GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 5 38
BY ALAN KARPICK
AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com
O
ne of radio's great radio voices is silent. But
the memories of what that voice meant to all
who heard it won't soon be forgotten.
Joe McConnell, Purdue's football play-by-play an-
nouncer from 1994-2009, died April 8 after a lengthy
illness. Despite the sad event, it evoked a nostalgic
response from Boilermaker fans who listened to him
during a golden era of Purdue football, when the Boil-
ermakers went to 10 bowl games in 12 seasons.
And the list of momentous calls is seemingly end-
less.
The lightning-strike plays that led to Purdue's improb-
able back-to-back wins over Michigan State, with now
legendary coach Nick Saban, in '97 and '98. The Octo-
ber march to the Rose Bowl in 2000 that included in the
span of four games Travis Dorsch's "mulligan" field goal
vs. Michigan; Ashante Woodyard's scoop-and-score after
Craig Terrill's blocked field goal in a walk-off overtime
win at Wisconsin; and Drew Brees-to-Seth Morales to
beat Ohio State. Kyle Orton's 97-yard touchdown pass to
Taylor Stubblefield at Notre Dame in 2004.
All iconic radio calls for iconic plays.
"Joe was as good a play-by-play man as anyone I have
ever heard," said Hall of Fame broadcaster Don Fischer,
who has spent 45 years as football and basketball play-by-
play voice at IU. "He had great use of his inflection, and
I think that crescendo is a great word to use to describe
P R E S E N T S T H E L I F E O F L E G E N D A R Y B R O A D C A S T E R J O E M C C O N N E L L
Silent But Never
Forgotten
McConnell forever left his mark on Purdue football
Sandra Dukes
Purdue has lost two of its football icons in Joe McConnell (left) and
Joe Tiller in the last six months. McConnell forever left his mark at
Purdue, lending his golden voice to Tiller's successful stint.
