Purdue’s Boilermaker Train Hilariously Got Stuck In The Middle Of The Field In A Sign Of Things To Come Against Iowa

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If you’ve ever watched a Purdue football or basketball game, you’ve likely asked the same question as everyone else.

“What the hell is a Boilermaker?”

According to Boilermakers.org, which I’ve just learned is a thing, a Boilermaker is any of the following:

  • Anyone who works in the boiler construction or repair trade
  • A member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
  • A Purdue University student or alumni
  • A shot and a beer

So why, you might ask, is Purdue’s mascot a train? Well, according to Wikipedia, which never lies, the mascot came about in 1940. The train idea came about after a suggestion for a mascot, which Purdue did not previously have, by pharmacy student Israel Selkowitz. Selkowitz suggested a mascot to reflect Purdue’s engineering background, and thus the Boilermaker Special was born.

Purdue’s Mascot Hilariously Breaks Down In Ominous Sign Of What Was To Come

Why does any of this matter? Well, this is why:

Purdue’s Boilermaker Special, which is actually just a pseudo-train body on top of a truck chassis, broke down while driving across the field at Ross-Ade Stadium prior to a Big Ten West showdown with Iowa. Pretty embarrassing for a school that prides itself on its engineering department.

But the embarrassment didn’t stop there.

Perhaps the broken down train-truck was a sign of things to come. The Boilermakers’ offense, much like its mascot, hasn’t gone anywhere and Purdue currently trails Iowa 17-0 mid-way through the second quarter.

On the other side of things, much-maligned Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras is having the half of his life. Petras is 10-of-15 for 182 yards and two touchdowns as Iowa looks to stay alive in the hunt for the (awful) Big Ten West.

The division has no undefeated teams remaining. Illinois leads the way at 4-1, with Iowa just two games back at 2-3. Purdue, meanwhile, sits at 3-2 but risks falling off the pace with a loss.