4/17/2020 football Edit

Catching up with ... Cris Dishman

The 54-year-old Dishman and his wife live in Bradenton, Fla.

Tom Dienhart • BoilerUpload

GoldandBlack.com, Associate Editor

Few Purdue defensive backs have enjoyed more lengthy and productive NFL careers than Cris Dishman.

A native of Louisville, Ky., who attended St. Francis DeSales High, Dishman arrived at Purdue in the fall of 1983 in a recruiting class that also included Rod Woodson and Lafayette Jeff legend Doug Downing.

Dishman redshirted as a freshman and went on to solid career at Purdue, where he also ran track. But he arguably was a better pro than college player, as he had to learn the cornerback position at Purdue after arriving as a receiver. Dishman led the Boilermakers with 13 passes broken up as a senior in 1987 and finished his career with 30 PBUs (No. 6 in school history) and nine interceptions as a three-year starter.

After playing at Purdue from 1984-87, Dishman was a fifth-round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1988. And he went on to play 13 years in the NFL, starting 167 of 199 career games. The 6-0, 190-pound Dishman finished his NFL tenure with 43 interceptions, running back three for touchdowns during a career that saw him play with the Oilers, Redskins, Chiefs and Vikings. He was a Pro Bowler in 1991 and 1997, and was All-Pro in 1991.

Dishman has gone on to a lengthy coaching career, working in the World League, CFL, XFL, NFL and college ranks.

GoldandBlack.com caught up with the 54-year-old Dishman, who is married and lives in Bradenton, Fla.

GoldandBlack.com: How did you end up at Purdue?

Dishman: Two things were factors. One was Mr. Bob Holloway, who was an alum. I liked (assistant) Chester Caddas, too. And I liked Coach (Leon) Burtnett. Those three guys, I felt like I could trust them. And No. 2, Purdue was closer than Michigan. I had an offer from Michigan. One of my teammates went to Michigan, Peter Wentworth. Purdue was closer to Louisville. Considering we had a clunker of a car, we didn’t think our car could make it to Michigan.

GoldandBlack.com: You came to Purdue in the fall of 1983 with Rod Woodson, right?

Dishman: Yes, but they redshirted me and switched me from receiver to defensive back. That was kind of eerie for me, getting redshirted and changing positions.

They have the transfer portal now. Back then, there wasn’t a transfer portal. I ended up calling home and crying to my dad who is 89 right now. He probably has answered the phone 20 times in his life. Fortunately for me, he picked the phone up that day and I told him they wanted to redshirt me and move me from receiver. I wanted him to call Michigan to see if I could go up there. My dad listened to my complaints and kindly said, 'Nope, you’ll be alright.' Next thing I know, I hear the phone being hung up on me. I called back and my mom answered. She said my dad just told me what happened. She said they’d send me a care package when they got their checks. I don't know what they are thinking, but they pretty much told me I was gonna stick it out and work it out.

GoldandBlack.com: It turned out pretty good for you, didn’t it?

Dishman: Yes. And luckily, I chose a great seat (at my first team meeting) next to Rod (Woodson). And we have been friends since that day. He said: 'I know you’re upset. It’s OK. I’ll teach you the position.'

GoldandBlack.com: You guys had some talent on defense, right?

Dishman: We had Fred (Strickland), Rod, Donnie Anderson who was a second-round pick of the Colts. We had Kennedy Wilson, Derek Wimberly who got drafted by the Dolphins. We had some guys on defense and some guys on offense (Jim Everett, Ray Wallace, Rodney Carter, Mark Jackson, Steve Griffin).

GoldandBlack.com: What were some of your highlights while at Purdue?

Dishman: I had several. One was in 1984 when we beat Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan, and went to the Peach Bowl. We opened the Hoosier Dome by beating Notre Dame which was ranked (No. 8) in the country. And anytime you win the Old Oaken Bucket, it’s great.

GoldandBlack.com: And you ran track, too.

Dishman: I liked track, but I didn’t like to practice track. I ran track because the first couple of days of spring ball, it usually was cold. I didn't want to be outside. So, I wanted to go do indoor track. Coach Burtnett didn’t want me to practice and not go to meets. Rod was running track, too. I loved running track once I got out of spring ball. It was good to work with Coach (Mike) Poehlein.

GoldandBlack.com: You think you were a better pro than college player?

Dishman: I do. I was a late-bloomer, moving from receiver to cornerback. It took me almost a year. I’m glad they did redshirt me, because it took me almost a year and a half to learn the position, learn how to back pedal and stuff like that. I watched a lot of people, players like Lester Hayes, Michael Haynes, Hanford Dixon, Frank Minnifield, Rod Woodson. I watched those guys play and said: 'I can do this.' And the more I watched, the more confidence I got. I was very fortunate to have a good coach in Ron Mims who was a very good technician. He would not let you get away with bad steps here or there. And I was very, very fortunate to have been drafted by the Houston Oilers because they played the same style defense I played at Purdue. It was a bump-and-run defense. I felt like if I had been drafted by another team, I wouldn't have had that long of a career. It was right up my alley.

GoldandBlack.com: How often to you think about the Houston at Buffalo playoff game in January 1993 when the Oilers blew a 35-3 second-half lead?

Dishman: That Buffalo game is one a lot of people still like to talk about. I think I'm finally getting over it, because I realized that two of touchdowns would have not counted if there was instant replay back then. Don Beebe stepped out of bounds on one TD. On another, Andre Reed bobbled the ball and didn't have two feet inbounds. That’s 14 points. With replay back then, we wouldn’t even be talking about this game. It’s unfortunate there was no replay. Refs make mistakes like everyone. I don't blame the refs. It’s just one of those things as a person now I've learned from. And as a coach, I teach about always finishing never thinking the game is over.

When Bubba McDowell intercepted that pass coming out of halftime and returned it for touchdown, I loosened my pads. I took my knee pads out. I loosened my shoulder pads. I knew they were gonna throw a lot and didn’t need anything weighing me down. I took some air out of my helmet. I started thinking about getting picks. I totally took my mind off the game at hand. It was in front of me. I am guilty of that. I can talk about it now because that's what happened.

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Dishman poses with former Purdue assistant Ray Sherman (left) and ex-Boiler teammate Ray Wallace during their NFL days.

GoldandBlack.com: What was the highlight of your pro career?

Dishman: The highlight of my career was actually getting the call from (Houston executive) Mike Holovak back at Purdue on draft day. I was very excited about getting a chance to fulfill a high school dream. Of course, making the Pro Bowls and getting the chance to play with a guy like a Darrell Green in Washington. That was a highlight. We both went to the Pro Bowl one year together. He’s a family man, a Christian, a very good football player. I learned different techniques from him that I coach today.

One highlight with Kansas City, I intercepted two passes vs. Oakland and sealed the game. There are several things, but the most simple ones are getting drafted and playing with a guy like Darrell, getting to the Pro Bowl and having your peers consider you one of the best.

GoldandBlack.com: Talk about your coaching career.

Dishman: I think I have coached in every league but the Arena League. I started in the World League in Berlin, went to the NCAA, the CFL, NFL and the XFL. It was very fun to get experience from each league. In the Canadian Football League, you have four or five different guys running at you and you have to teach the defensive back different techniques.

GoldandBlack.com: Were do you live now?

Dishman: Bradenton, Fla. My wife's daughter goes to IMG Academy. She just got a scholarship at the University of Pacific for basketball.

GoldandBlack.com: When’s the last time you were back at Purdue?

Dishman: I haven't been back for a while. The last time back, I donated some funds for the locker room. I keep saying I need to get back, but I am usually busy during football season. I keep saying I want to get back to at least a basketball game, or do something like that. I am trying to get back as soon possible.

GoldandBlack.com: Who do you stay in touch from your Purdue days?

Dishman: Of course, Rod. Don Anderson, Anthony Rose. We still have an interesting group. I am grateful I went to Purdue. I learned a lot and made great friends.

Dishman spent two years with the Redskins, where he learned from Hall of Famer Darrell Green.

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