No. 55 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.

Butch Alder 1981-83, OL

Ian Allen (also 96) 1997-2000, DT-OL

Eric Beatty (also 47) 1991-92, LB

Edward Behanna 1960-62, C

Gregg Bingham 1970-72, MG

James Bolcum 1932, C

Bart Conley (also 97) 1993-94, LB

Pat Conley 1964-66, G

Lou DeFilippo 1943, C

Tom Gibson 1973-76, C-OG

Don Hall 1977-79, C-G

Tom Holden 1969, G

Tom Hughes 1945, T

Lew Pope 1929-30, HB

Don Schrenk 1945, FB

Gary Seitz (also 60) 1986-87, OL

John Thursby 1937-38, 1940, E

Darrin Trieb 1988-90, LB

Brandon Villarreal 2002-present, DT

*Source: Purdue Football Information Guide

When healthy, Gregg Bingham filled the gap at middle guard about as well as any Boilermaker in recent memory.  Known for playing every play to its maximum, Bingham was a two-time All-Big Ten performer in 1971 and '72. The Chicago star likely would have been one of a handful of Boilermakers to make All-Big Ten three years running had it not been for a broken ankle in the upset of No. 3 Stanford in Palo Alto.  Bingham enjoyed a distinguished 12-year career with the Houston Oilers.

Though he wore jersey No. 47 in his first two years, Eric Beatty came into his own after he switched numbers when Coach Jim Colletto came to town in 1991.  Like Bingham, Beatty earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1992. After prepping at Detroit Country Day High School, Beatty was recruited by Coach Fred Akers and became a four-year starter. He ranks third all-time in school annals with 448 tackles, behind Kevin Motts and Fred Strickland.

The reason why Beatty didn't wear No. 55 earlier was because Darrin Trieb had it. Trieb transferred to Purdue from Iowa State, coming to West Lafayette from Ames with defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. Trieb's transfer was controversial in the eyes of Cyclones fans, especially since Trieb was the Big Eight's Newcomer of the Year in 1986. Not surprisingly, Trieb made an instant impact at Purdue, making second team All-Big Ten as a sophomore in 1988.  The talented middle linebacker from Chicago still ranks seventh in solo tackles in school history with 247. 

Born with a nose for the football, Pat Conley was a two-year starter at linebacker in 1965-66. Three decades later, his son Bart Conley was a starting linebacker as a true freshman in 1992, wearing jersey No. 97, waiting for Beatty to graduate. The following year, he had the 55 jersey and moved from the outside to the middle, leading the Boilermakers in tackles with 93. His production trailed off his junior year finishing fifth on the team with 57 tackles. Conley left the program after his junior season.

A high school teammate of Ken Novak from Willowick, Ohio, Tom Gibson was a three-year starter on the offensive line for Coach Alex Agase. Gibson fought off a knee injury late in his sophomore year at Michigan and worked hard to earn the starting job for his junior year in 1975 despite his leg being only 70 percent.

Lew Pope was a starting running back on the school's lone undisputed Big Ten title team in 1929 playing with greats like Glen Harmeson and All-American Ralph "Pest" Welch.  As a senior in 1930, he played with another All-American back-Roy Horstmann.  John Thursby also teamed with a Boilermaker All-American sharing starting duties with Dave Rankin on the '38 squad.

Speaking of all-time great teams, Lou DeFillipo was a starting center on Purdue's most recent undefeated team in 1943. One of the better lineman at Purdue in the 1940s, Tom Hughes was an All-Big Ten performer in 1945 under Coach Cecil Isbell.

Ian Allen was the forgotten man on the Boilermakers stalwart line in 2000, but earning his first extensive starting assignment in his senior year on the Rose Bowl team.  He was a testament to persistence playing in all 37 games as a reserve from 1997-99 before earning the starting nod.  Brandon Villarreal is similar to Allen in that he had to wait his turn as a starter. He is expected to start at defensive tackle this year after playing in 24 games as a reserve.

1. Gregg Bingham

2. Eric Beatty

3. Tom Hughes

4. Darrin Trieb

5. Pat Conley

Read the explanation of the ranking and share your favorite memories of any of the No. 55s on the Knucklehead Central Premium Message Board.

To view the entire list of Boilers By Numbers, click here

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2004. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part, without permission, of editorial or graphical content in any manner is strictly prohibited.