Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/99573
"They thought I was going to win, I guess, and that He threw for a Big Ten-record 2,527 yards and 23 touchdowns and became the first quarterback in is why we all went to President Hovde's office," Phipps college football history to defeat Notre Dame three said. "I remember the president taking the call, and all I remember him saying was 'Aw, that is too bad.' It wasn't times. That alone made Phipps a national figure. In a long meeting. "After 43 years, I don't have any regrets. I just think '69, there were no O.J. Simpsons or Steve Spurriers to compete against. But it was television that to myself, 'Boy, that would have been great for Purdue to might have knocked Phipps from college football's have that happen.' Sure, I would have loved all the trips to New York in future years, too. But I have no regrets." ultimate mantel. Phipps said all of Purdue's near-misses on the HeisIn Purdue's lone televised game of the season at No. 1 Ohio State, Phipps was intercepted five man signified that the program was at a level it has yet times. Unlike Griese, he wasn't able to rally his to reach since. "I am not ashamed to say that our run in the late team to victory. Few could against the No. 1 Buckeyes, as the Boilermakers labored in a 42-14 defeat. 1960s as a team hasn't been duplicated here," Phipps "Looking back, that game probably was the said. "I loved the Drew Brees Era and what the guys that difference," said Phipps in a recent interview. "It played with Mark Herrmann accomplished. Yet, in my opinion, what we did was a notch above." wasn't one of my better days." It's hard to argue that statement. j Back in the 1960s, the Heisman announcement was usually made the Tuesday after the Bucket game. Unlike Griese and Keyes, however, Purdue thought it might get the call to say it had its prized winner. Phipps was called to President Hovde's HAZELL A HIT WITH PURDUE'S Malcolm Emmons office just after lunch BIG THREE Not only did Mike Phipps become the first quarterback in col- to await the call from lege football history to defeat Notre Dame three times, but he New York. Bob Griese, Mike Phipps and Leroy Keyes may not know Darrell Hazell came within an eyelash of winning the 1969 Heisman Trophy. personally, but they do like what they see. "Whatever information you can get from watching him on YouTube, you get the sense he is really poised," Phipps said. "He is very impressive and reminds me a lot of Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And if that's the case, we have a real winner here." Phipps said he thought the search was conducted in the right way that allowed Purdue to get its man. "They were looking for three important criteria: Character, commitment and coaching," Phipps said. "This is not to say anything negative about Danny Hope, but you have to have that (bigger-than-life) character. "I think he will have to be very careful in picking his assistants and take his time doing that. I think it all could lead to a lot of success in Ross-Ade, and we all are looking forward to that." Keyes said Hazell immediately commands respect with his presence. "He has to say it is my turn. I'm the captain…" Keyes said. "I like his approach. To be a football coach, you have to be part-time politician and I think he does that very well. Football is a business and coaches come and go, and I get the sense he understands this." Like most, Keyes downplayed the fact that Hazell is Purdue's first African-American head football coach. Yet, he falls short of saying it doesn't make him smile. "I'm glad we have a quality coach, who happens to be black," Keyes said. "Yet, I will judge him on wins and losses. I understand he might be a fraternity brother (Omega Psi Phi), so we might have that in common." Griese, who works on the Miami Dolphins radio crew after years as a college football analyst for ABC/ESPN, was well aware of the name Hazell made for himself as an assistant at Ohio State. "I have talked to a couple of guys on the Dolphins who have played for him and the both said 'Best coach in Big Ten,'" Griese said. Griese said it will take more than Hazell's work to elevate Purdue's football fortunes. "I know the formula for our success when I was in school at Purdue was that president, athletic director and football coach were very involved and very much on the same page," Griese said. "They were very supportive. It seems to me that this needs to happen again." — Alan Karpick 32 • GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED • VOLUME 23, ISSUE 3 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com