remained backstage, leaving Colvin to improvise for a
few minutes.
Colvin took full advantage of the opportunity to needle Varnau about spending too long in the ladies room
in between performers.
Like most awards shows, musical performances separated the awards presentations.
Joslyn Massey, a freshman women's basketball player,
performed a rap she had written as the first number. The
second performance was from a dance trio of women's
track athletes named "Higher Anointing." They performed
a gospel song "Rain on Us," providing one of the few serious tones during the show.
But those closest to the student-athletes know that
no performance would be complete without a visit from
football's Tommie Thomas, sidekick Chris Quinn and
grad assistant Ryan Crow. Thomas and Quinn rapped,
while Thomas did what he does best: Dance. Crow was
a pretty fair drummer.
Athletic director Morgan Burke and senior associate
Nancy Cross gave appropriate thank-you messages to the
seniors with Burke poignantly reminding everyone that
the ups and downs as a student-athlete mirror what life
will be like after Purdue.
At the end, every senior in all sports was called to the
stage. It was a serious moment at first, which turned
humorous when the seniors made one of their last moments a memorable one. Instead of posing for a picture
as was initially announced, they broke off into a rendition of the "Harlem Shake." (See the photo spread on
Pages 4-5). Even Burke played along, prancing around
the stage in the old Purdue Pete head that was so unceremoniously rejected a couple years ago.
"Heck, I didn't even know what the 'Harlem Shake'
was and they told me I was going to be dressed as a fireman because I am always putting out fires," Burke said.
Tom Campbell
Video played an important role in the 100-minute event.
Here, roving reporter Madeline Plesac interviews national
champion diver Casey Matthews. Nearly 300 student-athletes attended the inaugural event.
"But then they gave me that old Pete head. We had fun
with it, and the whole night was a great." j
For daily headlines on recruiting and other Purdue sports
news, check out
Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com
