The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

The Purdue Boilermakers came into Detroit steaming along to finish the season with a 7-6 season.  The Western Michigan University Broncos appearing in a Bowl game for the first time since 2007 had a record of 7-5.  The Little Caesars Bowl which was formerly the Motor City Bowl was looking to attract a great crowd at Ford Field with two relatively local teams competing. 

Western Michigan University would be highlighting 3rd Team All-American wide receiver Jordan White who has set all kinds of WMU and Mid-American Conference records on the way to All-American honors.  Purdue came into the game with dual quarterbacks sharing the signal calling this season in Robert Marve and Caleb Terbush. 

Former Purdue alumni and NFL alumni players Stuart Schweigert and Dennis Wirgowski got together to talk about their days in West Lafayette.  Also along to visit was brother and former tight end Nigel Wirgowski who also lettered as a Boilermaker.  They spent a couple of hours talking about their playing days and what was in store at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with Purdue facing Western Michigan University. 

The Boilermakers would defeat the Western Michigan University Broncos 37-32 in one of the strangest Collegiate games that I have ever seen.  Their were several interceptions that while being returned were then fumbled by the team.  We also saw a couple of successful onside kicks by Purdue.  In fact what got the ball rolling was a normal PAT faked and ran in by the kicker for a two point conversation.

Purdue University's Raheem Mostert ran back a 99 yard kick off return for touchdown early in the game.  In front of a good crowd of 46,177 fans at Ford Field.  Western Michigan's Jordan White had a record setting day at the Pizza Bowl hauling 13 passes for a record 265 yards receiving. 

Two strong goal line stands by the Purdue defense left WMU without any points either time.  If the Broncos would have kicked a simple field goal on both occasions the outcome of the game could have been a possible 38-37 victory for the Broncos.  However the Boilermaker defense held tough and what proved to be the reason the Boilermakers would prevail. 

Former star Boilermaker Stuart Schweigert would take part in 4 Bowl games in his Purdue career from 2000-2003.  He would register 38 tackles in those games which would lead Stuart to being a 3 round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders in 2004.  All in all is was a good week for the Boilermaker faithful.