Boilers By Numbers: No. 73

No. 73 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.

Below is a list of all Boilermakers who donned the No. 73 jersey*:

Chris Barr 1975-76, DT

Bob Becker 1957-59, T

Don Brumm, 1960-62, T

Paul Calvert 1929-31, E

David Cohen 1998, OL

Vernon Craig 1934, HB

John Doyle 1970, 1972, DT-OT

Jim Janosek 1949-50, T

Jim Kleidon 1969, T

Frank Kmet 1988-91, DL

Bill Kraker 1987, OL

Steve Krol (also 66) 1977-78, OG

Bill Murray 1946-49, G

Ray Pacer 1951-52, T

Mike Popovich 1942, FB

Donald Roy Schwer 1980, OL

Jerry Shay 1963-65, T

Pat Snyder 1982-85, C

Galen VanSant 1938, HB

*Source: Purdue Football Information Guide

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Gold & Black.com's Top No. 73s:

In the early days of Coach Jack Mollenkopf's coaching career, he was known for having staunch line play. Two outstanding examples of this notion were All-Americans Don Brumm and Jerry Shay. Brumm, a 1962 selection, and Shay, a 1965 honoree, had more things in common than the jersey number, though there careers never overlapped (Shay was a freshman when Brumm was a senior). They both hailed for the Northwest Indiana; Brumm from Munster and Shay from Gary. Both were workmanlike, tough guys that loved mixing it up in the trenches. Both enjoyed lenghthy pro careers, Brumm with the Cardinals and Eagles and Shay with the Vikings, Falcons and Giants.

Bob Becker, a native of Marietta, Ohio, preceeded Brumm and Shay as a starting right tackle on the 1959 team.

Slowed by injuries, Frank Kmet came to Purdue with much of the promise of Shay and Brumm. Kmet, a Chicago-area native, was part of Fred Akers' talented 1988 recruiting class, and drew starting assignments from 1989-91. He managed a career-high 95 tackles from his defensive line position his junior year and a team-high seven sacks for Coach Jim Colletto as a senior in '91.

The third in the line of five Barr brothers, Chris Barr was a starting defensive tackle in 1976 posting 84 tackles, including six for loss.

Pat Snyder was a long-snapper for Coach Leon Burtnett and became so proficient that he got a chance to do it professionally as a taxi-squad player for the Indianapolis Colts when Burtnett coached there.

Bill Murray saw starting duty at tackle in Coach Stu Holcomb's first three seasons at the helm (1947-49). Murray played along side former Chicago Bears head coach Abe Gibron and all-time great Ned Maloney on the Boilermaker line. Jim Janosek and Ray Pacer also were starters on the Boilermaker lines from 1949-52. Janosek was named team MVP of the '50 squad, the unit that put an end to Notre Dame's 39-game unbeaten streak with a 28-14 win at South Bend.

Paul Calvert was a starting end for Coach Noble Kizer in 1930 and '31, playing on the same squad with All-Americans Paul Moss, Charles "Ookie" Miller and Roy Horstman. The Boilermakers won a share of the Big Ten title in Calvert's senior year of 1931.

Our ranking of the best No. 73s:

1t. Don Brumm, Jerry Shay

3. Jim Janosek

4. Frank Kmet

5. Chris Barr, Paul Calvert

Share your favorite memories of any of the No. 73s on the Knucklehead Central.

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