Jan. 31, 2014
By Tom Schott
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Good luck to former Purdue football players Cliff Avril of the Seattle Seahawks and Shaun Phillips of the Denver Broncos, who will square off in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. It marks the 15th consecutive year a Boilermaker has been on the roster of a team playing for the Lombardi Trophy - dating to Super Bowl XXXIV, when Jeff Zgonina and the St. Louis Rams defeated Steve Jackson and the Tennessee Titans. Purdue's streak is tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest behind Nebraska (21). Furthermore, a former Purdue player has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 11 of the last 14 years.
Women's Track and Field Achieves Highest National Ranking
In the first 2014 regular-season Division I national team computer rankings, which were released Tuesday, the Purdue women's track and field team earned the highest ranking in program history at No. 14. The Boilermakers are one of just two Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, along with Michigan at No. 12.
On the men's side, the Boilermakers are ranked No. 32.
Throwers from both teams compete at the top-flight Findlay Elite Invite today.
Bunch Honored Again
Senior Dani Bunch picked up her third consecutive Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honor, a first in conference history. At last weekend's Gladstein Invite in Bloomington, Ind., Bunch broke her own school record in the shot put and just missed her personal best in the weight throw. Her shot put of 17.10 meters (56-1.25) won the invitational and ranks second in the nation and 19th in the world. She also won the weight throw at 22.17 meters (72-8.75), just shy of her best-ever effort of 22.35 meters (73-4).
Bunch has been feted as the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week award four times this year and five times in her career.
Clemons Named Co-Player of the Week
Junior forward Liza Clemons was named the Big Ten Women's Basketball co-Player of the Week after averaging 18 points and seven rebounds in a pair of Boilermaker victories over Northwestern and Illinois. She is the first Boilermaker to earn weekly conference honors since Sam Ostarello did so Jan. 15, 2013.
Boudia to Sign Autographs Tomorrow at Big Ten Triple Duals
Olympic gold medalist and Purdue diving alum David Boudia will sign autographs tomorrow prior to Day 2 of the Big Ten Triple Duals meet hosted by Purdue. Boudia will be available from 11 to 11:45 a.m. on the second floor of the Boilermaker Aquatic Center near the entrance to the spectator area. Complimentary photographs will be provided or fans can bring their own Purdue or Team USA item to be autographed.
The Big Ten Triple Duals, featuring Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin, get under way today at 6 p.m. The Boilermakers' 12 seniors will be recognized tomorrow at 11:45 a.m., with the meet resuming at noon. The Purdue men are ranked No. 17 nationally; the women are No. 18.
Purdue Wins Suits and Sneakers Challenge
Purdue was the winner of the Suits and Sneakers Challenge last weekend, an event designated to get attendees dressed up in suit attire with sneakers to further awareness of Coaches vs. Cancer. As a result, the Relay For Life of Purdue University will receive $10,000 towards their event. Purdue outdistanced three other schools that hosted men's basketball games last weekend, topping Indiana, Nebraska and Northwestern.
'Boilermaker Breakdown'
Be sure to catch the new weekly video production "Boilermaker Breakdown" on the Purdue YouTube channel. Click here for this week's show.
Weekend Action
The 24th-ranked wrestling team competes at Indiana at 7 tonight with a point on the line for the Governor's Cup. The Boilermakers play host to No. 12 Ohio State at 7 p.m. Monday ... No. 30 women's tennis (1-1) entertains No. 25 TCU at noon tomorrow, while men's tennis (1-0) travels to No. 7 Baylor on Sunday ... Also on Sunday, men's basketball (13-8, 3-5) travels to Penn State and No. 19 women's basketball (15-6, 5-4) visits Michigan State.
Ackerman Hills Golf Course to Undergo Major Renovation
The Ackerman Hills Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex will undergo a major renovation that will upgrade it to a championship-level facility and earn it inclusion on the Pete Dye Trail. Click here for the answers to some frequently asked questions about the project.
Etcetera
Senior athletic trainer Shelby Edge came to the rescue of a fellow Purdue student whose car flipped after hitting a patch of ice near Crawfordsville, Ind. Edge called 911 and stayed with the student until police arrived ... The deadline to register for the Feb. 5 Football Recruiting Roundup is 5 p.m. ET today. Call the John Purdue Club at 765-494-3248 or send an email ... The Feb. 23 men's basketball game at Nebraska will tip off at 4:15 p.m. ET and be televised by BTN ... The second-annual Golden Pete Awards show is set for Sunday, April 27 ... Congratulations to diving coach Adam Soldati and his wife, Kimiko, on the birth of twins, Rylie and Noah.