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"I think the injury probably set the tone for his success as a general manager in the NFL," longtime When Purdue was searching for its next football coach this past Purdue athletic trainer Denny MillDecember, it turned to Ryan Grigson, Rick Smith and Bill Polian for er said. "He's smart, has tenacity. advice. He gets after it and sets his goals. The trio — Grigson and Smith, both former Boilers, are general He came back as a starter and team managers of the Colts and Texans, respectively, and Polian is a well-re- captain his final year and the rest is spected long-time NFL executive and current ESPN analyst — helped history." in the search that eventually landed Darrell Hazell at Purdue. Grigson has paid his dues, from Grigson, who played at Purdue from 1991-94, says he's thoroughly his early battles to injury to climbimpressed by what he's seen from Hazell, particularly in the coach's ing the NFL ladder. And he says he ability to turn Kent State into a winner. The Golden Flashes had been wouldn't have wanted it any differone of the country's worst programs in Division I history, going to ently. only two bowl games in their history prior to 2012. But Hazell, in his "I've seen guys crash and burn second year in Kent, led them to an 11-3 record. who got there too fast. So I pretty "A lot of times coaches come in and they want to say 'There's no much took every step leading up players here and I need five years to do this and that,' but Hazell came to being a general manager, everyin with the same guys and in two years was ranked as high as 11 and thing from an entry-level scouting won 11 games," said Grigson, in his second offseason as the Indy's position to the top," said Grigson, GM. "It's kind of the same thing we're doing with the Colts, getting 42. "That helped me greatly to have the guys to buy in, and it's not always the biggest or strongest armies, the confidence level to do it and figa lot of times it's guys who are playing together as a band of brothers ure out how to do it. There's never and have a common vision and are going to fight tooth and nail to get any manual they give you when you it. That sometimes knocks off the talented guys." walk in the door. They kind of give — Kyle Charters you the keys to the car. "I wouldn't have had it any other "I was so weak, I had to start somewhere," said Grigway because I learned a lot of lesson, who returned to start in 1993 and '94, earning sons going with my instincts and making decisions captain status with Alstott and Matt Kingsbury during on my own. I think it helped me quite a bit just in his senior season. "And then I went to Omni (health acquiring some football wisdom and just helping me club) and started benching the bar, but it's hard be- be a better GM even for this season." cause you see your old buddies from home and they're Grigson is built tough, having weathered adversity used to seeing you a certain way. I was so weak but, to reach the top. Now, he's bringing those same charby the grace of God, by the next season I was as strong acteristics to the Colts. as I had ever been in my life and was 315 pounds. I "I feel like the stamp that we want to put on this probably played the best football of my career my ju- organization is a 'Never Say Die' mindset, just keep nior year. We won one game (1993), but we lost a lot fighting, never look up at the scoreboard, just beat the of games by a close margin and built a foundation for guy across from you every play," he said. "And then that next season that we had reasonable success." hopefully at the end of the day good things will hapMore personal success followed. After graduating in pen. It's a very simple approach and that's what we did 1995, Grigson played a couple seasons professionally, last year and that's what we'll continue to do." j then coached a little before deciding on a career in scouting. He worked for the Rams and Eagles in the NFL before getting the general manager job for the Colts. Supporting Hazell 82 • Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com