AP photo Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton, right, checks out the tattoo on the arm of fellow quarterback Kyle Smith during the team's media day. Orton will lead the Boilermakers this season as they attempt to improve on last year's 7-6 season. 2003 SCHEDULE • Sept. 6: Bowling Green • Sept. 13: at Wake Forest • Sept. 20: Arizona • Sept. 27: Notre Dame • Oct. 4: Illinois • Oct. 11: Penn State • Oct. 18: at Wisconsin • Oct. 25: at Michigan • Nov. 1: Northwestern • Nov. 8: Iowa • Nov. 15: at Ohio State • Nov. 22: at Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Kyle Orton earned his opportunity to be Purdue's quarterback. Brandon Jones may get his spot as the starting tailback by default.

With the loss of 1,000-yard rusher Joey Harris for the upcoming season because of grades, the No. 19 Boilermakers are left with Jones, a sophomore who ran for almost 700 yards as a backup a year ago, along with sophomore Jerod Void and redshirt freshman Jerome Brooks.

"I feel like I'm going to have to step up even more so," said Jones, now projected as the starter.

"Jerod didn't get as many carries as I did last year, so I feel like I'm the veteran now," Jones said. "But obviously, it's going to be a big competition. Nobody's ever had anything given to him. Whoever comes out of camp the coaches feel worked the hardest is going to get the job."

Purdue (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten last year) opens the 2003 season Sept. 6 with a non-conference game against Bowling Green.

Orton, who started three games as a freshman and nine games last year, apparently ended his quarterback competition with Brandon Kirsch by his performance in the Sun Bowl, where he passed for 283 yards and two touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory over Washington.

"I thought I played well, at some points of the season I thought I played great," said Orton, who passed for 2,257 yards and 13 TDs last season. "My goal this year is to get rid of the peaks and valleys and try to stay on the highs the entire season."

The same goal could apply to the entire team, which led the Big Ten in total offense and defense but suffered repeated breakdowns with turnovers and a poor kicking game.

Purdue's six losses were by a total of 26 points.

Two fumbles and an interception were returned for touchdowns in a 24-17 loss to Notre Dame, Purdue had five turnovers and missed three field goals in the fourth quarter in a 24-21 loss to Wake Forest and missed two field goals in a 23-21 loss to Michigan.

In two other losses -- 31-28 to Iowa and 10-6 to Ohio State -- the Boilermakers gave up the winning points with just over a minute to go. Against Illinois, Purdue gave up a tying touchdown with three seconds left in regulation and then lost 38-31 in overtime.

Coach Joe Tiller, who is in his seventh year with the Boilermakers, said the turnovers last season were frustrating since Purdue had the fewest turnovers in the conference just two years ago.

"Sometimes when you run the type of offense we run, you're going to turn the ball over. We want to minimize that," Tiller said. "With our speed and experience on defense, we think we can get the ball (away from opponents.)"

Among nine starters returning on defense is senior safety Stuart Schweigert, who holds the Purdue career record with 13 interceptions and led the team in tackles as a freshman and sophomore. Last year, the top tackler was Niko Koutouvides, who is back at middle linebacker; defensive end Shaun Phillips, who led the team with six sacks last year, also is back.

On offense, besides Orton, the seven returning starters include receivers John Standeford and Taylor Stubblefield, who ranked 1-2 in the Big Ten in the number of catches last year.

With Orton apparently locked into the starting QB spot, Standeford is looking for an even more productive season.

"He looks real good," said Standeford, who set a Purdue record with 1,307 yards receiving last year. "In the offseason, he worked hard to improve all aspects of his game, and you can tell that.

"It's always good knowing who's going to be in there from week to week," he said. "So, yeah, it's a lot better."

Tiller said he decided on Orton over Kirsch based on his performance in the final regular-season game against Indiana and in the Sun Bowl, where Orton was named MVP.

"Most often, it does carry over (to the next year)," Tiller said. "When a player really has success, they tend to carry on with that."

Kicker Berin Lacevic, a junior college transfer, made 48 of 49 extra points but just 10 of 19 field goals. Tiller is expecting a big improvement this year, either from Lacevic or sophomore Ben Jones, a transfer from Butler.

"On paper, this is one of the more talented teams we've had," Tiller said. "We need to see all elements of this team. There's no question in my mind that some of the elements are the best we've had here, but we have to put them all together."

Some facts about the 2003 Purdue Boilermakers:

SCHOOL COLORS: Old Gold and Black

FOUNDED: 1869

ENROLLMENT: 38,564

LOCATED: West Lafayette, Ind.

COACH: Joe Tiller, 13th season overall, seventh at Purdue (85-58-1 overall, 46-28 at Purdue)

2002 RECORD: 7-6 (4-4 Big Ten, tied for fifth)

LAST BOWL: 2002 Sun Bowl, beat Washington 34-24

STADIUM: Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500)

RETURNING STARTERS: 7 offense, 9 defense, punter, kicker

KEY PLAYERS: QB Kyle Orton, WR John Standeford, WR Taylor Stubblefield, RB Brandon Jones, DT Craig Terrill, LB Niko Koutouvides, S Stuart Schweigert

KEY DEPARTURES: WR-PR Seth Morales, T Pete Lougheed, LB Joe Odom, C Gene Mruczkowski, G Rob Turner, RB Montrell Lowe, RB Joey Harris

HOT TOPICS: The Boilermakers boast 12 senior starters -- eight more than they had in the starting lineup last year. Yeah, they lost six games, but by the snakebitten total of 26 points. They have the momentum of a Sun Bowl victory to build upon, outscoring Washington 34-7 after staking the Huskies to a 17-0 lead.

COLD FACTS: Purdue faces road games at Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. To contend, it will have to take much better care of the ball. Last year's minus-10 turnover margin was second-worst in the Big Ten.

OVERVIEW: This team has enough talent to win a Big Ten title -- a strong-armed quarterback, a 1,000-yard tailback, one of the best wideout tandems in the nation and a senior-dominated defense. Few people realize last year's squad became only the 13th in league history to lead the Big Ten in total offense and total defense. And almost everybody is back.