Purdue's Rose Bowl Season Reflections--Ben Smith

Our August 4, 2025, edition of Chariot Auto Group 2001 Rose Bowl recollections features former Boilermaker defensive back Ben Smith. A redshirt junior on the 2000 Big Ten champs, Smith hailed from Chadron, Nebraska and was a quarterback in coach Joe Tiller’s first recruiting class along with a guy named Drew Brees.

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Beginning with the end in mind was a takeaway for Smith in 2000

Ben Smith was a contributor. As a holder, defensive back, whatever it took, Smith was willing to do it.

And he was a fast study in team dynamics. Like many of his teammates on the 2000 Rose Bowl team, he learned many valuable lessons from coach Joe Tiller about planting the seeds of success. And, like so many of his teammates, he pointed to an experience two seasons prior that was a turning point.

What still resonates with me was two years previous, in that (1998) Pigskin Classic game versus USC, was (what everybody remembers) the intense heat of it,” said Smith in the hottest game on record 99 degrees) In Purdue football history. “But my main takeaways were that Coach Tiller had very strict rules for equipment and how we wore it. We wanted to wear high socks (which Tiller despised) And so the previous season, we had complained about it (to the coaching staff) , but the seniors went to Coach Tiller as asked to wear them. Long story short is, we ore them in The Colisuem that day and got our butt beat and the first thing Tiller laid into us about the socks and other things.

“So with a bye week the following week, we figured we would get right back on the plane and head home with the hardest week of practice we can imagine facing us, but instead of heading right home, we went the next day to Universal Studios and then toured the Rose Bowl.”

According to Smith, he saw another side of Tiller that really built a strong bond the proved beneficial in the challenging days in the 2000 season. Of course, touring the Rose Bowl facility, even after a 27-16 loss versus USC, was a clear message of what the expectation was for his team.

“He patted us on the back, rode the rides (at Universal) that day and enjoyed the experience,” Smith said. “He told me years later he wished he had done more of that as a coach. It may seem strange, but that is one of the main takeaways from my college career and what put us on the path to getting to the Rose Bowl. He said ‘I want you guys to envision yourself making a catch here. I want you guys to imagine yourself running onto this field. Because, you know what? I promise you, before you’re done playing here, you’re going to play in the Rose Bowl.'”

Smith, who lives in the Indianapolis area and remains close to Brees and shares business ventures with him, teammate and linebacker Jason Loerzel, and others, said that the combination of coach and quarterback gave Purdue a chance in any game.

“Remember, Drew almost declared for the NFL Draft before his senior season,” Smith said. “The number one reason he came back was he wanted to get to the Rose Bowl. That fueled us as a team.”

Beginning with the end in mind is what great leaders like Brees and Tiller do. And Smith, who tore his ACL in his sophomore season (1998) and eventually redshirted, proved to be an essential leader, though he wasn’t on the field all the time.

As a holder for All-American kicker (2001) Travis Dorsch also taught Smith to used positive reinforcement. After Dorsch missed a field goal in the closing minutes of the Michigan game that appeared to be a nail in Purdue’s coffin, Smith remembered talking with Dorsch and assuring him.

“I told him we had a great quarterback in Drew and that we were going to get another chance,” Smith recalled. “You don’t need to coach a guy as talented as Travis, but I wanted to remind him that he was going to make the kick when he got another chance. And Travis came through.”

Smith seems sure of one thing. Having a clear vision for a positive outcome was crucial to the Boilermakers making it to Pasadena. It was a time he’ll never forget.

More: Rose Bowl Recollections: Chukky Okobi | Vinny Sutherland | A.T. Simpson | Scott Downing

Gold and Black Illustrated Archives–2000 season game stories

Game 1: No. 15 Purdue 48, Central Michigan 0
Game 2: No. 14 Purdue 45, Kent State 10
Game 3: No. 21 Notre Dame 23, No. 14 Purdue 21
Game 4: No. 21 Purdue 38, Minnesota 24
Game 5: Penn State 22, No. 22 Purdue 20
Game 6: Purdue 32, No. 6 Michigan 31
Game 7: No. 21 Purdue 41, No. 17 Northwestern 28
Game 8: No. 17 Purdue 30, Wisconsin 24 (ot)
Game 9: No. 16 Purdue 31, No. 12 Ohio State 27
Game 10: Michigan State 30, No. 9 Purdue 10
Game 11: No. 17 Purdue 41, Indiana 13
Game 12: No. 4 Washington 34, No. 14 Purdue 24