Sept. 7, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Although a return appearance was planned for this fall in Ross-Ade Stadium, safety and liability concerns have forced athletics administrators to eliminate the cannon that was fired after the Boilermakers scored in games during the 1998 season.
The 75 mm howitzer became a fan favorite two years ago. Plans were in place to bring back the howitzer for the six-game home schedule.
After a number of test-firings and discussions with Purdue safety officials and the insurance company that provides coverage for Ross-Ade Stadium, a decision was made to discontinue the budding tradition.
"To many fans, the howitzer occupied just that small space in the north end of the stadium," said Jay Cooperider, director of communications for the Purdue Athletic Department. "To our insurance carrier and to administrators in the department, it occupied the whole stadium because the sound of the blast fills the entire stadium."
During test-firings, sound readings were taken throughout the stadium. Some of those readings were found to be in excess of accepted standards for sound that can damage hearing. Further, the area immediately in front of and to the sides of the barrel of the howitzer would have to be cleared of all players, officials, cheerleaders and others before the howitzer could be fired.
"With several of our games set for regional or national television, we would have had a much greater challenge in clearing people from the area in front of the gun," Cooperider says.
The Purdue Army ROTC and the Indiana National Guard provided the howitzer in 1998 and again this fall for testing.
"We appreciate the hard work by the ROTC officers and cadets to make this happen, and the Indiana National Guard for providing the howitzer," Cooperider says. "We had hoped the howitzer could make a return and become a regular part of the rich tradition of Purdue Boilermaker football."