Purdue wants Tiller to go out a winner

After watching his teams rewrite the record books the last 12 years in West Lafayette, Ind., Joe Tiller's Purdue Boilermakers have quite a conclusion brewing for the final chapter.

The 65-year-old Tiller is retiring following this season, and with two wins he'll leave as Purdue's all-time winningest coach.

Tiller's quarterback, senior Curtis Painter, stands 3,030 yards from becoming the all-time leading passer in Big Ten history. Painter also could set records in career completions and touchdowns.

If Painter hits those marks, most of the records he would break belong to Drew Brees, another of the talented quarterbacks to star under Tiller that also includes the Bears' Kyle Orton.

Besides turning Purdue from a team perennially near the bottom of the Big Ten to a team perennially near the top, Tiller will be remembered for bringing the spread offense to the Big Ten and opening up the league's run-first image.

A 6- or 7-win season will send Tiller out with another bowl bid, something that had happened just once the 16 years before he arrived.

That would be a fitting departing gift, but so would a record-setting performance by Painter and Tiller's pass-happy attack that has changed the offensive mind-set in the Big Ten.

"We're going to send him out like he's a senior," Painter said. "You look at the things he's done since he's been there and that's a direct result of him. Winning games, bowl games - that speaks for itself."

Painter will throw to a number of new targets after four of his top five receivers graduated. Only Greg Orton returns with experience, catching 67 passes last year.

Purdue brings back depth in the backfield. Senior Kory Sheets and junior Jaycen Taylor combined for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Wheaton Warrenville South product Dan Dierking will see playing time behind those two. Dierking, a sophomore, ran for 181 yards and 2 TDs last year.

"When he first came to campus I noticed how strong he was," Orton said. "He's a powerful runner and can have a big year."

Defensively, six starters return from a unit that allowed 25 points a game. The kicking game could be a plus with sophomore Chris Summers (18 of 22 field goals).

Purdue already has its next coach in place. Offensive line coach Danny Hope will replace Tiller, who believes he'll be handing Hope a program in good shape.

"I think we've got a chance to be a pretty good football team," Tiller said.