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Purdue basketball is in the Sweet 16, playing Midwest No. 1 seed Houston on Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
For those only vaguely familiar with March Madness, seeing and hearing about Purdue may bring a couple of questions: What is a Boilermaker? What is Purdue's mascot?
"Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon tried to help this week, but didn't quite come up with an answer.
Fallon and an "audience member" (a staff member) talked over a beat about the Sweet 16, but kept getting tripped up when discussing one team.
Insider: This Purdue team has chance to do something no Boilers team has done before: Beat a No. 1 seed
"Seriously, Jimmy, it's just a guy who makes Boilers," the audience member said, later explaining, "A skilled tradesperson who fabricates, maintains and repairs boilers and other large pressure valves."
Fallon asks: "Why is Purdue called that?"
"I don't know, Jimmy. I don't know what to tell you."
Matchup: When does Purdue play Houston start time, schedule, TV in Sweet 16
In 1891, according to the Purdue University website: "Under accusations of recruiting athletes from boiler shops, the 'Boilermakers' name is adopted for Purdue’s athletic teams. An 85,000-pound Schenectady No. 1 Locomotive engine is purchased."
In 1940: "The Boilermaker Special (the official Purdue mascot in the form of a locomotive mounted on an automobile chassis) is presented to the student body at a convocation ceremony."
In 1944: "The Debris yearbook first uses the image of a barrel-chested, mallet-wielding boilermaker called 'Pete.'"
Barry on Boilers: Purdue basketball's success 'contagious' Boilermakers football coach Barry Odom says
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What is a Boilermaker? Jimmy Fallon wants to know how Purdue got its nickname
Continue reading...
For those only vaguely familiar with March Madness, seeing and hearing about Purdue may bring a couple of questions: What is a Boilermaker? What is Purdue's mascot?
"Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon tried to help this week, but didn't quite come up with an answer.
Fallon and an "audience member" (a staff member) talked over a beat about the Sweet 16, but kept getting tripped up when discussing one team.
Insider: This Purdue team has chance to do something no Boilers team has done before: Beat a No. 1 seed
"Seriously, Jimmy, it's just a guy who makes Boilers," the audience member said, later explaining, "A skilled tradesperson who fabricates, maintains and repairs boilers and other large pressure valves."
Fallon asks: "Why is Purdue called that?"
"I don't know, Jimmy. I don't know what to tell you."
Matchup: When does Purdue play Houston start time, schedule, TV in Sweet 16
Why did Purdue call themselves Boilermakers?
In 1891, according to the Purdue University website: "Under accusations of recruiting athletes from boiler shops, the 'Boilermakers' name is adopted for Purdue’s athletic teams. An 85,000-pound Schenectady No. 1 Locomotive engine is purchased."
In 1940: "The Boilermaker Special (the official Purdue mascot in the form of a locomotive mounted on an automobile chassis) is presented to the student body at a convocation ceremony."
What is the Purdue mascot? What is the boilermaker for Purdue?
In 1944: "The Debris yearbook first uses the image of a barrel-chested, mallet-wielding boilermaker called 'Pete.'"
Barry on Boilers: Purdue basketball's success 'contagious' Boilermakers football coach Barry Odom says
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What is a Boilermaker? Jimmy Fallon wants to know how Purdue got its nickname
Continue reading...
