RIVALRIES
// By Nicolle DeWitt (LA’22, M’22, PG’24)
Boilermakers cheer on Purdue teams with unmatched energy and enthusiasm, especially when facing time-honored rival Indiana University.
Since Purdue and IU first clashed on the football field in 1891, this rivalry has thrived on state pride, loyal fans, and dramatic moments.
Beyond the competition, friendly banter between family, friends, and coworkers has led to creative traditions and camaraderie. Ultimately, alumni from both schools take immense pride in where they earned their degrees—and in the end, isn’t that what really matters?
TAPPING INTO TEAM SPIRIT
MashCraft Brewing is a proud supporter of Purdue, thanks in part to co-owner Joe Janik (T’07). The Fishers brewery maintains a close connection with the Purdue Alumni Club of Indianapolis and is known for hosting game watches and other events, which often feature fun halftime trivia and the belting out of the Purdue fight song during games.
Janik, who has a sister and two cousins who also attended Purdue, was encouraged from a young age to become a Boilermaker. Once on campus, he became an active member of Theta Chi fraternity, where he particularly enjoyed intramural sports and rooting for Purdue’s teams.
After graduating, Janik spent a decade in the corporate world, rising from process engineer to operations leader at a manufacturing company in Indianapolis. His path to opening a brewery took a turn when he met Andrew Castner at a barbecue. The two quickly became friends and decided to start MashCraft Brewing together.
“It wasn’t until we were doing the buildout when I noticed all the IU apparel and decorations going up,” Janik says. “It was then that I realized we had something in common—the Big Ten.”
Yes, Castner is a graduate of that other university.
While the two partners often keep things light, their school spirit heats up during football and basketball seasons. “When Purdue and IU face off, we rename two of our house beers Boiler Gold and IU Red,” says Janik. “It adds an extra layer of fun to the rivalry and gives us something to gloat about when we compare sales at the end of the night.”
One memorable summer evening, Purdue piano legend Bruce Barker performed at the brewery. “The highlight of that night was getting Andrew to clap along to the Purdue fight song—reluctantly,” Janik says.
Their rivalry is playful, and Janik and Castner acknowledge that each team’s success brings pride to the state. “We celebrate each other’s wins during tournament time,” Janik says. “You won’t see me wearing cream and crimson during March Madness, but I definitely want them to win as much as Purdue—until we play each other!”
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Natalie Dybel (EDU’91) has been sharing her love for Purdue with her fifth-grade class in Northwest Indiana ever since she graduated. Her Boilermaker passion is undeniable, but not everyone at her school shares the same fervor—one of the custodians is a loyal Hoosier fan.
Instead of allowing their rivalry to create tension, Dybel and her coworker have found a unique way to use it as a means of connection and to build a sense of school spirit.
“We make friendly bets every time our teams face off,” Dybel says. “If Indiana wins, I have to wear IU gear the next day. But when Purdue wins, he’s on the hook for dressing in old gold and black. It’s a fun tradition that always brings us together and adds a little excitement to the school day.”
SIBLING RIVALRY
The year is 1998—the peak of the Drew Brees era at Purdue. Freshman Robert DeAtley (T’02) enters Ross-Ade Stadium alongside his twin brother, John, for their very first Purdue game together. The Boilermakers are playing IU.
The twist? John had chosen to enroll at IU.
“When people asked my brother and me where we were going to college, I’d always answer first,” DeAtley says. “We grew up near the University of Illinois, so when I’d tell them I was going to Purdue, they’d grimace. But I’d quickly point out that John was going to Indiana University, and the complaints would stop right there.”
Fast forward to DeAtley’s first Big Ten football game as a student. “Purdue crushed Indiana,” DeAtley says. “My twin brother joked that he learned the Purdue fight song before he learned his own school’s fight song because Purdue scored so many touchdowns.”
That rivalry has added a fun dynamic to their relationship. “Even now, we love ribbing each other over the phone about Purdue and Indiana’s latest wins—and losses,” he says.
After graduation, DeAtley returned to Urbana, Illinois, where he is now a third-generation co-owner and president of Barber & DeAtley Inc., a general contracting firm. He’s also passed on his passion for Purdue to his four kids, often taking them to football and basketball games at Purdue and the University of Illinois.
“Earlier this year, my son won an entry to be the Busey Bank Busey’s Kids Captain at a University of Illinois men’s basketball game,” DeAtley says. “He chose the game against Purdue, and we had a ton of fun cheering for our teams. Illinois would not let me wear Purdue gear for our interaction with the team, so I had to wear neutral clothes and keep my Purdue hat in my seat.”
At home, the DeAtley family proudly displays a Purdue flag—though it occasionally disappears. “I did look into ways to rig the flagpole to shock anyone who tried to steal it,” DeAtley jokes. “Luckily for them, I’m not much of an electrician.”
FRIENDSHIP DIVIDED
Billie (Bowles) Johnson (LA’11, MS T’18) and her friend Delaney have maintained a strong bond for over two decades despite the fact that they support rival teams. Delaney grew up in an Indiana University household, while Johnson was raised by Purdue fans.
It wasn’t until college that their rivalry truly took off.
“I’d visit her during Little 500, and she’d join me for Breakfast Club,” Johnson says. “My senior year, we created what we thought were the best Breakfast Club outfits ever. Each of us wore our school colors and made signs mimicking house-divided vanity plates that said Friendship Divided. Even 14 years later, they’re still a cherished part of our tailgate decor.”
Since 2007, the two have taken turns hosting a tailgate for the Old Oaken Bucket game.
“Both team colors are proudly displayed, and the camaraderie and memories we create carry us through to the next game, no matter the outcome,” Johnson says.
Even Johnson’s young daughter, Tessa, has gotten in on this friendly rivalry. She has attended tailgates since she was just 6 days old and says, “I love Purdue because my mom works there, and I love IU because Aunt Laney loves IU.”
For Tessa’s 6th birthday, Delaney made her a hair bow representing both schools, which she still wears today.
Although Johnson has always been a Boilermaker fan, her path to Purdue was unique.
“As a first-generation college student, attending a four-year university seemed impossible at first,” she says. “I started at Ivy Tech Community College, but thanks to the network I built there and encouragement from a friend who went straight to a four-year school, it didn’t feel out of reach anymore. After I graduated from Ivy Tech, my dad and I were having dinner when he asked, ‘So, what are you going to do with your life now?’ I said, ‘I think I’m going to apply to Purdue.’ I got in, and the rest is history.”
Once at Purdue, Johnson knew she was there to stay. After earning her master’s degree, she joined the university’s Office of Special Projects. She has since transitioned to the Office of Industry Partnerships, where she serves as director of operations.
“For me, attending Purdue represented stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new opportunities that I might not have considered without that competitive spark,” Johnson says. “My rivalry with Delaney became less about outdoing each other and more about showing ourselves and those around us that we could aim higher. It’s a reminder that competition, when healthy, can inspire incredible growth and lead to achievements you might never have envisioned.”
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