# 1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team

The 1989 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Fred Akers, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing eighth in the Big Ten. It was Purdue's fifth straight losing season. The team played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 9 | | Miami (OH)* | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | | W 27–10 | 38,840 |
| September 16 | | at No. 15 Washington* | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | | L 9–38 | 66,392 |
| September 30 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 1 Notre Dame* | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (rivalry) | ABC | L 7–40 | 67,861 |
| October 7 | | at Minnesota | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | | L 15–35 | 36,621 |
| October 14 | | No. 16 Illinois | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (rivalry) | | L 2–14 | 41,101 |
| October 21 | | at Ohio State | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | | L 3–21 | 89,091 |
| October 28 | | Michigan State | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | | L 21–28 | 41,402 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Michigan | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI | | L 27–42 | 105,128 |
| November 11 | | Northwestern | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | | W 46–15 | 31,470 |
| November 18 | | Iowa | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | | L 0–24 | 31,863 |
| November 25 | | at Indiana | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) | | W 15–14 | 51,502 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Preseason

Brian Fox transferred after spring practice to Florida, citing a desire to be closer to home and head coach Fred Akers' adjustment of the offensive scheme.

## Game summaries
### Notre Dame

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Notre Dame | 14 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 40 |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: September 30
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
* Game attendance: 67,861
* TV: ABC
* Recap/Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
ND – Anthony Johnson 6-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:38. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 55 yards.
ND – Tony Rice 4-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 2:04. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 57 yards.
Second quarter
ND – Jeff Alm 16-yard interception return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:44. Notre Dame 21–0.
ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:35. Notre Dame 28–0.
ND – Ricky Watters 1-yard run (kick failed), 0:14. Notre Dame 34–0.
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
ND – Craig Hentrich 19-yard field goal, 9:47. Notre Dame 37–0.
ND – Craig Hentrich 22-yard field goal, 6:18. Notre Dame 40–0.
PUR – Rodney Dennis 3-yard pass from Steve Letnich (Larry Sullivan kick), 0:33. Notre Dame 40–7.
Top passers
ND – Tony Rice – 12/15, 270 yards
PUR – Steve Letnich – 11/28, 89 yards, INT
Top rushers
ND – Tony Rice – 12 rushes, 67 yards, TD
PUR – Steve Letnich – 13 rushes, 50 yards
Top receivers
ND – Derek Brown – 4 receptions, 101 yards
PUR – Earl Coleman – 2 receptions, 32 yards :

### At Minnesota

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Purdue | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 7, 1989
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 36,621
* Larry Sullivan tied a school record with 51-yard field goal
* Darren Trieb was suspended for the game for violation of team rules
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Purdue | Passing | Jeff Lesniewicz | 13/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | | |
| Purdue | Receiving | | |
| Minnesota | Passing | Scott Schaffner | 9/19, 144 Yds, 2 TD |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Marcus Evans | 102 Yds, TD |
| Minnesota | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PUR | MINN |
| 1 | | | | | Minnesota | Darrell Thompson 7-yard touchdown run, kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Purdue | 51-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 4:16 | | 84 | | Minnesota | Marcus Evans 2-yard touchdown run, kick good | 3 | 14 |
| 3 | | 2 | | | Minnesota | James King 34-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good | 3 | 21 |
| 3 | | | | | Minnesota | Shane Strain 32-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, kick good | 3 | 28 |
| 4 | | | | | Minnesota | Marquel Fleetwood 3-yard touchdown run, kick good | 3 | 35 |
| 4 | 5:17 | | | | Purdue | Jerome Sparkman 20-yard touchdown run, 2-point conversion failed | 9 | 35 |
| 4 | 0:00 | | | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 37-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, 2-point conversion failed | 15 | 35 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 15 | 35 |

### Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Illinois | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: October 14, 1989
* Game attendance: 41,101
Jeff Lesniewicz made his first career start for Purdue
   We feel real good about ourselves. All we did was read in the paper all week was that we were going to lose by 32 points, and Jeff George was going to come in and do his thing.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Illinois | Passing | Jeff George | 24/42, 254 Yds, TD |
| Illinois | Rushing | Howard Griffith | 24 Rush, 94 Yds, TD |
| Illinois | Receiving | | |
| Purdue | Passing | Jeff Lesniewicz | 9/22, 82 Yds |
| Purdue | Rushing | | |
| Purdue | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | ILL | PUR |
| 1 | 9:49 | 16 | 80 | | Illinois | Frank Hartley 3-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | 12:13 | | | | Purdue | Safety, Craig Davisson blocked punt by Brian Menkhausen out of end zone | 7 | 2 |
| 4 | 0:36 | | 80 | | Illinois | Howard Griffith 1-yard touchdown run, kick good | 14 | 2 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 14 | 2 |

### At Ohio State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ohio St | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
* Date: October 21
* Game time: 1:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 89,091
* Referee: Jim Kemerling
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
OSU – Greg Frey 4-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 11:40. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 26 yards, 0:53.
OSU – Carlos Snow 1-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 3:59. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:43.
Second quarter
No scoring
Third quarter
OSU – Carlos Snow 3-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 9:50. Ohio St 21–0. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 0:59.
PUR – Larry Sullivan 25-yard field goal, 5:35. Ohio St 21–3. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 4:15.
Fourth quarter
No scoring
Top passers
PUR – Eric Hunter – 6/16, 147 yards
OSU – Greg Frey – 3/9, 47 yards
Top rushers
PUR – Jerome Sparkman – 18 rushes, 85 yards
OSU – Carlos Snow – 18 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
PUR – Jerome Sparkman – 6 receptions, 86 yards
OSU – Jeff Graham – 2 receptions, 37 yards :

### Michigan State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Michigan St | 0 | 28 | 28 |
| Purdue | 0 | 21 | 21 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: October 28, 1989
* Game attendance: 41,402
Homecoming Jeff Lesniewicz knocked out of game with concussion
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Michigan St | Passing | | |
| Michigan St | Rushing | | |
| Michigan St | Receiving | Courtney Hawkins | 7 Rec, 193 Yds, TD |
| Purdue | Passing | Eric Hunter | 18/26, 253 Yds, 3 TD, INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | | |
| Purdue | Receiving | | |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | MSU | PUR |
| 3 | | | | | Michigan St | Courtney Hawkins 80-yard touchdown reception from Dan Enos, kick good | 14 | 0 |
| 4 | | | | | Purdue | Calvin Williams -yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 28 | 7 |
| 4 | | 5 | 69 | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 20-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 28 | 14 |
| 4 | | 2 | 41 | | Purdue | Abe Hoskins 34-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 28 | 21 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 28 | 21 |

### At Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Purdue | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 27 |
| Michigan | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
* Date: November 4, 1989
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 105, 126
* Box Score
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Purdue | Passing | Eric Hunter | 27/42, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | Jerome Sparkman | 11 Rush, 50 Yds |
| Purdue | Receiving | Calvin Williams | 13 Rec, 156 Yds, 3 TD |
| Michigan | Passing | Michael Taylor | 8/13, 124 Yds, TD |
| Michigan | Rushing | Tony Boles | 13 Rush, 80 Yds, 2 TD |
| Michigan | Receiving | Chris Calloway | 3 Rec, 68 Yds, TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PU | UM |
| 1 | 9:16 | 4 | 77 | 1:23 | Michigan | Tony Boles 39-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | 12:50 | 3 | 9 | 1:17 | Michigan | Desmond Howard 8-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | 5:46 | 8 | 77 | 3:25 | Purdue | Calvin Williams 44-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | 2:31 | 8 | 80 | 3:15 | Michigan | Tony Boles 1-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good | 7 | 21 |
| 2 | 0:09 | 5 | 79 | 0:55 | Michigan | Chris Calloway 29-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac, J.D. Carlson kick good | 7 | 28 |
| 3 | 1:10 | 3 | 16 | 0:57 | Michigan | Leroy Hoard 2-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good | 7 | 35 |
| 4 | 13:03 | 1 | 11 | 0:06 | Purdue | Robert Oglesby 11-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 14 | 35 |
| 4 | 12:52 | | | | Michigan | Kickoff returned 85 yards for touchdown by Tony Boles, J.D. Carlson kick good | 14 | 42 |
| 4 | 6:48 | 3 | 34 | 1:19 | Purdue | Calvin Williams 3-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 21 | 42 |
| 4 | 2:33 | 4 | 61 | 1:14 | Purdue | Calvin Williams 15-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick no good (wide right) | 27 | 42 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 27 | 42 |

### Northwestern

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
| Purdue | 32 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 46 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: November 11, 1989
* Game attendance: 31,470
Purdue snapped a streak of 10 straight games without a first quarter point.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern | Passing | Tim O'Brien | 15/40, 213 Yds, 2 TD |
| Northwestern | Rushing | Bob Christian | 21 Rush, 59 Yds |
| Northwestern | Receiving | | |
| Purdue | Passing | Eric Hunter | 11/24, 263 Yds, 3 TD |
| Purdue | Rushing | Eric Hunter | 9 Rush, 55 Yds |
| Purdue | Receiving | Rod Dennis | 4 Rec, 146 Yds, 3 TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NW | PUR |
| 1 | 13:25 | | | | Purdue | Blocked punt returned 35 yards for touchdown by Rick Smith, Larry Sullivan kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | | | 2:02 | | Purdue | 37-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | 0 | 10 |
| 1 | | | | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 39-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 0 | 17 |
| 1 | | 2 | | | Purdue | Larry Coleman 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good | 0 | 25 |
| 1 | | | 1:02 | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 46-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 0 | 32 |
| 2 | 7:38 | | | | Northwestern | Richard Buchanan 13-yard touchdown reception from Tim O'Brien, kick good | 7 | 32 |
| 3 | 6:32 | | | | Northwestern | Greg Fischer 6-yard touchdown reception from Tim O'Brien, 2-point pass good | 15 | 32 |
| 4 | 11:23 | | | | Purdue | Calvin Williams 44-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good | 15 | 39 |
| 4 | 1:51 | | | | Purdue | Rod Dennis 57-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Lesniewicz, Larry Sullivan kick good | 15 | 46 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 15 | 46 |

### At Indiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Purdue | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| Indiana | 11 | 3 | 14 |
at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
* Date: November 25, 1989
* Game attendance: 51,502
Larry Sullivan kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:51 left and Scott Bonnell missed a 26-yard field goal for Indiana with 1:29 remaining. Fred Akers was carried off the field by his players.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Purdue | Passing | Eric Hunter | 15/24, 184 Yds, TD |
| Purdue | Rushing | Tony Vinson | 9 Rush, 28 Yds |
| Purdue | Receiving | Rod Dennis | 4 Rec, 81 Yds |
| Indiana | Passing | Dave Schnell | 11/21, 99 Yds |
| Indiana | Rushing | Anthony Thompson | 28 Rush, 97 Yds |
| Indiana | Receiving | Anthony Thompson | 4 Rec, 28 Yds |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PUR | IU |
| 2 | | | | | Indiana | Dave Schnell 3-yard touchdown run, Scott Bonnell kick no good | | |
| | | | | | Indiana | 26-yard field goal by Scott Bonnell | | |
| | | | | | Indiana | Safety, Jeff Zgonina snapped ball out of end zone | | |
| | | | | | Purdue | 24-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | | |
| 3 | 1:11 | | | | Indiana | 27-yard field goal by Scott Bonnell | 3 | 14 |
| 4 | 14:42 | 8 | 79 | | Purdue | Calvin Williams 20-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, 2-point pass failed | 9 | 14 |
| 4 | 11:23 | 3 | | | Purdue | 29-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | 12 | 14 |
| 4 | 2:51 | | | | Purdue | 32-yard field goal by Larry Sullivan | 15 | 14 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 15 | 14 |

## Awards

Eric Hunter
* Big Ten Freshman of the Year