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48 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 f a classic place. I really felt special sitting in there. You can feel the history and soak up the old time memories, and I really thought that was something." Co-owner Greg Ehresman noticed Hardwick when he first starting visiting. With the long hair and tattoos, how could he not? But when he got to know Hardwick, an in- stant bond was built. "His longer hair was no big deal because we had some cooks that had hair halfway down their backs," Ehres- man said. "I think Nick was kind of cashing in the early phase of tattoos being a normal thing, because we had a couple of customers that had those, but not to the size or degree of what he had. "When you look at somebody the size of Nick, and then you see the big tattoos, it's a little intimidating. Until you get to talk to him and find out that your own idea is what's making you look at Nick differently. He's just a salt-of- the-earth guy. Honest, straight, absolutely the best." So how did the Nick Hardwick Special come to be? Hardwick's extremely endearing, understated personal- ity works well with people. He is one of those guys who can pleasantly ask for something and usually gets it. "I wanted everything," Hardwick recalled. "I would go in and ask for this with gravy or with bacon, and I found if you put the sausage gravy on the potatoes, it was really some- thing. That became a regular item for me once I found that treasure." And hence the Nick Hardwick Special was born: Four extra strips of bacon and gravy poured over the pota- toes, a ramped up breakfast feeding a ramped-up guy. Ehresman said one of the many benefits of having former athletes involved is how much can be learned by watching their habits or listening to them. Hardwick's wisdom was in the simplicity of his message. "He said he learned in wrestling that to be success- ful use their weight against your opponent to make the play," Ehresman said. "Once you do that, it's easy. Obvi- ously not easy — easy or everyone would be doing it — but Nick always said you've got to have sharp aptitude to read the guy to know what he's going to do, and like Nick said, use that against them and you can 'trounce' them." Hardwick has been trouncing 'em for a decade in the NFL, all with one team, the San Diego Chargers. Yet the physical job has taken its toll, and Hardwick is getting closer to retirement, though he said on Feb. 21 he wanted to play another year in hopes of getting to an elusive Super Bowl. He has, however, purchased a house in Indianapolis with his wife Jayme and two children, 2-year-old Hudson and three-month-old Teddy, with plans of visiting campus a lot more often when his playing days are done. "I can't wait to be up here for football Saturdays," said Hardwick, who hasn't been to a game since 2004. He expects the Boilermakers' football fortunes to turn around and has some simple advice for his former team. "Keep moving forward with a lot of energy and a lot enthusiasm. Don't let anyone take you off of your mind- set to achieve your goals," Hardwick said. "Everyone has ups and downs in life, everyone has ups and downs in football, but keep moving forward and you will be pleased with where you have come." For Hardwick, that is a long way. j