The 2007 Motor City Bowl (now renamed the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl) was a memorable one as one of the most explosive bowl games in college history. Purdue won 51-48 on a last second 40-yard field goal from Chris Summers over Central Michigan, while Curtis Painter had the most prolific passing day in Purdue history. The Boilermakers are back in a bowl game for the first time since then, and they are once again in Detroit. SB Nation's Off Tackle Empire remembers that game:
The first half was great for Purdue. Curtis Painter (yes, that Curtis Painter), did what he did so well at Purdue. He torched a MAC team. Painter generally didn't step up against the good defenses of the Big Ten during his career, but he sure could throw up some stats against the MAC. At the end of the first half, Purdue had a 21 point lead and it seemed to me like it should have been more.
The Chippewas would eventually come back to tie it late before the last second heroics, but the game was still one of the most exciting of the 2007 bowl season. The potential for a repeat is there with Western Michigan having a prolific offense led by Alex Carder. The Boilermakers counter with a strong running game led by Akeem Shavers and Akeem Hunt.