1972 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–5 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPOtis Armstrong
CaptainOtis Armstrong, Dave Butz
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Purdue 6 – 2 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Michigan State 5 – 2 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Illinois 3 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Iowa 2 – 6 – 1 3 – 7 – 1
Wisconsin 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 8 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1972 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by Bob DeMoss in his third and final season as head coach, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing third in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

This was the first season in which Purdue played an 11-game schedule. Every Big Ten team except the Boilermakers and Ohio State added an 11th game for the first time in 1971. The Buckeyes did not play an 11-game slate until 1974.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16Bowling Green*No. 18
L 14–1751,859
September 23No. 15 Washington*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 21–2260,102
September 30at No. 10 Notre Dame*
L 14–3559,075
October 7at Iowa
W 24–054,576
October 14at Minnesota
W 28–337,287
October 21Northwesterndagger
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 37–063,049
October 28Illinois
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
W 20–1461,754
November 4at Michigan State
L 12–2258,649
November 11Wisconsin
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 27–653,507
November 18at No. 3 Michigan
L 6–988,423[1]
November 25Indiana
W 42–765,605
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

Roster

1972 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 18 Gary Danielson Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Washington

At Minnesota

1 234Total
• Purdue 0 7147 28
Minnesota 0 300 3
Scoring summary
2PURArmstrong 5-yard run (Bobrowski kick)Purdue 7-3
2MINNGolberg 25-yard field goalPurdue 7-3
3PURArmstrong 97-yard kickoff return (Bobrowski kick)Purdue 14-3
3PURCarter 45-yard fumble return (Bobrowski kick)Purdue 21-3
4PURBobrowski 4-yard run (Bobrowski kick)Purdue 28-3

[3]

Northwestern

Wisconsin

Indiana

1 234Total
Indiana 0 700 7
• Purdue 7 7721 42
Scoring summary
1PUROtis Armstrong 2-yard run (Frank Conner kick)PUR 7-0
2PURDarryl Stingley 79-yard pass from Gary Danielson (Frank Conner kick)PUR 14-0
2INDDennis Cremeens 2-yard run (Sven Chris Gartner kick)PUR 14-7
3PUROtis Armstrong 71-yard run (Frank Conner kick)PUR 21-7
4PURGary Danielson 5-yard run (Frank Conner kick)PUR 28-7
4PUROtis Armstrong 53-yard run (Frank Conner kick)PUR 35-7
4PURBo Bobrowski 5-yard run (Frank Conner kick)PUR 42-7

Otis Armstrong carried 32 times for 276 yards, breaking his own single-game school rushing record (233) and passing Wisconsin's Alan Ameche for most career rushing yards in the Big Ten with 3,316.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Whew! M Stays Perfect, 9–6: Last-Minute FG Downs Purdue". Detroit Free Press. November 19, 1972. p. 1E, 4E – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 89. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 15.
  4. ^ "Purdue Thrashes Indiana To Win Old Oaken Bucket." Palm Beach Post. 1972 Nov 26.
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