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1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team

1977 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 9 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 11 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Michigan State 6 – 1 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
Indiana 4 – 3 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 7 – 5 – 0
Purdue 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 6 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Illinois 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 8 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1977 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Young, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Michigan State
L 14–1953,014[1]
September 17Ohio*
W 44–749,354[2]
September 24No. 11 Notre Dame*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
L 24–3168,966[3]
October 1Wake Forest*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 26–1754,060[4]
October 8at No. 4 Ohio State
L 0–4687,707[5]
October 15Illinois
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
L 22–2960,242[6]
October 22Iowadagger
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 34–2162,443[7]
October 29at Northwestern
W 28–1617,525[8]
November 5at Wisconsin
W 22–073,322[9]
November 12No. 6 Michigan
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 7–4068,003[10][11]
November 19at Indiana
L 10–2152,914[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13]

Game summaries

Michigan State

  • Ray Smith 6 receptions, 108 yards
  • Reggie Arnold 7 receptions, 107 yards
  • Mark Herrmann's first start at quarterback

Ohio

Notre Dame

Northwestern

1 234Total
• Purdue 14 0140 28
Northwestern 10 006 16

[14]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Head coach: Jim Young

Assistants: Bob Bockrath, Leon Burtnett, Mike Hankwitz, Randy Hart, John Mackovic, Doug Redmann, Larry Thompson, Ed Zaunbrecher

Roster

1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 7 Steve Barr Jr
WR 87 Bart Burrell Fr
QB 9 Mark Herrmann Fr
C 63 Peter Quinn So
RB 31 John Skibinski Sr
RB 44 Wayne Smith So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 10 Mike Adamle So
LB 48 Fred Arrington Sr
DE 85 Keena Turner So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 8 Scott Sovereen Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Starters

  • Offense: QB Mark Herrmann, TB Mike Brown/Robert Williams, FB John Skibinski, SE Reggie Arnold, FL Ray Smith, TE Dave Young/Tim Eubank, LT Mike Barberich, LG John Fincuan/Dale Schwan, C Pete Quinn/Steve Schlundt, RG Steve McKenzie, RT John LeFeber
  • Defense: LDE Lee Larkins, LDT Marcus Jackson/Calvin Clark, NG Roger Ruwe, RDT Jeff Senica, RDE Keena Turner, LB Fred Arrington/Kevin Motts, CB Jerome King/Pat Harris, S Willie Harris/Paul Beery/Rock Supan
  • Special teams: K Scott Sovereen, P Dave Eagin


Awards

All-Big Ten

Statistics

Passing

Player Comp Att Yards TD INT
Mark Herrmann 175 319 2,453 18 27

Rushing

Player Att Yards TD
John Skibinski 147 665 4
Mark Herrmann -80

Receiving

Player Rec Yards TD
Reggie Arnold 44 840 8
John Skibinski 221

References

  1. ^ "Herrmann leaves Spartans gasping". The South Bend Tribune. September 11, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Herrmann bombs Ohio, 44–7". Anderson Herald. September 18, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Sub Montana rallies Irish". The Times-Mail. September 25, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Sovereen gets kick out of Purdue win". The Courier-Journal. October 2, 1977. Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Payton keys Buckeyes". The Post-Crescent. October 9, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Strader's 30-yard TD aids Illini win". The Dispatch. October 16, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Purdue rebounds; bounces Iowa, 34–21". Evansville Courier and Press. October 23, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Herrmann sub-par, but it's enough". The Times-Mail. October 30, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Wisconsin fans boo Jardine as Herrmann, Purdue roll". The Courier-Journal. November 6, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 13, 1977). "U-M Paves Way for OSU By Rocking Purdue, 40–7". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Tom Cameron (November 13, 1977). "Ready for Woody: 'M' rolls, 40–7". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  12. ^ "Hoosiers retain Old Oaken Bucket". The Terre Haute Tribune-Star. November 20, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 89. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 30.