63 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 5: 1964-73 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 6: 1974-83
Note: Author Tom Schott’s 2008 book “Purdue University Football Vault: The History of the Boilermakers” is a valued source throughout this piece.
