Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/558473
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 6 75 BY ALAN KARPICK AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com P ositive or negative? There is definitely a differ- ence of opinion on "Spoiler- maker," a term used in the history of Purdue football. Former Boilermaker players asso- ciated with winning teams tend to view it as a derogatory term, while the ones who were on losing teams that pulled the colossal upsets have a much different view. It is generally believed that the term was coined in the 1950s, prob- ably a by-product of old movie news- reels. And it was in that decade that the Boilermaker football program pulled its greatest shockers and truly became a national program. Sure, the Boilermakers were ex- tremely competitive on a national level in the days of Coaches Jimmy Phelan and Noble Kizer (1929-36), but college football was just start- ing to get its mojo in the days of the Great Depression. But it took end- ing Notre Dame's 39-game winning streak in 1950 to really put Boiler- maker football in the consciousness of a nation that was falling in love with college football. By my definition two things had to happen for it to be termed as a true Spoilermaker victory: No. 1, Purdue had to have a losing record at the time of the upset or finish the season with a losing ledger, and No. 2, the victim had to be ranked in the top-10 nationally. Here are my top seven that fit the above criteria: Purdue 28, No. 1 Notre Dame 14; Oct. 7, 1950 This was the game that may have started Purdue's reputation for great upsets. Sophomore Dale Samuels led the Boilermakers to an easy win over the Irish on that rainy day in South Bend. The victory ended the top-ranked Irish's 39-game victory string and sent them into a tailspin for the remainder of the 1950 sea- son, finishing 4-4-1. Purdue, under coach Stu Holcomb, ended the year just 2-7. Purdue 6, No. 1 Michigan State 0; Oct. 24, 1953 The Spartans had a 20-game unbeaten string snapped as Dan Pobojewski scored on a short run. "Pobo" had been, in essence, cut from the Spartans before heading to West Lafayette. The loss to Pur- due kept the Spartans from another national title as MSU finished third the final AP poll. Purdue finished ... 2-7. Purdue 26, No. 3 Stanford 14; Oct. 3, 1970 On the heels of a 48-0 defeat at Notre Dame the week before the trip out West, Coach Bob DeMoss' team pulled quite the surprise. The loss didn't ruin Stanford's season, however, because the Indians (the schools' politically incorrect name at the time) managed to shake off their first loss of the season and later upset Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, which cost the Buckeyes a national title. Purdue 31, No. 2 Notre Dame 20; Sept. 28, 1974 The Boilermakers' 24-point first quarter ranks as the greatest 15 minutes of football in school an- nals. Notre Dame was a 35-point favorite and Purdue, under sec- ond-year coach Alex Agase, finished a disappointing 4-6-1 and lost to Duke the next week. Notre Dame lost just once more that season and won an Orange Bowl title and had a No. 6 final ranking in Coach Ara Parseghian's final year at the helm. Purdue 16, No. 1 Michigan 14; Nov. 6, 1976 In terms of truly spoiling one's season, this one takes the cake. Leg- endary coach Bo Schembechler nev- Tom Campbell Joey Elliott is mobbed by his family moments after the win over No. 7 Ohio State six years ago. PRESENTS: PURDUE'S GREATEST STORIES AND TRADITIONS Why Spoilermakers? Term not beloved by all