Kenny Thompson
Countdown of the Best RBs Include a Current Boilermaker
Three of the best running backs in Purdue history and a first-round NFL Draft pick head this week’s edition of the best Boilermakers by number. 41 William “Dutch” Fehring Fehring was one of the greatest athletes in Purdue history. One of only two athletes in school history to earn nine letters (three each in football,…
Read MoreCovering Purdue Boiler Greats from No. 31 to 40
From 1887 to 1928, Purdue football did not have a single player earn All-America recognition. That drought ended in 1929 with not one but two All-Americans helping the Boilermakers go undefeated and win the school’s second Big Ten Conference championship. Those two All-Americans, plus Purdue’s all-time rushing leader, head this week’s edition of the best…
Read MoreSeries Continues With 2 Greatest Players in Boiler History
The greatest player in Purdue football history headlines this week’s edition of the best Boilermakers by number. Another player on this list could make an argument for that title had he been allowed to play offense more than once in his four-year career. And then there’s the single-game rushing yards record-holder who went on to…
Read MoreCradle of QBs in Spotlight as March Through Numbers Continues
The Cradle of Quarterbacks takes the spotlight in this week’s countdown of the best players to wear a Purdue football uniform. Purdue’s quarterback history is so rich that one number is shared by a future Pro Football Hall of Fame member and a College Football Hall of Fame selection. 11 Jim Everett Believe it or…
Read MorePurdue By The Numbers: Best Boiler Gridders, Zero through 10
Already picked to finish dead last again in the Big Ten Conference by one national publication, the Purdue football program hasn’t always been in dire straits. When I began researching this upcoming series of columns highlighting the best Boilermakers by uniform numbers, I was surprised to find that almost half of the first 11 players…
Read MoreVeteran Sports Scribe Taking Wait-And-See Approach With Purdue
The days of Purdue athletics being described as “cheap” are over. Athletic director Mike Bobinski, university president Mung Chiang and the Purdue University Board of Trustees, whether willingly or figuratively kicking and screaming, really had no choice to be part of the revenue sharing agreement that is a major part of the House vs. NCAA…
Read MoreCurrent Run Reminiscent of Pacers’ ABA Glory Days
The Indiana Pacers may be playing for the organization’s first NBA championship this month but there are those of us old enough to remember when Indianapolis was title town in the early 1970s. Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis and former Purdue star Billy Keller played on three ABA championship teams back in the days…
Read MoreZach Edey, Daniel Jacobsen, Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti and Other Notes
Yahoo Sports NBA Draft analyst Krysten Peek called him “one of the worst picks I’ve seen in draft history.” That was her instant analysis of Purdue great Zach Edey going ninth overall to the Memphis Grizzlies last June. “If I’m wrong, I’m happy to take the L,” Peek said. One of the worst picks in…
Read MoreIt’s All About Purdue Boilermakers, By The Numbers, This Week
While playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europe’s top professional basketball league, Omer Mayer wore No. 10. That number was unofficially off limits to Mayer when the 6-4 guard signed to play the 2025-26 season with Purdue. Only five Boilermakers since the 1950s have worn No. 10 but it will always be associated with Rick…
Read MorePurdue Football Rebuilding; Question is: How Good Will They Be?
Not since the years after the Civil War has there been a bigger reconstruction project than the one facing Barry Odom in his first few months as Purdue football head coach. OK, so I’m exaggerating but let the numbers tell the story of how the Boilermaker program is being rebuilt from the studs. 25 That’s…
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