A capacity crowd of 459 Purdue football supporters said “farewell” to the winningest coach in Boilermaker gridiron history with the Joe Tiller Roast and Toast on Jan. 24 at the University Plaza Hotel Ballroom in West Lafayette, Ind.
A host of coaches, former Boilermaker players and media personalities took parting shots at Tiller, who retired in December as the Boilermakers’ head coach after a 12-year, 87-win career in which he brought Purdue football back to national prominence. His teams went to bowl games 10 times, including an appearance in the 2001 Rose Bowl.
During the event, Tiller was honored as the 2009 recipient of the Distinguished American Award, presented jointly by the executive directors of three Midwest chapters of the National Football Foundation. Geoff Bradley of the Central Indiana Chapter, Chris Kearney of the Chicago Metro Chapter and Jim Vruggink of the Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana were present to hand Tiller a trophy.
The award is given in recognition of a citizen who has maintained a lifetime in the game of football and who has exhibited leadership and patriotism while making a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football and sports in general.
Participating in person at the roast and representing the coaches were Tiller’s successor at Purdue, head coach Danny Hope, and former Washington State head coach (also a former Purdue assistant) Bill Doba, while others participated via video message. They included:
* Former Boilermaker men’s basketball coach Gene Keady,
* Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno,
* Former Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez, and
* Former Purdue assistants Brock Spack (now head coach at Illinois State), Jim Chaney (offensive coordinator at Tennessee), and Gary Emanuel (assistant at Rutgers).
Among the former players invited to participate, Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints quarterback) sent a tape while the following took part in person:
* Rosevelt Colvin (New England Patriots linebacker),
* Brandon Gorin (St. Louis Rams lineman),
* Matt Light (New England Patriots lineman),
* Ryan Baker (former defensive tackle),
* Bart Burrell (former receiver),
* Chris Clopton (former multi-purpose guy),
* Travis Dorsch (former punter/placekicker),
* Jermaine Guynn (former defensive tackle),
* Peter Quinn (former center).
* A.T. Simpson (former receiver),
* Tim Stratton (former tight end), and
* Rob Turner (former offensive guard).
Play-by-play announcer Joe McConnell of the Purdue Radio Network, Lafayette Journal & Courier sportswriter Tom Kubat, WLFI-TV sports director Mike Cleff, Purdue radio network host Nate Barrett, comedian-turned-pastor Dr. Will Miller and Joe’s wife Arnette also played key roles in the program.
The dinner was co-sponsored by the John Purdue Club and the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame’s Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana. Proceeds will go toward scholarships.
“Every true Boilermaker football fan is grateful to Joe Tiller for the excellence he brought to the program,” said Burrell, who volunteers as president of the NFF chapter.
Burrell, who starred as a wide receiver for Purdue in the late 1970s, said Tiller’s impact extends far beyond Ross-Ade Stadium.
“When Joe brought the spread formation to Purdue, he transformed the Big Ten,” Burrell said. “The other coaches had to figure out how to defend it. Then they started using it. Today, nearly every successful team in the country uses some variation of the spread, and Joe was a pioneer.
“Besides being a great coach, Joe is a guy with a great sense of humor,” Burrell added. “The Roast and Toast gave us all a chance to have fun with him and his wife, Arnette, while showing him how much we value what he did for Purdue.”
For more information, contact Jim Vruggink at 765-494-2086 or jvruggink@purdue.edu.
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