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of No. 1 teams in opposite polls. He had a great all-around game, running for two scores and throwing for another while also playing lock-down cornerback against the Irish's star receiver Jim Seymour. That was Keyes' Heisman moment. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers couldn't sustain the top ranking, losing to eventual national champion Ohio State and Minnesota. Injuries were a factor, but the Trojans' Simpson also distanced himself with a monstrous year en route to the Rose Bowl. "God has given us the ability to play the game and others the ability to judge your ability. I accept that," Keyes said. "It is always a game that you need someone else to help you make it. Look at Doug Flutie, he needed Gerard Phelan to catch that ball to have his Heisman moment." It also helped Flutie's heroics were late in the season on national television. Keyes played only six televised games in his career, a half season for most guys today. "Yes, my life might have been different had I won it, I suppose, but that has never been a focus," Keyes said. "I have been fortunate to have lived life surrounded by people who love me for who I am. "I have had my fun. I still love to hear people say, 'Give the ball to Leroy.' " SO CLOSE FOR PHIPPS Mike Phipps had broad shoulders. And during his senior year in 1969, the Columbus, Ind., native had carried his team to eight wins. "Mike benefitted from having all those Rose Bowl guys coming back when he was a sophomore in '67, but he carried us on his shoulders when he was a senior," said DeMoss. "So, I suppose, turnabout is fair play." For Phipps it was more than fair play, it was greatness that marked his senior year. Notre Dame Leroy Keyes joins Drew Brees as the only Boilermakers to ever finish in the top five in the Heisman balloting twice. This poster was given to all Notre Dame students prior to the '68 Purdue-Notre Dame game, a battle of two No. 1-ranked teams that the Boilermakers won. Notre Dame and Michigan State, teams that played to the infamous 10-10 tie late in the season. KEYES ENJOYED SPOTLIGHT Leroy Keyes is convinced his candidacy for the Heisman, so to speak, began on defense. In his first televised appearance in 1966 as a defensive back, he had a 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown early in the game and despite only have 12 rushes in '66, he had made a name for himself. When Coach Jack Mollenkopf decided to move Keyes to offense in 1967, all Keyes did was become the only Boilermaker in history to lead the nation in scoring. The Newport News, Va., native could do everything, from pass catching to kicking the ball off. And when things got tight late in games, Mollenkopf moved Keyes to defense. "In those days, it was really rare for a junior to win the Heisman," Keyes said. "So I didn't think much of it when Gary Beban won it. He was a senior at UCLA and it wasn't in the cards for me." But the following year in '68, things were different. Keyes began the season on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and Purdue was ranked No. 1 in many early polls. "I always look at the SI cover and wonder where they got that picture," Keyes said a few weeks ago. "I mean, I wasn't doing anything in the image, just standing there." Keyes looked to be the front-runner for the prestigious award, especially after the Boilermakers defeated Notre Dame in Week 2 of the season in a battle GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Stability on Track All Aboard! Lafayette Saving Bank has seen the train coming and changed with the times. Since 1869, we have been your financial engine. Climb on board. Don't miss it! www.LSBANK.com / 742-1064 GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 • 31