Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/391840
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 6 • 27 also extremely productive and that translates to having success in any- thing you do." Young remembers well what Herrmann faced in that rookie sea- son in West Lafayette. It was the first year for Young at the helm for the Boilermakers, but he didn't hesitate to insert the young quarterback into the lineup. While Herrmann didn't start his first college game, he replaced Joe Metallic in the sec- ond quarter in the season opener against Michigan State. Herrmann wasted little time making his mark (so to speak). The year before, under then coach Alex Agase, the Boilermakers failed to throw a touchdown the entire sea- son. By the time Herrmann was done in his first college game, the Boilermakers had already tossed two, nearly upsetting the Spartans, who would go on to lose just one conference game that season. Still, there were growing pains for Herrmann in that first season. Purdue finished 5-6, and the Carmel native tossed a still-standing record 27 interceptions. The next season, Young eliminated 19 of the 27 plays that caused the interceptions, knowing all the time that Herrmann would learn from his mistakes. "He was thrown into a very tough situation as a freshman," Young said. "He was just a great competitor without an enlarged ego and that helped him improve his effectiveness each step of his college career." Herrmann said his situation in '77 reminds him of what he is see - ing with the Boilermakers' young quarterback in 2014. "You learn every game is a learning opportunity," said Her- rmann, who left Purdue as the NCAA's all-time passing yardage leader with 9,946 yards. "We sat down and watched every play to im- prove, how can we grow as a team, and Danny (Etling) and the Purdue quarterbacks are experiencing that now. They aren't quite there yet, but every game he is getting a little bit better, but it is a tough process and it is a difficult position to play. "It's so hard to go down the field with five- and seven-yard pass plays. If you have the ability to have big-yardage plays, it'll help you to get on the scoreboard, and I think this offense has to get to that point for it to be successful." Young still credits Herrmann as being "the guy" most respon- sible for the Boilermakers' three- straight bowl titles from 1978-80. Yes, Purdue had the "Junk Defense," which featured standouts like Kee- na Turner, and there was other tal- ent on the offense, but without Her- rmann, it all doesn't happen. "He enabled our program to be successful, it is plain and simple," Young said. "He was really the No. 1 instrument that led us to three straight bowl victories, which at that time, with a lot less bowls than today, was somewhat unusual." Still in any relationship, and in any career, there were bumps in the road over Herrmann's four years. In Herrmann's senior year in 1980 against Miami (Ohio), Young was about to bench No. 9 after a couple of early-game interceptions in favor of freshman Scott Camp - bell, who had played in a season- opening loss against Notre Dame when Herrmann had a thumb in- jury. "I decided to not embarrass a senior in his last season and it was a home game," Young recalled. "So I called Mark over and said 'If you call your own plays and not throw any interceptions, I will let you do it all season.' That's what he did the rest of the season. "I doubt there has been any quarterback that's done that since then in college football. I think that was symbol of his leadership ability and the team really rallied around him and he was calling the plays, not me. He was that type of quiet, smart leader." So, in some ways, it comes full circle for Herrmann. He will be called on in his stoic, positive, cerebral way to get Kran - nert alumni to reconnect with the university, mentally, physically and financially. "One of the key aspects to de- velopment is building relationships, and you can't build a relationship until you start a relationship," New- ton said. "The fact that he has name recognition with a lot of our donors and key stakeholders will help him get a foot in the door. "And I think Mark will use his communication skills from there to build on those relationships and help us achieve what we want to achieve." Herrmann knows a thing or two about achievement. Quietly, thoughtfully, if not efficiently, he will approach his new opportunity at Purdue as he did when he was an undergrad … one pass, or may - be better written, one person, at a time. j Wayne Doebling Coach Jim Young trusted Herrmann so much as a leader that he turned over the play-calling duties to his quarterback in his senior season. UNMATCHED Here's a list of five items that still haven't been topped or dupli- cated by a Boilermaker in the 34 seasons since Mark Herrmann was Purdue's quarterback: R Consensus All-America quarterback (1980) R Led the Boilermakers to three-straight bowl wins (1978-80) R Offensive MVP of three-straight bowl games (1978-80) R Led a team to a 10-win season (1979) R Had .658 single-season completion percentage (1980)