WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Every single one of the 5,000 VIP All Sports cards that were allocated to Purdue students for the 2009-10 school year have been sold.

Selling out the VIP All Sports cards could be interpreted as a vote of confidence by the students in the new head coach, and an auspicious beginning to a new era in Boilermaker football.

Purdue students may still purchase a football season ticket for $119. The season ticket includes general admission seating in the student section at all seven home football games, which includes Notre Dame and Ohio State. This price represents a savings of nearly 50 percent compared with purchasing student single-game tickets.

“We appreciate the support of our students in purchasing all the VIP All Sports cards that they could,” first-year head coach Danny Hope said. “We hope their classmates who did not purchase them will buy season tickets and help add to the great student support section at Ross-Ade Stadium. The energy and enthusiasm of our students means a lot to our football team.”

Hope and the Boilermakers open the 2009 season Sept. 5 against Toledo at Ross-Ade.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Twenty-seven Purdue student-athletes were honored as Distinguished Scholar Award recipients by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday.

The award was established by the Big Ten Faculty Representatives in February in order to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Scholar Award, recipients must be in at least their second academic year at the institution and have a minimum GPA of 3.7 for the previous academic year, excluding summer school.

Of Purdue’s 27 recipients, six posted a perfect 4.0 GPA this year. Those individuals are bolded on the complete list below.

The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for their academic career. A total of 150 Boilermaker student athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors during the 2008-09 school year. Purdue’s Distingushed Scholar Award recipients follow.

• Katie Beck, Women’s Swimming & Diving
• David Colturi, Men’s Swimming & Diving
• Scott Dean, Men’s Swimming & Diving
• Matthew DeSilva, Men’s Track & Field
• Danielle Eagan, Women’s Cross Country
• Laura Garriga, Women’s Basketball
• Nan Hammel, Women’s Track & Field
• Joe Holland, Football
• Liane Horiuchi, Softball
• Christine Inman, Women’s Swimming & Diving
• Alex Jaffee, Baseball
• Morgan Lebsack, Women’s Swimming & Diving
• Ashlee Lengacher, Women’s Track & Field
• Luke Manuel, Wrestling
• Danita Merlau, Women’s Volleyball
• Lauren Mioton, Women’s Basketball
• Katie Morrical, Women’s Track & Field
• Tom Oliver, Men’s Golf
• Mallory Peck, Women’s Track & Field
• Loredana Riverso, Soccer
• Kaitlin Seeger, Soccer
• Connor Sestak, Baseball
• Allie Smith, Women’s Swimming & Diving
• Eric Sparks, Men’s Track & Field
• Rachel Stalzer, Women’s Track & Field
• Matt Stewart, Men’s Swimming & Diving
• Mark Wohlford, Men’s Basketball

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Athletics has released a mini season ticket option for fans. The Gridiron Gold Pack is on sale and offers fans a flexible way to see three of Purdue’s home games at an economically friendly price.

The Gridiron Gold Pack is on sale and offers fans a flexible way to see three of Purdue's home games at an economically friendly price.

Set at $140, fans will be able to enjoy one non-conference game (Toledo or Northern Illinois), one conference game (Northwestern, Illinois, or Michigan State) and one premium game (Notre Dame or Ohio State). Additionally, fans will receive one free intramural lot parking pass for the premium game selected (1-4 tickets = 1 pass; 5-8 tickets = 2 passes, etc.). Fans purchasing this package will save 15 percent compared to purchasing each ticket separately.

Pete’s Pick 3 package is also available, allowing fans to pick any three games (excluding Notre Dame or Ohio State) for only $105. Fans purchasing this package can save up to 25 percent compared to purchasing each individual ticket.

Season and individual* game tickets remain on sale. Fans that purchase a season ticket in the main stands ($259 or $37 per game) will save 38 percent compared to purchasing each individual game ticket (seven games for $358).

In addition to great savings in the main stands, there are other fan-friendly pricing options that include the South End Zone season ticket as well as the Boiler Bundle. Details on tickets and pricing is available online at the PurdueSports.com website.

Purdue students may purchase a football season ticket for $119 or the VIP All Sports Pass for $225. Students opting for the VIP All Sports Pass should order quickly as they are almost sold out with less than 300 cards remaining out of the initial 5,000 allotment.

To purchase tickets fans may call the Athletic Ticket Office at 800-49-SPORT.

New coach Danny Hope and the Boilermakers open the 2009 season on Sept. 5 against Toledo at Ross-Ade Stadium.

* Tickets for the Notre Dame and Ohio State games can be assured only to fans ordering season tickets or the Gridiron Gold Pack. Single-game tickets for Notre Dame and Ohio State, if still available, will go on sale to the general public on Sept. 14, 2009.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue student football season tickets and the 2009-10 VIP All Sport Pass will be available for purchase March 23 on purduesports.com. The 2009 home football schedule features seven home games, including key matchups against intrastate rival Notre Dame and 2008 Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State.

Students may purchase the VIP All Sport Pass for $225, which includes tickets to all regular-season home sporting events throughout the year (football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and track and field). The VIP card price reflects more than a 30 percent discount off the combined season ticket rates. In addition to the price, VIP card holders are eligible to receive special benefits throughout the year and rewards for attending events. Rewards include Purdue apparel, gift certificates and much more. Only 5,000 VIP cards will be sold for the 2009-10 season and is the only way to guarantee students a ticket to the men’s basketball home games.

The football student season ticket is $119 and includes a ticket to all seven home games and is a savings of nearly 50 percent compared with purchasing student single-game tickets.

There will be a change in football student seating for the 2009 season. Seating for all students, regardless of classification, will be general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Student Football tickets and the VIP cards will be mailed the week of July 20 or can be picked up at the Athletic Ticket Office.

Tickets for the Notre Dame and Ohio State games can be assured only to students ordering season tickets. Single-game tickets for Notre Dame and Ohio State, if still available, will go on sale to the general public and students Sept. 14, 2009, allowing Purdue students the opportunity to purchase season tickets that include all seven home games. All other single-game tickets will go on sale June 15.

For specific ordering instructions and to place your order for either football season tickets or the VIP All Sport Pass or football season tickets, visit purduesports.com beginning March 23.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2009 Purdue football Black & Gold Game will be played Saturday, April 18, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Start time is 1 p.m. Admission will be free, as will parking. More details about the game and related festivities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Head coach Danny Hope and the 2009 Boilermakers begin spring practice March 25.

The Black & Gold Game will culminate the allotted number of 15 spring workouts for head coach Danny Hope’s Boilermakers, who will get started Wednesday, March 25, and practice Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

April 18 will be an exciting day on campus, as the Purdue baseball, men’s golf, softball, women’s tennis and men’s and women’s track and field teams all have home events, and Spring Fest gets under way.

The day will begin with the Purdue Cancer Center Challenge . The 5K run/walk begins and ends at Ross-Ade. Hope is the event’s spokesman and is asking Boilermaker fans to “Take the Challenge, Get Up, Get Fit and Give Back” by raising funds for cancer research at Purdue.