Boilermakers beat Michigan 38-36
Sunday, November 08, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
Read more: Michigan Wolverines, Purdue Boilermakers, NCAA Football, Big Ten Conference, Michigan Stadium, College, NCAA Football
Joey Elliott did what no Purdue quarterback since Bob Griese had done at Michigan Stadium.
ANN ARBOR (AP) --
He won.
Elliott threw for a career-high 367 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, leading the Boilermakers to a 38-36 comeback victory over Michigan, their first win at the Big House since 1966.
While the Boilermakers were smiling, the Wolverines were crying because their 4-0 start might turn into a 5-7 flop.
"Any time you invest so much time and effort into something, you're bound to cry," Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko said.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez got emotional after his news conference when retiring athletic director Bill Martin tried to share with him some encouraging words.
The Boilermakers (4-6, 3-3 Big Ten) trailed 24-10 at halftime. The Wolverines (5-5, 1-5) collapsed in the third quarter again, allowing 21 points for the second week in a row.
Michigan is in danger of going two straight seasons without a bowl for the first time since 1973-74.
After the game, according to Rodriguez, Purdue coach Danny Hope introduced guard Zach Reckman and said, "Thanks, Coach, we appreciate what you did."
Reckman was suspended for a game in September because of a late hit against Northern Illinois. Rodriguez said on the same day he would ask the Big Ten to punish non-football acts after seeing a player hit an opponent with a forearm on TV.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
