No. 23 Boilermakers

Leading into the Sept. 5 season opener against Syracuse, GoldAndBlack.com will count down the days 'til the 2004 lidlifter by highlighting the former Boilermakers who wore the jersey corresponding to the days remaining until kickoff.

Thomas Adams (also 0) 1991-92, DB

Mike Augustyniak 1978-79, FB

Willie Burroughs 1995-98, DB-LB

Daryl Calhoun 1981, TB

Warren Calhoun 1983, WR

Sam Carter 1969, 1971, DHB

Chris Clopton (also 85, 2) 1999-2000, DB

Tom Fugate 1962-64, HB

Leroy Keyes 1966-68, HB-DHB

Kevin Noel 2001-present, WR

Kendall "Skip" Peterson 1972-74, FB

Edward Risk 1929-31, HB

Travis Sutton (also 27) 1986, DB

Kennedy Wilson (also 42, 41) 1984-85, DB

*Source: Purdue Football Information Guide

It’s Leroy Keyes day on GoldandBlack.com. Every player that has worn the jersey since Keyes dominated the Boilermaker landscape from 1966-68 has had a little extra weight on his shoulders with the burden of wearing that jersey.

Keyes' playing career is something which legends are made. A two-time All-American in 1967 and ’68, Keyes finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior in 1967 and runner-up to O.J. Simpson in 1968. He was the Big Ten MVP as a junior in ’67.

The Newport News, Va., native could run, pass, catch and kick. He is Purdue’s all-time leader in career (5.88) and season (6.6, ’67) rushing average. Keyes, a high school quarterback, attempted 22 passes on the halfback option as a Boilermaker and an amazing eight went for touchdowns. Despite only playing his junior and senior seasons primarily on offense, Keyes tied All-American end Jim Beirne as the leader in receptions in 1967 with 45 and finished just two behind Bob Dillingham with 33 catches as a senior in ’68. He also handled the Boilermakers’ kickoff duties as well.

As a sophomore when he spent the majority of time at defensive back, he led the team with four interceptions and returned a fumble 95 yards for a score in his second college game at Notre Dame. He also had a game-high 11 tackles in that contest.

On the football field, there wasn’t anything that Leroy Keyes could not do.

Interestingly, there were only two Boilermaker letterwinners before Keyes to wear the jersey. Ed Risk played on Big Ten title teams in 1929 and ’31 and was a starting left halfback in ’30 and ’31. Tom Fugate played left halfback and was listed as a part-time starter as a sophomore in 1962. He caught a 54-yard scoring pass on his first offensive play of his career on the opening drive of a 37-0 win over Michigan in Ross-Ade Stadium. Tragically, Fugate injured his neck after the ’62 season in a traffic accident that took the life of Boilermaker halfback Tom Bloom.

There was some burden for the players that wore the 23 jersey after Keyes, however. Sam Carter drew some starting assignments in the defensive backfield in 1969 with 33 tackles and 16 passes broken up, which was second on the team. But there was palpable pressure on Carter by fans, and he never contributed significantly to the program after his sophomore year.

Kendall "Skip" Peterson followed Carter in the jersey and was a reserve running back and flanker that had his career short-circuited to a certain extent by injuries. A few years later, there was no pressure or expectations on a walk-on from Leo, Ind., named Mike Augustyniak. Like most non-scholarship players, Augustyniak rode the bench waiting for his chance. It came in his junior year in 1978, when he earned a handful of carries leading into the season finale against IU. In his first significant action, "Augie" came up big, picking up a team-season high 135 yards rushing in the Boilermakers 20-7 Bucket victory. As a senior in 1979, he scored four touchdowns and rushed for 398 yards and once again had his best game of the year against IU, scoring a pair of first quarter touchdowns en route to a 37-21 win. Augustyniak made the most of his talents and played three years in the NFL for the New York Jets.

Chicago native Kennedy Wilson wore the jersey as a starting strong safety in 1984 and ’85 after wearing No. 42 in ’83. He had eight career interceptions, including three (tops on the team with Rod Woodson and Don Anderson) on the Boilermakers Peach Bowl team in ’84.

Thomas "Tank" Adams was a two-year starting cornerback from Indianapolis in 1991 and ’92. In 20 career starts, Adams, who was known as an aggressive hitter, thus the nickname, had three career interceptions to go along with 162 tackles. Another big-time hitter on the Boilermaker defense was Willie Burroughs. Under Coach Jim Colletto in 1995 and ’96, he played strong safety finishing fourth on the team in stops with 67 as a true freshman. Coach Joe Tiller moved him to linebacker for his final two years where he added 67 tackles (fourth best on the team) in 1997.

After Burroughs finished his playing days as a Boilermaker, Chris Clopton switched to jersey 23 for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He started the majority of games in those two years in the defensive backfield. Clopton, who now serves on Tiller’s staff as a graduate assistant, still ranks first in school annals in kickoff return yards with 1,553, 18 more than Rod Woodson.

Junior receiver Kevin Noel is looking to overcome injuries to enjoy a breakout season in 2004. He has nine career receptions to date.

1. Leroy Keyes

2. Mike Augusyniak

3. Chris Clopton

4. Tom Fugate

5. Willie Burroughs, Tank Adams, Kennedy Wilson

Share your favorite memories of any of the No. 23s on the Knucklehead Central.

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