Nebraska View On Purdue

The Boiling Point: Views on Purdue from Nebraska.

Recently, Sam McKewon of the World-Herald out of Nebraska took a road trip to Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, and Purdue. Purdue seems to have made quite the impression with the new upgrades in athletic facilities as well as the “beautification” of the campus with greenery. Here are the snippets with Purdue. Keep in mind these are thoughts comparing the five schools on this part of the trip.  Though judging from his comments I’d assume Purdue would be towards the top overall in this view.

Purdue was one of the five highlights:

"• Purdue was a pleasant surprise. You’ll read more about it on Monday. An eye-pleasing, cohesive campus with football facilities that rival Nebraska’s. And Purdue boasts the best golf courses on the Big Ten tour, too. The best of them, Kampen Course, was designed by Pete Dye and hosted the 2008 men’s NCAA Championships."

One of the nine oddities on the trip:

"• The founder of Purdue University, John Purdue, is buried on campus. So is David Ross, one of two names in Ross-Ade football stadium."

 More thoughts: 

"Renovation Central: Basketball arenas at Michigan, Purdue and Iowa were getting major facelifts. All three had been essentially gutted. Northwestern plans to do something with its small throwback arena, while Wisconsin’s Kohl Center is one of the hoops gems of the Big Ten. Best football facilities: Of the five schools I’ve visited so far, Purdue edges out Michigan. The Boilers have a full-size indoor facility and two outdoor fields, just like Nebraska. All of it is a single stairway from Ross-Ade Stadium.  Best basketball facilities: Wisconsin, for now. Purdue seems to be upgrading Mackey Arena considerably. Michigan is doing the same with Crisler, but Mackey has more character.  Best statue/sculpture: It’s a tie, and both are at Purdue: The Engineering Fountain and the Boilermaker statue between Ross-Ade Stadium and Mackey Arena."