Tight end breaks record with 186 career catches

By Greg Conner
Staff Writer

While most Boilermaker fans would like to forget Saturday’s 13-7 loss at Indiana, Purdue tight end Tim Stratton will long remember it. With nine catches for 88 yards against the Hoosiers, Stratton, a 6-4, 253-pound senior from Oak Brook, Ill., surpassed Rodney Carter's 181 career receptions and became Purdue’s all-time career pass reception leader with 186.

"I thought I was going to have (the record) three or four weeks ago," said Stratton. "But it's good to finally have it. It's very important to me. I’m glad I finally achieved it."

Stratton has had a reduced role in the Boilermaker offense this season. But he was freshman quarterback Kyle Orton's go-to guy in the game against the Hoosiers.

"It felt great," said Stratton. "It felt like I was part of the team again. Hopefully it will continue next week."

Purdue coach Joe Tiller said that although the loss hurt, he was happy for Stratton.

"He had a good football game," said Tiller. "I don’t know if I’d even call it a breakout game when it's game ten of the year, but he did a nice job and made some critical catches."

Stratton passed Carter’s record on the fourth play of the third quarter, as he caught a 6-yard pass from Orton. Orton, who made his first career start as a Boilermaker Saturday, said he was looking for Stratton.

"(Tim) told me before that game to just get him the ball and he would catch it," said Orton. "I have a lot of confidence in Tim, I think he is a great player."

Stratton has five career 100-yard receiving games. But he said winning the game would have made Saturday individual achievement more special.

"It was nice to get it, but it is kind of bittersweet," said Stratton. "We had opportunities to score and win this game all day."

While several questionable calls were made, especially late in the fourth quarter, Stratton said the team could not make excuses.

"It hurts," said Stratton. "It really does, but they outplayed us today. I don’t want to sit and gripe about it, we still have another game to play."

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