Toilet paper is my commonality between two of Purdue's biggest wins over Ohio State. That common thread may be in my world only, and in fact I am pretty certain this is a me thing. Yet, it remains with me all these years later.

Back in the day of card sections and senior cords, toilet paper was a big part of the Ross-Ade experience. It was the tradition in the south end zone, where the heart of student section was in those days, that when the Boilermakers scored at touchdown, rolls of toilet paper would be thrown, creating a cascading effect of white streamers.

That tradition has long since been replaced, and I am not certain exactly when and why it ceased - though the 1984 Purdue-Ohio State game might have had something to do with it.

In 1978, my freshman year at Purdue, I remember the "Wipe Woody" toilet paper that students brought to the game by the handful. It was toilet paper with the face of the venerable and irascible Buckeye coach on it. No one knew at the time that it would be Hayes' last loss as the Buckeyes' coach away from Ohio Stadium.

And the "Wipe Woody" toilet paper got a sufficient enough workout in the Boilermakers' 27-16 upset.

Six years later, it was burning toilet paper in the south end zone that created a stir, even though it was just for a few moments. Here are details of those games:

1978

Beating Ohio State was personal for Boilermaker coach Jim Young. The eventual Hall of Famer, who will be visiting Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday night celebrating with the 40th anniversary of Purdue's Peach Bowl championship with dozens of members of the '78 team, played as a collegian for Hayes. Young was part of OSU's 1954 national champion team, before transferring to Bowling Green to finish out his college career.

And there was added incentive for Young and his team in '78. A year earlier Hayes' team drubbed and embarrassed Purdue racing to a 39-0 halftime lead en route to a 46-0 win in Columbus. But things were different the next year, as the Boilermakers' Junk Defense, led by Keena Turner, wreaked havoc on talented OSU quarterback Art Schlichter, allowing Purdue to pull out the 27-16 victory. It catapulted Purdue into the thick of the Big Ten race and helped them to one of its great turnaround seasons in its history. Purdue finished 1978 with a 9-2-1 record, and came within an eyelash of getting to the Rose Bowl.

I still have that toilet paper somewhere in my basement. Apparently I didn't use it all on the October day 40 years ago in Ross-Ade.

1984

Coach Earle Bruce's No. 2-ranked Buckeyes (the most recent second-ranked team Purdue has defeated) came into West Lafayette as a double-digit favorite. The Boilermakers, who had become a surprise team with a 3-1 record under third-year coach Leon Burtnett, were down 17-7 early in the third quarter and things didn't look good. Purdue was having a hard time containing Buckeye back Keith Byars. But midway through the third quarter, things changed dramatically. Junior quarterback Jim Everett caught fire, hitting Steve Griffin on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Purdue scored again to go up 21-17, and then future NFL Hall-of-Famer Rod Woodson had a 55-yard pick six. Not only did the play put Purdue up 28-17, but it caused Ross-Ade Stadium to shake like I had never felt before. Maybe it was because it was the first season I began watching games from the press box as an athletic department intern, but I recall being just a little bit frightened the press box might come down.

Still, the Boilermakers had to hold on until the end, and OSU was driving for the game-winning TD when quarterback Mike Tomczak threw the ball out of bounds to stop the clock, not realizing it was fourth down. An assist has to be given to the chain gang on the west side of the field as in the scramble mode, the down marker hadn't been changed from a 3 to a 4. Oh well.

And about the toilet paper and end zone fire?

The night before there was a riot on Purdue's campus that involved some 2000 students. I am still not sure what it was all about, but the police had to quell the uprising. In the game's closing seconds, as I recall, Ross-Ade was having its own riot. I remember looking down from the press box (I had gathered myself from the earlier fear) and seeing smoke coming from the south end zone and somehow the toilet paper that was laying on the grass had been lit on fire. It never turned into a blaze - it was more of a smoky mess that matched the gray skies on the early October afternoon.

Yes, it is funny what one remembers all these years later. But one can be certain that toilet paper won't be my lasting memory the next time the Boilermakers beat Ohio State. Yes, I am nearing age 60, so maybe I best say I don't think toilet paper will be part of my next experience.

Maybe I will find out Saturday night.