Oklahoma State football: A guide to Purdue football history

OSU plays Purdue on Tuesday in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, and man, do we know very little about the Boilermakers. Purdue and OSU have played only once, in the 1997 Alamo Bowl, won 33-20 by Purdue.

Purdue never has played OU, Kansas, Colorado or Texas Tech, . The Boilermakers have played Baylor once  (winning 20-7 in 1930), Texas twice (losing in 1950 and 1951) and Kansas State thrice (winning in 1929, 1932 and in the 1998 Alamo Bowl). Purdue played Nebraska once (1958), Texas A&M once (1967) and claims an 1895 forfeit win over Iowa State. The only school with any ties to our state schools that has played Purdue much at all is Missouri. They’ve met eight times. Four times before 1906, thrice in the ’50s and lastly in the 1980 Liberty Bowl, won 28-25 by Purdue.

So the Boilermakers are mystery program to Oklahomans. I thought I would give you a rundown the next few days on Purdue football history. Today, a quick primer.

School founded: 1869

Stadium: Ross-Ade, built 1924. Current capacity 67,332.

2012 attendance: 43,588 average.

First year of football: 1887.

All-time football record: 592-514-48.

Ten-win seasons: One (10-2 in 1979).

National championships: zero.

Big Ten championships: 1929 outright championship, co-championships in 2000, 1967, 1952, 1943, 1932, 1931, 1918.

Top-10 rankings in final AP poll: No. 9 in 1967, No. 7 in 1966 and No. 5 in 1943.

Bowls: 17th bowl appearance. 9-7 record. Two Rose Bowls — lost to Washington 34-24 after the 2000 season and beat Southern Cal 14-13 after the 1967 season.

Winningest coach: Joe Tiller, 87-62, 1997-08.

Best coach: Jack Mollenkopf, 84-39-9, 1956-69.

Distinguished alumni: Neil Armstrong, John Wooden, Orville Redenbacher.

Contribution to college football: Purdue president James Smart invited six other university presidents to a meeting in January 1895. The leaders of Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern and Chicago U. then formed what became the Big Ten.

Greatest player: Leroy Keyes, a two-way halfback/defensive back who in the Heisman Trophy voting finished third in 1967 and second in 1968.