No. 6 Purdue receiver: Jim Beirne
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Jim Beirne was a first-team All-American in 1967 for coach Jack Mollenkopf.
That year, he caught 45 passes for 643 yards and five touchdowns as the primary target for Mike Phipps.
He had bigger numbers the previous year, with 68 catches for 837 yards and eight scores as Bob Griese’s top target. He helped Purdue win the 1967 Rose Bowl.
Beirne ended his Boilermaker career with 142 receptions, 1,864 yards and 17 touchdowns. His yardage total is still 12th in school history, and his touchdown total is tied with Calvin Williams for seventh.
Beirne was the most successful pro of the bunch. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1968 AFL draft by the Houston Oilers. He started there for five years and played in the 1969 AFL All-Star Game.
Beirne was inducted into the Purdue Hall of Fame in 2004.
