WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue and its home football field both underwent renovations in the offseason. While the expansion still needs to be completed at Ross-Ade Stadium, the Boilermakers think the framework is set for a Big Ten title run.

        “This is the kind of team that can compete for a Big Ten title,” wide receiver Seth Morales said. “We have a lot to prove after last year and I think we can show we can become one of the top teams again.”

PURDUE

Aug. 31 Illinois St., 2 p.m.     Sep. 7 at Notre Dame, 1 p.m.     Sep. 14 W. Michigan, 2 p.m.     Sep. 21 Wake Forest, TBA     Sep. 28 Minnesota, 6 p.m.     Oct. 5 at Iowa, Noon     Oct. 12 at Illinois, TBA     Oct. 19 Michigan, TBA     Oct. 26 at Northwestern, Noon     Nov. 9 Ohio St., TBA     Nov. 16 at Michigan St., TBA     Nov. 23 Indiana, TBA

        The luster of a Rose Bowl appearance in 2000 and a 5-1 start a year ago disappeared with a 1-5 finish and a loss in the Sun Bowl. The Boilermakers believe that was just a hiccup and not a prologue to a downturn in the program. They still played in their fifth straight bowl game — an unprecedented feat.

        Coach Joe Tiller's optimism comes largely from the performance of 6-foot-4, 209-pound quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton, who started the final three games of last year, had 62 pass attempts in his first career start against Indiana and set an NCAA bowl game record with 74 attempts against Washington State.

        Purdue went 0-3 in Orton's starts, but all three losses were by six points.

        “All three games we had a chance to win the game at the end,” Tiller said. “We didn't get it done. I think we've all learned when you're in a close game, you have to take advantage.”

        Orton will have a deeper, bulkier receiving corps at his disposal. Tight end Tim Stratton, Purdue's career receiving leader, is gone but junior college transfers and a strong freshman class have bolstered the wideout spot.

        Tiller, starting his sixth season, said he would like to rotate as many as eight players at wide receiver.

        “If we have eight guys that we are confident that we can put on the field, that is when we have been the most effective offensively,” Tiller said.

        The depth is already useful as Purdue could be without leading receiver Taylor Stubblefield (73 catches, 908 yards) for the first two games after he fractured his skull in an offseason accident.

        Running back Montrell Lowe saw his numbers slide a year ago but enters his senior season 1,156 yards behind Mike Alstott on the career rushing list. Lowe is being pushed by Joey Harris and Tiller said the starting spot would be up for grabs during camp.

        Harris doubles as the kick returner — a position that Stuart Schweigert said he'd like to try.

        Tiller though, would like Schweigert to stick at free safety, where he's developed into a top defensive backs.

        Schweigert already has tied Purdue's career record with 11 interceptions and led the team in tackles the past two seasons. He's one of eight returning starters on a defense that led the Big Ten with a plus-1.09 turnover margin and ranked third in total defense.

        “Our defense just dominated us in the spring,” Tiller said. “Anytime I've been around a football team where you're good on defense, you're usually pretty good.”

        Schweigert, a junior, is already being touted by Purdue for the nation's top defensive honors and he's facing questions about declaring early for the NFL draft.

        “I'm not concerned about that right now,” he said. “The only future I'm concerned about is this season. The other stuff will come later.”

        The experience Purdue has on defense is missing in the kicking game. All-America kicker and punter Travis Dorsch is now in the NFL, leaving a void that could take a committee to fill.

        Tiller has put the emphasis this summer on the kicking game.

        “Obviously, we are not 100 percent satisfied with where we are at punting the ball,” he said. “We will be doing more live kicking situations this camp than we have in the last three years.”

        Junior college punter Brent Slaton is competing with Andy Nelson, who sat out last season as a transfer. Aaron Levin could also see action and another junior college transfer, Berin Lacevic, has the early place kicking nod.

        Tiller hopes his players will be motivated by the lack off attention they've received during the preseason. Purdue fell out of the top 25 in October and is not ranked in the preseason poll.

        After winning 33 games from 1987-1996, the Boilermakers have won 39 in Tiller's five seasons. That success and the enthusiasm about the program allowed the university to approve a three-year, $70 million renovation project that could bump seating from about 66,000 up to 80,000.

        For that to happen, Purdue will need more seasons like 2000 and less like last year.

        “We've got to keep winning and give these fans a reason to fill the place,” Morales said. “I think we'll both get bigger as the years go by.”