Throwback Thursday: Rain, Revenge, and Roboback Runs

As Notre Dame fans know all too well, Purdue games have a way of being wet—especially in the early ‘90s. For the third year in a row, the Irish met the Purdue Boilermakers on a rain-soaked field, and for the third year in a row, it was Purdue who left drenched in disappointment. Coming off a nail-biting win against Michigan State, the Irish needed to reassert themselves. And in a dominant 39–21 win on September 24, 1994, they did just that—thanks to a ground game that refused to be stopped and a fullback named Ray Zellars who ran like he was built from steel and stubbornness.

With over 400 yards rushing and multiple breakout performances, the Irish offense left little doubt about their…