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covered with pictures of the QBs who played in the NFL. So Henry says the right things — always does — about how he realizes it is different being a quarterback here, considering that tradition, and how he is honored to be included among those who have started. Those sentiments are sincere — everything Henry says is. But, truly, he says, he is not interested in titles. He's not defined by them, being named the starter or even the label of captain that surely is soon to be bestowed on him again. Henry is a team guy to his core, someone who values relationships and respect, trust and truth. He is grounded in an unwavering faith, his presence a never-fading light, his personality never changing. And though Henry's incredible athleticism, improved accuracy as a passer and ability to run Purdue's offense efficiently were reasons why Henry was Hazell's pick as Purdue's starting quarterback, it was just as much because of those other things that he was chosen. Because of who he is. "He's going to be a great ambassador for this football team this year," Hazell said. "He's a great leader, on and off the field. He's what Purdue stands for, all the things he represents, in the community, on the field, the kind of person he is. We're happy to have Rob as our leader for our offense this year. "I think everybody in the room looks up to the guy because he does what he says he's going to do, and he does it with such charisma. He's a great leader." 'Excited' to get started Rob Henry is excited. Clearly. In a 13-minute interview on the day he is announced as starter, eight times he tells you so. And only once in those utterances does that word relate to him actually being named the starter. Instead, it's that he's excited to run a newly installed offense under John Shoop, a pro style different than he's played at Purdue. Instead, he's excited to see what this team can be under a staff that's reinvigorated 20-year-olds with their energy and high standards. Instead, he's excited to see where this year goes for 11 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 1 Tom Campbell "He just gets it." Austin Appleby on Rob Henry the program, coming off back-to-back bowl games but disappointing overall seasons. Instead, he's excited just to play and for game day to hit for the first time in 2013, at Cincinnati on Aug. 31. It'd be safe to say fans are excited, too. Maybe a bit anxious. They don't really know what a healthy, experienced, prepared Rob Henry at quarterback will look like. By the time Henry takes the field for the season opener, it'll have been more than 1,000 days since he not only started at quarterback but since he's played any meaningful time there. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Henry was thrown to the Big Ten wolves after Robert Marve suffered a knee injury in Week 4. He hadn't gotten any reps in practice with the first-team offense previously and was a bit overwhelmed, but he attacked the challenge the only way he knew how: With poise, with passion, with positivity. That helped him lead a remarkable victory at Northwestern, which was ranked in the USA Today poll, and another against Minnesota before the Boilermakers headed to No. 11 Ohio State. There, Henry suffered a gruesome injury when he hit the helmet of a defen- f