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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 26, Digital 6

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 26, ISSUE 6 67 thumping at the hands of Ohio State. In that con- test, Herrmann was harassed constantly by Buckeye defenders. Young figured he had to buy some time for his quarterback, who was an accurate pass- er but wasn't known as being the fleetest of foot. Young had seen the Dallas Cowboys implement the shotgun formation in the NFL on a more frequent basis (it had been used sparingly by AFL teams a decade earlier) and thought it might fit for Purdue. "We debated for weeks whether Pete could suc- cessfully snap the ball in the shotgun," said Young, who ultimately decided to implement the wrinkle two games after the Buckeye debacle followed by a home loss to Illinois. "A couple weeks later, Pete became the first center in college football history to have to snap the ball in the shotgun formation, and he caught on pretty quickly with it. "I kidded him that the reason he was so good at it was because we used it a lot and he never blocked anybody anyhow." The usually stoic 80-year-old coach couldn't re- sist gigging Quinn, but Young also said he had Quinn to thank for helping Purdue and Herrmann toss a record five touchdown passes in a 34-21 win over Iowa. "Jim Young was so far ahead of everyone else as a football coach," Quinn said. "How many guys can implement a top passing offense like he did at Pur- due and then a few years later have one of the best wishbone running attacks at Army? That is why he is a College Football Hall-of-Famer, too." Quinn has had his hand in Indiana football for decades, first at Scecina High School then at Pur- due. He also has been involved with youth football to a large degree in the Indianapolis area. And he'll start his 25th season analyzing Boilermaker games on the radio this fall, hitting Game No. 300 against Indiana in late November. "To this day, I'm not sure what made them think of me," said Quinn, an executive vice president at Colliers International in Indianapolis. "I'll nev- er forget when I was first contacted by Learfield, I called (wife) Susan and said, 'I just got a call from the radio network,' and she wanted to know if I was going to take it. And I said, 'Well, they'll never offer it to me. I don't have any experience. But if they do, I'll do it for a year, just to say I was on the radio.' And this fall will be my 25th year doing it. Never expected that one." Outside of football, Quinn's ongoing avocation for Purdue is his role as co-founder of the Boiler Business Exchange of Indianapolis. In a town domi- nated by IU sports talk and interest in the Hoosiers, Colts and Pacers, there are many times in the busi- ness community when Boilermaker supporters feel like a minority. The idea of the BBE has spurred some passion among the professionals. "Purdue people need to hang together, and there are so many great business people in our area, that all we needed was a little organization, and it would flourish," Quinn said not long after the BBE was formed in 2013. "Purdue people are talented, giving and special people, and we can make a difference in Indianapolis and around the world." Quinn has made a difference in Purdue football for a long, long time. He is an eternal optimist and happy to take on any criticism received, especially during some of the Boilermakers' struggles of late. "I am a huge Darrell Hazell fan," Quinn said. "He just does so many things that make me proud to be from Purdue. You can see the character he develops in the kids. He is doing great things. At the end of the day, I know it is about winning, but with the changes that were made on his staff, I am optimistic for this fall. With our schedule, it is never going to be as easy as it is right now, and I am hoping this is the year he turns it." Quinn has showcased his love for football since the first day he set foot on the Ross-Ade Stadium field nearly 40 years ago. At the break at the end of quarters, if Quinn was on the field, he sprinted to the other end. He especially loved it when the Boilermakers ended the first or third quarter deep in opponents' territory. "Coach Young taught us to hustle, so that was one way of setting the tone," Quinn said. "Centers only get noticed if there are bad snaps, so I had to do some- thing a little different to get people to notice the play of the offensive line. "By the end of my career, people in the stands start- ed standing as I ran by. Maybe I should get credit as

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