Purdue, Illinois to battle for traveling trophy Saturday

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Ask a player from Illinois or Purdue how important the Cannon Trophy, the traveling trophy shared between the teams, is to them and you get a common response — what trophy?

Illinois cornerback Eugene Wilson, a junior, wasn't aware that there's a trophy.

"No, I didn't," Wilson said. "Well, we plan on winning it."

Did Purdue receiver Taylor Stubblefield, a redshirt freshman, know about the 96-year-old trophy?

"No, I did not," Stubblefield said.

What about another redshirt freshman, Purdue quarterback Brandon Hance?

"Actually, no," Hance said.

A reporter erroneously asked Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner if he had ever heard of the "cannonball" trophy.

"I always thought it was a cannon," said Kittner, a senior. "I didn't know it was a cannonball."

It is, in fact, a cannon. Apparently some Purdue students took the small device to a game in Champaign, Ill., in 1905 with the intention of firing the cannon after the Boilers' victory; however, Illinois supporters confiscated the cannon before the end of the 29-0 Purdue win. Quincy A. Hall, an Illinois supporter who let the cannon collect dust at his home in Milford, Ill., for 38 years until 1943. That year Purdue and Illinois were resuming annual play after having not played for 12 years.

In the style of the Old Oaken Bucket, the traveling trophy between Indiana and Purdue, the cannon has remained at the victors' school each year since.

The trophy, which has been at Purdue since 1997, will be handed out again after Saturday's game between No. 20 Purdue (5-1, 3-1 Big Ten) and No. 22 Illinois (6-1, 3-1) Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Dorsch's accolades continue

After being named one of 10 finalists for the Ray Guy Award, the annual accolade for the nation's top punter, last week, Purdue kicker Travis Dorsch was named as one of 20 finalists for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top place-kicker.

He and Auburn's Damon Duval are the only two to be on the lists for both the Groza and Guy awards.

Dorsch has made 12 of 15 on field goals and averages two field goals per game — the nation's third best average.

Three finalists will be announced Nov. 12, with the winner to be announced Dec. 4 during a ceremony in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Purdue coach Joe Tiller said Dorsch is actually a better punter than place-kicker.

"He's a 6-foot-6 guy and he has a lot of leverage, so when he hits the ball it usually goes a long way," Tiller said. "He's doing an excellent job, and I hope he continues to do so."

Turnover success

With one more forced turnover Saturday against Northwestern, Purdue improved to eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in turnover margin.

Through six games, Purdue has forced 16 turnovers and committed just nine, for a plus-7 ratio.

"One of the major goals that we established in the preseason was to lead the league in turnover ratio," Hance said. "The defense has done an excellent job in helping us with that. The coaches and players preach ball security all the time. We try to control the ball and not be too risky. As a result, our passing attack has been more conservative."

Purdue defenders have become adept at getting the ball away from offensive players. The Boilers even have two turnovers that they've returned for touchdowns.

"Our coaches stress the importance of getting to the ball and getting the ball out," said linebacker Gilbert Gardner. "The credit goes to our coaches for instilling the importance of creating turnovers. We have been able to carry that out to field."

Time is on their side

Many people have expressed discontent with the 11:10 a.m. start times that have been in effect for Purdue's first three home games.

Because of daylight savings time, Purdue's game with Illinois Saturday will start at 12:10 p.m., giving fans an extra hour to sleep.

Tiller said he thinks his team would agree that earlier games are better.

"We would prefer playing at 11 o'clock versus 3 or 4 o'clock or real late in the afternoon," Tiller said. "If you've heard me talk before, you know where I'm coming from. I'm a traditionalist and I think every single college football game should be kicked of at 1:10 every Saturday forever. But that ain't going to happen, so I guess 12 noon is better than 11."

Purdue found out the start time for Saturday's game with Illinois on Sunday. But Tiller didn't mind the short notice.

"As long as they tell us before we leave the locker room," Tiller said. "Then we're all right."

Pseudo rivalry to restart

Purdue, Illinois to battle for traveling trophy Saturday

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Doug Healey

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