100 Years of Purdue Football in Ross-Ade: 1994-2003
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 undergoes major renovation in 2002-03
The first sign that Ross-Ade Stadium was on its way to becoming a 21st-century facility wasn’t when it underwent its major renovation from 2001-03. In 1997, a $3 million Sony JumboTron was added to the stadium’s south end to replace the old scoreboard. This new scoreboard allowed fans to see live video and instant replays.
But the Big Kahuna came after the 2001 season when major renovation included the removal of the press box. It was replaced with the largest building on campus, the Shively Pavilion. The cost exceeded the initial estimates of about $70 million and the new Pavilion housed six floors and span the length of the field. In it were 34 suites, indoor and outdoor club seating and a large area on the sixth floor for media. Also, there was widening of the seats which reduced the capacity to 62,500. This was the first phase, but other phases were mentioned including building on upper deck on the east side and also increased seating at the north end that could increase capacity to 80,000. Also, the main concourse was expanded and much-need bathrooms were added. In addition, the southeast corner steps were installed.
Before the 1994 season, the walkway and fence that surrounded the field were removed. That change was precipitated by the near tragedy that took place at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium when students were nearly crushed up against the fence while trying to storm the field after a Badgers’ victory.
Ross-Ade’s signature moment(s): 1994-2003
It would be hard to argue with the image below, the freezing cold early November evening when Purdue clinched a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the 2001 Rose Bowl.
Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium W-L Record: 1994-2003
The Boilermakers had a lot of success in this period, especially with the arrival of coach Joe Tiller prior to the 1997 season. In all, Purdue posted a 43-17-2 (.693) record in the period, the third-best decade of the century and the best in the past 50 years. In the first four seasons under Tiller, the Boilermakers won 21 of 24 games in West Lafayette.
Purdue best player in Ross-Ade: 1994-2003
This might be the biggest no-brainer of all time, but Drew Brees is the hands-down winner. He led the Boilermakers to a share of the Big Ten title, a trip to Pasadena and had two top-four finishes in the Heisman race. Yet, the runner-up would be Mike Alstott, who left Purdue as the school’s all-time rushing leader. Yet, kicker/punter Travis Dorsch was the lone consensus All-American (2001) during the period.
The best individual opponent(s) to play in Ross-Ade: 1994-2003
Ron Dayne was one of seven Boilermaker opponents to play in Ross-Ade Stadium the year he won the Heisman Trophy (1999). He is also the most recent. In the ’99 contest, he rushed for 222 yards on 32 carries as the Badgers began their streak (that still exists today) in victories over the Boilermakers in Ross-Ade. In Dayne’s sophomore year of 1997, he rushed for 141 yards but Purdue won easily 45-20.
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 | Ross-Ade Stadium Decade 7: 1984-93
Note: Author Tom Schott’s 2008 book “Purdue University Football Vault: The History of the Boilermakers” is a valued source throughout this piece.
