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Tiller Tunnel dedication: 'I know he would like it'

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•09/30/23•

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(Chad Krockover)

Arnette Tiller smiles when she talks about her husband, Joe Tiller. And the memories came rushing back on this day, when the Tiller Tunnel named in her late husband’s honor was dedicated.

“I know that he would like it,” said Arnette, whose husband passed away on this day in 2017. “And don’t know what else it could be that he would have liked.”

The tunnel is a perfect embodiment of Tiller: Simple, effective and practical.

“It’s not flashing lights, and it’s not all the hoopla,” said Arnette. “It is just a really nice place to have his name.”

The tunnel was dedicated this morning prior to the game vs. Illinois. A private ceremony was held in the north end zone of Ross-Ade Stadium. A swell of family, friends and former players were on hand to pay tribute to the all-time winningest coach in Purdue history.

Tim House, Purdue’s Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Associate Vice President for Development, provided the spark for the idea for Tilller Tunnel, which connects the Kozuch Football Performance Complex and Ross-Ade Stadium.

“He’s actually the one that brought the idea to me,” said Bobinski. “He said: ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’ I’m like, ‘Good gosh, it’s a heck of an idea.’ And he presented it to a couple of Tiller’s other players and they loved it. We went to Arnette to see what she thought. She was on board and then was off and running.”

Drew Brees, Tiller’s most prized pupil, and his wife Brittany served as fundraising catalysts, matching contributions made to build the Tiller Tunnel.

“They immediately jumped to it and said, ‘Hey, we would love to do a matching opportunity,” said Bobinski. “So, they agreed to match every gift that was given up to a pretty significant number. Putting their name on something in conjunction with Coach Tiller is like magic here at Purdue. So, once they got involved. It was a surefire winner.”

Tiller won a lot at Purdue after sweeping in from the Wyoming plains in 1997 and coaching the Boilermakers for 12 seasons (1997-2008). He left with an 87-62 overall mark and a 53-43 Big Ten record, leading Purdue to 10 bowls.

His most memorable season was 2000, when Brees led the Boilermakers to the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl.

“Here’s a kid who grew up on a dead-end street in Toledo, Ohio,” Tiller quipped after clinching that trip to Pasadena with a victory over Indiana. “Who ever thought he would be on the field at the Rose Bowl?”

It was part of a legacy that culminated today with the dedication of Tunnel named in his honor.

Photo gallery: Tiller Tunnel dedication

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