presents: the story behind the sandwich
Handing It Over
November ceremony gives Purdue Pete's hammer permanent home
BY ALAN KARPICK
AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com
As the sun comes up, former Purdue Petes at Triple XXX pose
with Daniels, who had yet to take off his ski cap after spending time out in the frigid air during the Hammer Ceremony.
n a very cold November morning, hours before
the Boilermakers' senior day contest vs.
Illinois, one Purdue Pete left his hammer.
Permanently.
No, it wasn't an ill-fated trip to Breakfast Club; far
from it. Wind chill temperatures were in the teens,
and to be honest, the dozen or so Purdue Petes who
were in attendance were glad to be in a warm place
to congregate. And the Triple XXX Family Restaurant
was just that place.
The "X" is a place where all Purdue traditions are
welcome, if not celebrated. But Purdue Pete has a
warm place in the heart of the legendary restaurant.
They even have one of their famous sandwiches
named after Boilermaker Pete; right there in line
with the Duane Purvis, Boudia, Bob's Barbecue
(Griese), Leroy's Loin and Drew Brees. It fits right
in.
On that morning, it was former Purdue Pete Jim
Mylnarski, a recent grad from Chicago, who was
handing over his prized possession. When Petes
graduate, they don't get much more than the satisfaction as serving as the school's unofficial mascot
for during their graduate days. But they do get to
keep the hammer.
If you spend any time around Purdue Petes, you
know they are traditionalists with capital T.
"We know (restaurant owners Carrie and Greg
Ehresman) are happy to have (the hammer), but as
former Petes we are 10 times more happy to give it
O
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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3
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