Photo via Journal Gazette 

Joe Tiller, who led Purdue to its second Rose Bowl appearance in school history, died on Saturday at 74 years old.

After Tiller went 10-2 his the last of his seven seasons as head coach at Wyoming, he took over a 3-8 Purdue team and immediately turned it into a winner. Tiller was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1997, as the Boilermakers went 9-3 and beat Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.

In 1998, Drew Brees and the Boilers set a new (and current) Big Ten record with 4,208 passing yards, as Tiller’s spread offense shook up the conference. The squad finished 9-4 that season, and topped No. 4 Kansas State 37-34 in an epic Alamo Bowl finish.

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Tiller’s crowning achievement came in 2000, when Brees and the Boilers went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in-conference to reach the program’s first Rose Bowl since 1966. Purdue, which had just five bowl appearances prior to Tiller’s arrival, went to 10 in 12 years under his leadership.

News of Tiller’s death led to an outpouring of tweets for former players, coaches and media members:

The great Joe Tiller has passed. Coined the term "basketball on grass". The Spurrier of the B10. What a legacy.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) September 30, 2017

Saw him 2 years ago and he definitely told me this! #BoilerFamily #JoeTiller https://t.co/UVERHeBpZu

— D Tardy (@D_Tardy7) September 30, 2017

Rest In Peace to a great man & coach Joe Tiller. He had a tremendous influence on my life and… https://t.co/OmrhVR29MW

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) October 1, 2017

God speed Joe Tiller. Enjoyed every conversation I ever had with him.

— Greg Rakestraw (@gregrakestraw) September 30, 2017

National Team alumnus helps grow grassroots program

Fox 17 West Michigan tells the story of Jonathan Matthews of Battle Creek, who along with 2016 U.S. National Team member and Michigan Wolverines running back Chris Evans, works with around 40 underprivileged kids to teach them football and life lessons:

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When Matthews met Evans at Michigan’s spring game, he told the current sophomore out of Ben Davis (Indianapolis) High School his plan to start a youth football program for the children. In July, Evans made the 80-mile drive from Ann Arbor to meet the kids. After seeing their lack of resources, he called leagues and sponsors to see if they could donate helmets, shoes and other equipment.

“There’s no way I can repay him for what he’s done,” said Matthews. “He’s driving all the way down here, taking his time and it’s in the middle of the season."

Big D-III win in Pennsylvania

Photo via Ursinus Athletics

Ursinus College ended No. 8 Johns Hopkins’ 45-game regular-season winning streak with a 21-17 home victory on Saturday, as sophomore Thomas Garlick had 247 yards passing, 104 more on the ground and the game-winning TD with 20 seconds left.

How exciting was it for the home crowd? Watch the video within this Ursinus Athletics story for college football's broadcast call of the week.

Safety, fun focuses of Ohio youth league

Photo via Newark Advocate

Dave Weidig of the Newark Advocate says while implementing USA Football's Heads Up Football techniques and Rookie Tackle program, Licking County League Youth Football in Ohio puts safety and enjoyment first for its nearly 40 teams and more than 800 players.

"Number one, we want them to have fun, and number two, learn the game, but safety for these kids overrides everything. It's not always about wins and losses,” LCLYF commissioner Chris Webber said. “A lot of these helmets they're wearing cost $125, and that's in bulk. Some of them cost $250. They're definitely safe."

This year, first- and second-graders compete in Rookie Tackle, which serves as a bridge between flag football and 11-on-11 tackle.

"This is for the little, little guys, to scale the game down and promote a safe environment," Weber said. "It involves a seven-player team, a 40-yard field and smaller rosters.

"It promotes participation and keeps the kids more engaged. We may compromise and do a nine-player team, but we haven't decided."

Youth league needs help after losing equipment to arson

Fox 61 in Connecticut reports the Hartford Hurricanes Youth Football League lost $20,000 worth of equipment in a deliberately set fire, including $6,000 worth of new helmets the league recently raised funds to purchase.

“It draws you back a bit. It's hard to explain. It's hard to understand. We haven't even told the kids,” said program president Phil Bryant.

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Around 200 boys and girls ages 5 to 15 play in the league, which is now asking for help. If you'd like to assist in the effort to replace the equipment, visit this GoFundMe page to make a donation.

Oregon rivals bonded by disability, desire

Photo via Anna Reed/Statesman Journal

Gary Horowitz of the Statesman Journal tells the story of North Salem senior Nate Eastwood and West Salem junior Alex Hurlburt, both of which were born without a left hand.

Eastwood is a receiver and cornerback, and the fastest player on his team, while Hurlburt is a standout defensive end. They originally met during their Pop Warner days, then forged a friendship after last year's JV game between the schools. 

“The time and effort and energy they have to put in, the pain, it is not easy to do,” North Salem coach Jeff Flood said. “It’s more difficult for Alex and Nate to do what they do, but it’s not that they can’t do it.”