WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Boilermakers are set to host the University of Michigan Wolverines this Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers, under 12th-year head coach Joe Tiller, enter their ninth week of the 2008 season 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten after falling to Minnesota 17-6 in West Lafayette last Saturday.
Purdue is looking to avoid matching the longest losing streak in the Tiller Era — six straight. Including the current five-game slump, the Boilermakers have lost five straight games only one other time in the 12 seasons under Joe Tiller. In the other instance the Boilers lost six straight games before snapping the skid. Five Consecutive Losses Under Joe Tiller Year – Opponents (Length of Skid) 2005 – vs. No. 13 Notre Dame, vs. Iowa, vs. Northwestern, at No. 19 Wisconsin and at No. 11 Penn State (6)
Purdue’s first seven Football Bowl Subdivision opponents have racked up an impressive 46-11 (.807) combined record 10 weeks into the 2008 season. No. 3 Penn State (9-0) is one of just eight FBS schools remaining with an undefeated record. Meanwhile, No. 20 Minnesota (7-1) has lost just once, and No. 13 Ohio State (7-2), Northwestern (6-2), No. 23 Oregon (6-2), Central Michigan (6-2) and Notre Dame (5-2) have but two losses each. The week’s opponent, Michigan, is the first school that Purdue has played this season with a losing record heading into the contest; however, Michigan owns a 41-12 advantage in a series that dates back to 1890 and has won the last five meetings between the two.
