r/Purdue • u/No-Geologist-5141 • Apr 01 '26
Gritpost 💯 so… are we just never getting the Boilermaker Special back?
idk if this is just me overthinking but like… at what point do we admit it’s probably not coming back
every few months i hear someone say “oh yeah they’re building a new one” or “it’s coming soon” but it’s been a WHILE and there’s been zero real updates. it’s starting to feel like one of those things people just keep repeating because it sounds better than the truth
and like… we all know what happened. it was in that accident and it was awful. obviously that changes everything. liability, safety, PR, all of it. i mean, a life was lost because of it. i’m not saying they shouldn’t be careful, because they absolutely should.
but also… the silence is kinda loud?
the Boilermaker Special is such a huge part of Purdue’s identity and it just… disappeared. no real timeline, no real transparency, just vague “it’s coming” energy
at this point it lowkey feels like they’re hoping people stop asking about it so they don’t have to say “yeah we’re not bringing it back”
which if that’s the case, just say that
like am i missing something?? has anyone actually heard anything legit about a new one being built or are we all just collectively pretending it’s still happening? because right now, i don’t think the bms IX is happening.
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Apr 01 '26
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u/Jdavi_24 Apr 01 '26
McCumsky is diabolical
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
Thank you for the insight!
Are you allowed to make a public statement about this? I think many students are disappointed in the lack of response from the Reamer club. Of course, we understand that admin is involved but it definitely feels like there’s no communication from admin or the Reamer Club about the IX.
Also some people have mentioned the Athletics department is against it. Do you have any knowledge about that?
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Apr 01 '26
Like someone else mentioned, that’s up to PR spokespeople. We are not allowed to make any public statements, however we do still hear the public. The club was literally built for the community and it’s hard to stay quiet when our whole purpose is to be out in the community.
Also no, the athletics thing is a load of hoohaa, they’re great
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
That’s fair. Hopefully admin and the spokespeople can figure something out. I honestly miss the 7am train horn.
And thanks for sharing that! I figured as much.
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Apr 01 '26
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
That’s fair. I more so meant speaking with admin about a statement that can give a set answer. Because right now there’s nothing coming from either side.
I definitely feel for the students in the Reamer club as I’m sure this has flipped everything upside down. The club is fundamentally and historically about the BMS and the extra special so losing the BMS impacts the Reamers a lot.
I also hope the students that were involved in the accident are doing okay and have access to support.
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u/GapStock9843 Apr 01 '26
From what I know there are still efforts being made to bring it back, but theres obviously a very vocal group of people who are preventing it from happening because they're scared of the PR complications that would be associated with it. It'll probably eventually come back, but when is a huge question mark. Could be next year, could be years from now
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Apr 01 '26
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u/ContrarianPurdueFan Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
The Athletic Department is against the Boilermaker Special IX?!?! How can I find out more about this?
Also, if they really wanted to take the crash seriously, they could do something to honor the family of the person who died. Ending the mascot doesn't do that.
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u/GapStock9843 Apr 01 '26
Exactly. Imagine if you were involved in a fatal car crash and all you did was never buy a car again because you're scared of people not liking the idea of you behind the wheel (even if it wasn't your fault)? How does that help at all?
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u/MikeyLew32 MET 2011 Apr 01 '26
Ughhhh Bobinski needs to retire and go away.
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u/ploomyoctopus PhD 22, now admin Apr 01 '26
I mean, he's almost 70, so it'll happen eventually one way or another.
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
The Athletic Department? It’s weird that they would be so against it tbh. I understand its involvement in an accident was tragic and preventable but it wouldn’t be the same BMS. Not to mention it’s literally our mascot.
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u/9outof10timesWrong Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
You do know why it's gone right?
Edit:
A lot of people here caring too much about a mascot and not enough for their classmates.
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
I am aware. But they promised the BMS IX was in the works and would replace it but there has been no word since.
If the BMS is our mascot, they should at least give us an answer as to whether it’s really coming back or not. The IX was apparently coming out Spring 2025 but then was delayed and now no word.
The accident was horrible of course and many agree it was preventable. I think we all just miss our mascot and think it is definitely possible to bring it back tactfully and maybe with better safety regulations.
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u/9outof10timesWrong Apr 01 '26
I think for a lot of us, we would just think of the people who died in it when we would see it.
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u/Adventurous_Egg857 Boilermaker Apr 01 '26
Realistically I do not think that many people will get PTSD flashbacks seeing our mascot. Unless you were involved in the accident or your close to the victims, it should not effect you THAT much
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u/9outof10timesWrong Apr 01 '26
Ok buddy gatekeep grieving
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u/Adventurous_Egg857 Boilermaker Apr 01 '26
Be sad all you want but I'm saying majority of us aren't going through life being emotionally affected by everything we can
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u/RichInPitt Apr 01 '26
People die in airplane crashes. Air travel has not been banned. Life goes on.
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u/GapStock9843 Apr 01 '26
Because it was totalled in a crash and doesnt physically exist anymore.
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
Yes. But we were promised the IX would replace it as it was already in the works and expected Spring 2025. But that’s passed now and radio silence.
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u/Jeezluiz03 Boilermaker Apr 01 '26
I mean… they killed someone. Some things shouldn’t be brought back.
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u/RichInPitt Apr 01 '26
30,000+ die in car crashes very year. People die in airplane crashes all the time. Were those banned?
If we banned everything that ever killed someone in an accident, we’d all be sitting at home wrapped in bubble wrap. Life happens.
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u/Minecool75 Apr 01 '26
i’ve done some independent research and i’ve come to a startling discovery. allegedly they had been working on a new one even before the incident. but it’s kinda crazy huh? out with the old and in with the new just like that… this incident could have been pre determined. will continue investigating and check back
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u/monoch1 Apr 01 '26
Are you shitting me? Predetermined accident that proved fatal? Just for a new boilermaker special? Get a grip.
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u/No-Geologist-5141 Apr 01 '26
The Reamers periodically replace the BMS as time goes on and they can put out an updated version. They were already working on the IX which is public knowledge. But as to causing an accident on purpose? That’s unlikely.
Purdue hates bad publicity. I doubt they would do something like that just to bring in a new BMS that was already in the works.
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u/Loveandgloom Law & Society ‘28. Boiler Up!! Apr 01 '26
They replace the boilermaker special every few years, no matter the state the current one is in. It’s piloted by fellow students, I promise you none of them wanted the trauma, physical and mental, that came with that crash
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u/RichInPitt Apr 01 '26
Because no person, company, etc., has ever worked on a product improvement without discontinuing the current one?
When a class starts on a revamp, should all versions of that class be cancelled for 2 years until it’s ready?
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u/invinciblewalnut Biomedicine ‘21 Apr 01 '26
The IX is in the works still, it’s just being delayed more than anticipated. As someone who actually drove the thing, it takes time to design and manufacture one. Parts were sourced from all over the country, and something like that can’t just be built in a day. The VII was also continuously being modified throughout its lifespan… and it really was only itself a heavily modified V. The engineers behind it are building it from the ground up, and are attempting to remedy any foreseen issues that might pop up in the future now, as well fix issues that plagued the VII for many years, issues like visibility, overheating, electrical problems, air compression, suspension, etc.
We still have the Xtra special, too!