Purdue University received its unique moniker, The Boilmakers, from a football game in the late 1890s in which they defeated their rival school 44-0. In their recounts of the game, the local newspapers referred to Purdue's football players as boil makers, a common task for the school's brute engineers. The name stuck and remains the name of Purdue's athletic teams today. Over the years also have been called "Pumpkin shuckers," "cornfield sailors" and "foundry hands."
As the Boilmakers, the school's mascot is the Boilmaker Special V, which is a locomotive from the Victorian era. The original Boilmaker Special debuted in 1940 and has been replaced over time as it has worn out. The current model has been around since its debut at a football game against Notre Dame in 1993. For its official logo, the school's bookstore uses cartoon character "Purdue Pete."
Purdue's football first played as independents, then joined the Big Ten in the late 1800s. Since then, the football team has won 8 Big Ten titles, most recently in 2000. Purdue's biggest football rivalry is between Notre Dame, Indiana University, and the University of Illinois. In addition, the Boilmakers have played in 15 bowl games, most recently winning the Motor City Bowl in 2007, defeating Central Michigan University 51-48. Purdue's football team is also referred to as "the cradle of quarterbacks," having produced several NFL Hall Of Fame members, and Super Bowl MVPS. Former Boilmakers turned NFL quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns in the NFL than any other quarterback. Current New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and current Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton were both Boilmakers.
Purdue's athletic teams have only won two national championships ever; one in women's golf and the other in women's basketball. Men and women's basketball have won more conference titles than any other school in the Big Ten conference with 27 titles.
Formed in the late 1880s, Purdue's marching band is called the All American Marching Band. Plays at every home football game and has also been the host band for the Indy 500 over 90 times.
