WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Joe Tiller savored every moment from Saturday’s send-off.

He raised his arms in victory after twice getting doused with ice cubes. He conducted the Purdue band as it played the school fight song one last time. He cherished the opportunity to speak to players and fans from the field, inviting them to visit him in Wyoming and even shedding a few tears.

Yes, it was a fitting tribute for the man who spent a dozen seasons restoring Purdue’s pride, and the Boilermakers made sure nothing would detract from Tiller’s farewell party.

Curtis Painter threw for 448 yards and five touchdowns, and Purdue opened with 10 straight scoring drives as the retiring coach reclaimed the Old Oaken Bucket with a 62-10 rout over Indiana.

“Does it get any better than this, I don’t know? What a way of finishing the season and finishing a career,” Tiller said. “They got me with the bath. My shorts are stuck to me right now, I actually need to go take a shower.”

It looked like a throwback to Tiller’s early days when the innovative spread offense confounded Big Ten defenses – except Saturday’s finale was far sweeter.

Purdue produced the fourth-highest point total in the history of a 111-game series, and the 52-point margin was the largest between the teams since the turn of the century – the 20th century. The last time a Bucket game was this lopsided: Purdue 64, Indiana 0 in 1893.

Tiller wasn’t the only one celebrating.

Running back Kory Sheets ran 15 times for 61 yards, passing Otis Armstrong for second on the school’s career list in yardage. He also broke the school’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns, scoring twice in the first half to surpass the 14 scored by Tony Butkovich, Leroy Keyes and Mike Alstott. Sheets added No. 16 on a 17-yard run late in the third quarter.

Painter was 38-of-54, throwing for a season-high in yards and moving into third on the Big Ten’s career list for total offense.

And Tiller finished with win No. 87 – three more than Jack Mollenkopf won during his 14 seasons in West Lafayette.

“He gave us all a chance and we owe him everything,” linebacker Anthony Heygood said. “This is a great way to send him out.”

The Boilermakers were almost perfect.

Painter opened the game with a 9-yard TD pass to Desmond Tardy, followed that with a 79-yard TD pass to Aaron Valentin and then the Boilermakers recovered a pooch kick that Indiana couldn’t get to. The miscue led to a 24-yard field goal from Carson Wiggs to make it 17-0 just 8:54 into the game, and the rout was on.

But the Boilermakers were only getting started.

Before the quarter ended, Painter hooked up with Brandon Whittington for a 5-yard TD and before the half ended, Sheets had scored two more times.

Indiana’s answer was a 27-yard field goal, not nearly enough with Purdue building a 41-3 halftime lead.

“I think they played a great football game,” Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. “They certainly executed well on offense. They did what they had to do, we just didn’t do enough on offense to keep them off the field.”

After adding two more TDs in the third quarter, the party really kicked into high gear.

Purdue’s players listened attentively as Tiller’s wife, Arnette, addressed the crowd between quarters and when music played, the defensive players danced.

Indiana did get a 16-yard TD pass from Kellen Lewis to Ray Fisher, but that only made it 55-10.

Keith Smith caught 12 passes for 136 yards, while Tardy finished with nine receptions for 114 yards and the band played “Happy Trails to You” as Tiller walked off the field for the final time, with his family.

“It just means I’m going to have one more Miller Lite,” Tiller said. “I was going to limit myself to 12 or 13. This game won’t change my mind (on coming back). I’m done with coaching.”

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Javon Ringer scored two touchdowns and No. 18 Michigan State used a dominating defense Saturday to stay alive in the Big Ten title chase with a 21-7 victory over Purdue.

The Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten), who are off next week, will rest up for a Nov. 22 showdown at No. 3 Penn State, with at least a share of the conference title on the line.

The Spartans last won a share of the Big Ten crown in 1990.

Purdue (3-7, 1-5) was officially eliminated from bowl contention in coach Joe Tiller’s final season.

Ringer, one of 16 Spartans playing their final home game Saturday, had 121 yards on 32 carries. He entered the game ranked second in the nation at 142.7 yards per game. He is the second-leading career rusher in Michigan State history, trailing only Lorenzo White.

Ringer gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead with a fourth-down, 1-yard touchdown run on the Spartans’ opening possession. His 1-yard TD run early in the second half gave Michigan State a 21-0 lead.

With just 9 seconds left in the first half, Michigan State defensive back Johnny Adams stepped in front of a Justin Siller pass and returned the interception 40 yards to give the Spartans a 14-0 halftime lead.

Purdue, hampered by turnovers all season, never recovered.

Siller started his second consecutive game in place of injured senior Curtis Painter. Siller was shaken up in the middle of the third quarter and replaced by Chris Bennett, but returned to the lineup later in the quarter.

Painter hurt his throwing shoulder Oct. 25 against Minnesota.

The Boilermakers couldn’t generate much offense, particularly when it mattered most.

Purdue avoided a shutout by scoring with less than 1 minute to play on Siller’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Purdue generated only 191 yards of total offense. Siller was 13-of-30 for 83 yards. Kory Sheets had 93 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Michigan State had 300 yards of offense. Quarterback Brian Hoyer was 10-of-22 for 154 yards with two interceptions.

Michigan State gave the Boilermakers chances to stay in the game by missing out on several scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half.

Late in the second quarter, an illegal procedure penalty left kicker Brett Swenson with a 44-yard field goal attempt into a howling November wind. The kick was on target but fell short in a powerful gust.

One Spartans drive ended with an Ashton Leggett fumble inside the Purdue 25. Another ended when Purdue’s Torri Williams intercepted a Brian Hoyer pass at the Purdue 27.

Another second quarter drive ended when Ringer was stopped on a 4th-and-1 run at the Purdue 10.

But the Boilermakers couldn’t capitalize.

The Boilermakers have a 19-game winless streak against teams ranked in the Top 25.

Purdue had won seven of the last nine meetings in the series, including two straight in East Lansing, before Saturday’s loss.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue’s Justin Siller and Greg Orton tossed out Michigan’s generations-long streaks of success.

Siller passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and Orton lateraled to Desmond Tardy after a catch for the final score with 26 left in the Boilermakers’ 48-42 victory over slumping Michigan on Saturday.

The win by Purdue (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak and assured Michigan (2-7, 1-4) of its first losing season since 1967, ending any possibility the Wolverines had to extend their streak of 33 straight bowl appearances.

Michigan, which has lost five in a row, tied the game at 42 with 1:20 to go on the third touchdown run by Brandon Minor.

But Siller, starting in place of injured Curtis Painter, quickly passed 18 yards to Keith Smith and 20 yards to Tardy, taking Purdue to the Michigan 35. After a 3-yard run by Siller, he passed 4 yards to Orton, who flipped the ball to Tardy for the go-ahead score.

Michigan’s desperation heave into the end zone with no time remaining fell harmlessly to the turf, sending the Wolverines to a school-record seventh loss.

Orton also had a touchdown reception. Kory Sheets, who rushed for three touchdowns, had the third TD catch from Siller, who finished 21-of-34 for 266 yards passing.

Sheets rushed for 118 yards, and his four touchdowns tied his career high with the Boilermakers, who kept alive their hopes for a possible 11th bowl bid in retiring coach Joe Tiller’s 12 seasons. It also marked the most points by Purdue and the most combined points in the 54-game series with Michigan.

Siller, a third-stringer until backup Joey Elliott had a season-ending shoulder separation two weeks ago and Painter went down with a similar injury last week, twice rallied the Boilermakers from 14-point deficits. Sheets’ second touchdown run, a 3-yarder late in the second quarter, pulled Purdue within 28-21 at halftime, then a 35-yard pass to Orton set up Siller’s 7-yard pass to Sheets that tied the game at 28 early in the third quarter.

The game was tied again at 35 after a 5-yard run by Sheets late in the third quarter and a 12-yard run by Minor early in the fourth quarter. Midway through the period, Purdue linebacker Anthony Heygood took the snap on a fake punt and ran 61 yards to the Michigan 7, and three plays later Siller hit Orton from 4 yards out for a 42-35 lead.

Minor’s third TD run from 1 yard out tied the game for the final time.

Michigan also got two touchdown passes from Steven Threet and a 73-yard punt return for freshman Martavious Odoms’ first career TD.

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.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s Homecoming events will include a full week of activities for students and the public, including the traditional pep rally, parade, fireworks and family activities.
The week’s events run Monday (Oct. 20) through Saturday (Oct. 25) and include the noon kickoff Homecoming game on Saturday, in which Purdue takes on Minnesota.

“We are excited to be able to bring so many events into the Homecoming mix this year,” said Kirk Cerny, executive director and CEO of the Purdue Alumni Association. “Our students have new events for their entertainment, including a charity date auction. The public and Purdue family can enjoy the many displays, activities and charitable events associated with Homecoming, such as our blood drive. The week is truly a chance for everyone to get caught up in Boilermaker pride.”

The week before activities start, student organizations will help get the campus in the mood for Homecoming by painting the windows of businesses in the campus area. The groups are encouraged to include this year’s theme of “Purdue Sports Classics” in their decorations.

Homecoming-themed shirts are available for purchase at Follett’s bookstores on campus. The shirts feature a design highlighting the Purdue-Minnesota game on the front and a list of Purdue Student Union Board homecoming events on the back. The shirts sell for $15, with $2 of the price benefiting the board.

The festivities get under way with the Homecoming Kick-Off Cook Out at noon on Monday (Oct. 20). Purdue Student Union Board will pass out hot dogs, chips and drinks free of charge to Purdue West Lafayette students on Memorial Mall who show their Purdue identification card. Games and inflatables also will be set up.

On Tuesday (Oct. 21) a new event, the CandiDATE auction, is slated for 7 p.m. on the ground floor of the Purdue Memorial Union. Audience members are encouraged to bid on dates with Homecoming King and Queen candidates. The highest bidders will receive gift cards donated by local restaurants and businesses to take their candidates on a date. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Lafayette Boys and Girls Club.

A blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 22) in the Purdue Memorial Union’s South Ballroom. The drive is part of the Purdue vs. Indiana University Blood Donor Challenge, and all donations collected on that day will go toward Purdue’s total. The public is encouraged to attend. In addition, student groups participating in spirit week will gain points for the competition through donations.

Gutter Ball the Gophers is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 23). The Union Rack and Roll will offer $2.50 per hour billiards, $1 bowling games and free shoe rental for all Purdue students with a Purdue ID. Other games, prizes and music will round out the evening at the bowling alley and billiard center located in the Purdue Memorial Union.

Also on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., lawyer, writer and actor Ben Stein will headline the Krannert School of Management’s eighth annual Leadership Speakers Series. Tickets are sold out, but media are invited to attend. Journalists who wish to cover the dinner should contact Tim Newton, Krannert School director of external relations and communications, at (765) 496-7271, tnewton@purdue.edu; or Tanya Brown, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu. For more information, go to http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081013CosierLead.html

The 8th Annual Boilermaker Night Train parade will begin at 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 24) on McCormick Road by Purdue Village. The parade route will begin at the corner of McCormick and State Road 26 (State Street), head north on McCormick Road, turn east on Third Street, head north on Martin Jischke Drive, turn west on Stadium Avenue and end at Slayter Hill. The parade will feature floats by student and community groups and will include both walking and motorized entries.

A pep rally will follow on Slayter Hill around 9 p.m. The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and Purdue cheerleaders will perform. Fireworks are scheduled to begin immediately following the pep rally.

The Homecoming king and queen will be announced and crowned during the pep rally and will be introduced during halftime of the Purdue-Minnesota game on Saturday (Oct. 25).

To view a list of Homecoming court members, go to http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081010H-PSUBHomecoming.html.

From 9-11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 25) the celebration on the Purdue Mall will feature more than 40 tents housing displays by colleges, schools, departments and divisions as well as the dedication of two new landmarks on the Purdue campus.

During an invitation-only ceremony at 9 a.m., the “Unfinished Block P” sculpture will be dedicated. The sculpture is designed to symbolize that all people are works in progress and are never completely finished in the process of growing and learning. Rita and Rick Hadley, from Moments in Bronze in Otterbein, Ind., crafted the sculpture. Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Christy Jones, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu.

At 10 a.m., the graduating classes of 1958 and 1959 will dedicate an arch and make other announcements involving support for the university. The “Gateway to the Future” arch and other announcements are gifts to Purdue from the two classes on the 50th anniversary of their graduating years. Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Tanya Brown, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu.

Among the displays on the mall will be a children’s activity area featuring a “big bounce house” with inflatables and an obstacle course. A balloon artist and face painters also will entertain children.

The Discovery Park tent will include a laser-cutting machine that manufactures football key chains. Visitors can keep a keychain and play games for a chance to win glow-in-the-dark footballs. Many tents will offer trivia games and other challenges.

Performances by musical groups and other artists will be featured on the stage between Schleman Hall and the Heine Pharmacy building on Stadium Mall Drive. Scheduled acts include the Purdue Juggler and Unicycle Club, the Black Voices of Inspiration and the Purduettes.

Five area restaurants – Pizza Hut, Subway, Dairy Queen, Sgt. Preston’s and Moe’s Southwest Grill – will operate the Boiler Food Court near the stage.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will make remarks on the stage at 11 a.m.

The Purdue Mall festivities will end with President Córdova and first gentleman, Chris Foster, leading Purdue’s “All-American” Marching Band and Purdue alumni and friends to Ross-Ade Stadium for the noon kickoff.