Illinois–Purdue football rivalry
The Illinois–Purdue football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Illinois Fighting Illini football team of the University of Illinois and Purdue Boilermakers football team of Purdue University. The Purdue Cannon is presented to the winner of the game. The series is tied at 45–45–6.[2]
First meeting | November 22, 1890 Purdue, 62–0 |
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Latest meeting | October 31, 2020 Purdue, 31–24 |
Trophy | Purdue Cannon |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 96 |
All-time series | Tied, 45–45–6[1] |
Trophy series | Purdue leads, 37–30–2 |
Largest victory | Purdue, 62–0 (1890) |
Longest win streak | Illinois, 6 (1906–1911, 1988–1993) |
Longest unbeaten streak | Illinois, 11 (1906–1919) |
Current win streak | Purdue, 1 (2020–present) |
Locations of Illinois and Purdue |
History
It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the Cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a Boilermaker victory. Although Purdue won 29–0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, discovered it in a culvert by the field and took it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration.
Hall later moved it to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until he suggested it be used as a trophy in the football series between the two schools when the rivalry resumed in 1943 after an 11-year lapse. It was presented at halftime to the schools' athletic directors, Doug Mills and Guy Mackey.[3] Before the Cannon became an annual tradition, Illinois led the series 15–8–2.[4]
The cannon is now maintained by the Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride.[5]
Game results
Illinois victories | Purdue victories | Tie games |
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References
- "Winsipedia - Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Purdue Boilermakers football series history". Winsipedia.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-09-08. Retrieved 2005-04-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Midwest Teams Gearing Up for Saturday Tilts". September 29, 1943. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- "New Grid Rivalry Trophy at Stake Here Saturday". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. September 28, 1943. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-05-29. Retrieved 2005-05-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Official Purdue Athletics Website - Traditions