Tiller awards three scholarships

By Paul Trembacki
and Doug Healey

Patience and loyalty have paid off for three former walk-ons on the Purdue football team.

Coach Joe Tiller has awarded full scholarships to fifth-year senior punter Scott Kurz, fifth-year senior quarterback Carl Buergler and junior defensive tackle Brandon Johnson.

"They've earned it," said Tiller. "The fifth-year guys have been around the program a long time and we want to reward their loyalty.

"And when they get it, it's kind of like, 'Well, I know Purdue does this, but you mean it's really my turn?'"

Kurz saw action in nine games last season, averaging 36.4 yards a punt. He will be the team's short-distance punter this season.

"I can't ask for anything better than (a scholarship)," Kurz said. "I've been waiting on it for a long, long time. Now that it's here, me and my family are just happy as can be about it."

Johnson is a transfer from Butler who won the most improved player award on defense this spring season. He has been running plays with the first-team defense in place of injured right tackle Matt Mitrione.

Buergler has not appeared in any games but has played a significant role as the scout team quarterback, simulating the coming opponents' quarterback for Purdue's first-team defense each week. He won the Verle H. Campbell Scout Team Award for offense last season.

Not there yet

Tiller said the Boilers aren't ready to play a game yet, even though the season opener at Cincinnati is only 11 days from today.

"It sounds kind of paradoxical, but I wish we would've had more heat during fall camp," Tiller said.

Although he's well aware of the recent tragedies across the nation involving heat-related deaths during football practice, Tiller wishes his team had been more exposed to the heat so it would condition his team better.

Tiller said a game in the heat would not favor his team, and he hopes Cincinnati had the same sort of weather as Lafayette.

On the positive side, Tiller said, the lack of sweltering heat enabled the team to get more work done, specifically on the offensive line.

Missing Mitrione

One of the 10 starters returning on the Purdue defense may not be returning in time for the Cincinnati game.

Mitrione, a senior who has a streak of 35 consecutive games started, hasn't been cleared to play yet.

He missed all of two-a-days with a stress fracture in the bone that supports the arch of his right foot, but the hard cast he was wearing was removed Sunday.

The question is, will he miss the season opener against the Bearcats?

"If you listen to the voice of reason, yeah," Mitrione said. "If you listen to the voice of a hyperactive 23-year-old, no."

Mitrione will travel to see a doctor in Indianapolis sometime within the next week. Mitrione said the foot is 94 percent healed.

Tiller said it's likely Mitrione will play; Mitrione, however, said he hopes to get in on a few plays and then "take the bye week to chill," referring to the weekend of Sept. 8 when the Boilers don't play.

Other injuries

Starting center Gene Mruczkowski sat out of Tuesday's practice with a light ankle sprain. He will be back today. … Starting middle linebacker Landon Johnson has been practicing with sprained ligaments in his right thumb. He hasn't missed any action; his hand's been heavily wrapped though. … Starting cornerback Ashante Woodyard and receiver Chris James, who both sat out with injuries during the afternoon practices each day during two-a-days the last two weeks, are back at full strength.

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