100 Years of Purdue Football in Ross-Ade Stadium: 1974-83

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: 1974-83

Ross-Ade features the Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) drainage system, developed by Purdue staffers William H. Daniel and Melvin Robey in the early 1970s. It was installed in the stadium in 1975 at a cost of approximately $125,000. The PAT system is a network of pipes connected to pumps that extract water from the grass and can help keep the field playable and virtually divot-proof, even during a storm dumping one inch of rain or more per hour. It was later used in other facilities around the country including RFK Stadium in Washington.

Temporary bleachers were also added on the north end, allowing crowds to burgeon over 70,000 three times during the period. The largest crowd in Ross-Ade history, on Nov. 22, 1980 was 71,629 and saw Purdue escape with a 24-23 win over IU in All-American quarterback Mark Herrmann’s final home game. Finally, in 1983 a stadium elevator was added.

Ross-Ade’s signature moment(s): 1974-83

Michigan was the opponent in the two signature moments in the facility. First came in 1976 when the Boilermakers, who were struggling under coach Alex Agase, posted one of its greatest upsets ever, beating No. 1 Michigan 16-14. Three years later, in front of an overflow crowd, the Boilermaker beat coach Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines 24-21 which helped Purdue to its only 10 win season in its history. There were other great moments: victories over Michigan State and Ohio State in 1978 were key to the turnaround under Young. But in terms of national exposure, amazingly the only nationally televised game was on Sept. 12, 1981 when Stanford quarterback John Elway lost to Purdue 27-19 with the Goodyear Blimp hovering over Ross-Ade Stadium.

Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium W-L Record: 1974-83

The Boilermakers posted a 34-23-2 record during this span, highlighted by a 17-1 record from 1978-80 when the Boilermakers went to (and won) three straight bowl games under coach Jim Young. The 57.6 winning percentage during that span ranked it the sixth-best decade. It was, however, the highest-ranked decade in terms of attendance as an average of 63,819 fans attended games in the 69,200-seat facility. From 1979-81, Purdue sold out 17 of 18 games.

Purdue best player in Ross-Ade: 1974-83

Quarterback Mark Herrmann and tight end Dave Young were the lone consensus All-Americans, during the period earning that status in their senior season (1980). But many great players donned the Gold and Black uniform during that period including NFL standouts Scott Dierking, Keena Turner and even a freshman named Rod Woodson, who was a starter in ’83.

The best individual opponent(s) to play in Ross-Ade: 1974-83

Some great ones appeared in West Lafayette during the period. As many know, Notre Dame quarterback, and future NFL Hall of Famer, Joe Montana launched his career coming off the bench as a third-stringer to rally the Irish to a dramatic 31-24 win over Purdue in 1977. Archie Griffin and Ohio State beat Purdue 35-6 in 1975 and Griffin set the NCAA career rushing record in the rout. Griffin, one of just seven Heisman Trophy winners to play in Ross-Ade the year they won the coveted award, is the only back-to-back winner (1974 and ’75) in the history of the trophy.

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

Note: Author Tom Schott’s 2008 book “Purdue University Football Vault: The History of the Boilermakers” is a valued source throughout this piece.