INSIDE PURDUE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

VOLUME 01 / ISSUE 04 / SUMMER 2019

Boilermaker Nation:

Looking back on my time at Purdue, there IN THIS ISSUE: were so many people who supported me along the way, from professors, coaches NORA KIESLER: and other students to members of the John A FIRST-HAND Purdue Club. Without all of them, I would ACCOUNT OF HER not have been able to earn a top-notch BOILERMAKER 0 4 degree and compete at the highest level, both EXPERIENCE collegiately and in the Olympics. I would not have been to do what I did at any other university in the nation. A PASSIONATE FAN ATMOSPHERE Purdue has a lot of great athletes who also HAS RETURNED TO are exceptional in the classroom. We pride BASKETBALL AND 1 0 ourselves on being competitive athletically FOOTBALL and academically.

There is an awesome community of students FOOTBALL PLAYERS here. I made it a point to attend as many ARE GETTING A sporting events as possible – from basketball HEAD START ON and football, to volleyball, soccer, golf and THEIR COLLEGIATE 1 2 tennis – because I wanted to support other CAREERS athletes. We feel that same strength and generosity from you, as well. PETE DYE: Being at Purdue has given me the STORIES OF THE opportunity to grow not only as an athlete LEGENDARY GOLF and but as a future filmmaker. My immediate COURSE DESIGNER 6 plans are to train for the 2020 Olympic 1 Games in Tokyo at Purdue under our highly acclaimed coach, Adam Soldati. You can read about what a wonderful person he is on Q&A WITH page 22. MEN’S BASKETBALL Although I no longer will be competing for COACH MATT Purdue, I will forever bleed old gold & black. 2 0 PAINTER

To all of you and many others, I say thank you. STAFF SPOTLIGHT: ADAM SOLDATI Boiler Up! DIVING COACH 2 2

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MATT AND MARY Steele Johnson FOLK B.A., Interdisciplinary Film and Video Studies 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist 2 6 5-Time NCAA Champion

JACK KARL: THE HOST WITH Forge is published quarterly by Purdue Athletics. THE MOST Co-Editors Alan Karpick and Tom Schott Contributing Writers Tom Campbell, 2 8 Tom Dienhart, Tim Newton and Cory Palm Editorial Assistance Rachel Coe, Tanner Lipsett and Laurie Silverstein Graphic Design Paul Sadler Photography Charles Jischke PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE | MEN’S BASKETBALL CELEBRATES ITS VICTORY OVER VILLANOVA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FORGE | SUMMER 2019 2 FORGE | SUMMER 2019 3 “I can’t do it, I can’t,” I cried collision January 19, 2014, which out between short breaths and resulted in 12 hours of memory loss uncontrollable sobs. The weight of and an overnight stay in the hospital. reality was crashing down on my heart The usual confusion, slowed response hard and fast. My throat was closing. and panic that result from a concussion My eyes were swelling shut. My chest were heightened when I woke up in the felt only moments from collapsing. “I hospital room alone with no idea how can’t, please don’t make me do it,” I I ended up there. After weeks in a dark repeated as I buried my face in my room and a treatment plan from the mom’s shoulder, trying to hide myself best sports neurologist in the country, I from the world around me. Physically, I returned to basketball five months later was numb, yet my heart felt everything. fully healthy with zero complications. The grief I had suppressed for months confronted me with a vengeance. It Concussions two, three and four could no longer remain dormant inside wouldn’t come until a year and a half of me; it was here, and it was real. I later during my sophomore year at shifted away from my mom and buried Purdue. I sustained three concussions my face into my legs, squeezing them in five months, significantly altering closer to my chest, forming the smallest my quality of life. With a constant Nothing like ball my 6-foot, 6-inch frame could headache that impaired my ability physically allow. Tighter and tighter I to think and sleep, let alone play squeezed, thinking maybe I could make basketball, I had to take a three-week I planned… myself so small I would just disappear break from basketball in December of into nothing and finally wake up from 2016 to get my health and myself back more than I this nightmare that had consumed my to normal. life. I made my way back to the court ever imagined That night last November was only in January of 2017. However, this 12 hours before the first basketball recovery felt different. My body NORA KIESLER GIVES A game of my senior season. The season didn’t quite bounce back the way it FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF HER that was supposed to be my last go at did in my “younger” days. Tough BOILERMAKER EXPERIENCE it, my chance to set the world on fire. practice? Headache. Long day of But everything that it was supposed to class? Headache. Not enough water? be was ripped out of my hands and Headache. Sunny day? Headache. simultaneously ripped out my heart by Flight to an away game? Definite a decision that ended my playing career headache. I survived thanks to a … and saved my life. concoction of Tylenol, prescriptions and vitamins to ward off headaches and Basketball isn’t just a game to me. It provide some relief from the pain. isn’t something I just played for fun. It is my escape, my rock, my first love. So, Over the next six months, the in order for you to understand my pain, headaches happened more and more you must first understand my love; for frequently. First, every other week. basketball, for my university and for Then weekly. Then four times a week. everything and everyone that the first Then it reached a point during the two brought me. summer of 2017 that I lived with this kind of excruciating pain constantly. THE DREADED INJURY Nothing gave me relief. From my temples to the base of my neck, it felt

FORGE My playing career ended because of the one word no student-athlete wants like someone was slowly slicing through to hear: concussions. With five hits to the center of my skull with a knife.

| the head in four and a half years, my Every hair on my head felt like it was SUMMER 2019 doctor, mom, coach, and athletic trainer pulling at its base. All I wanted was a collectively decided the risk of me dark room and my bed. I would wake playing basketball was too high. up at 6 a.m. for workouts, do what was asked of me for that hour and a half, The first concussion definitely was leave and immediately crawl back in the worst. I suffered a head-to-head my bed for the remainder of the day. It 4 In order for you to understand my pain, you must first understand my love; for basketball, for my university and for everything and everyone that the first two brought me. FORGE | SUMMER 2019 5 took every ounce of energy and what my neurologist decided there was only little I had left physically to get through one treatment option left if I was going those lifts, conditioning sessions and to go back to a truly normal life: five individual practices. days and four nights in the hospital with a 24-hour IV. The purpose was AND NO ONE KNEW to reset my nervous system and get I convinced myself I couldn’t tell the myself headache-free. It was scary. It truth. What would my teammates was intense. But it was the only option say? What would coach Versyp think? I had left. What could even fix me at this point? I accepted that these debilitating My time in the hospital proved headaches were just part of how I had successful. The headaches were gone, to live now. The way I saw it, I had a the pain disappeared and suddenly bad head that just meant I would need I had a sparkle back in my eye. But an extra nap every now and then. But my real recovery had just begun. this wasn’t just a “nap”; this was an With a reset nervous system and a hour or two outside of bed and the determination to play again, I started other 22 spent in it. It was my new the uphill battle. normal. From August through October, I fought. Eventually I caved and told the truth. Fought through discomfort, fought My neurologist’s solution: a nerve block through obstacles and ultimately fought to stop the pain. The treatment meant for my love for basketball. two shots in the base of my neck – needles that burned as they pierced my The 2017-18 season started, and I skin and went deep into my nerves. I felt still was fighting. It was hard watching every drop of liquid in that vile pulse those first few games, but I knew I was through my neck and flow into my body. close. Seeing those games made me It was slow, agonizing and felt longer work that much harder to be back on than the 30 seconds it took. But I knew the court. And on November 20, 2017 it was worth it, and I was excited about – four months after I was admitted to the idea of having relief from how I had the hospital and told I may not play been living all summer. Or so I thought. basketball again – I got what I worked for and wanted so much. Two days later, I woke up at 3 a.m. Burning, fiery pain was pounding I played the rest of the season with no at the spots the two shots had been complications and no other hits to the administered. A few short hours later, I head. It wasn’t the perfect season, but it went to our 6 a.m. workout, expecting was one that reminded me how precious myself to push through the pain. basketball is and how quickly it can be taken away. I didn’t even make it to warm up. And then it actually was taken away. My teammates found me folded over, crying from the pain. They took me On Tuesday, July 3, 2018, we had a 6 to the athletic trainer immediately, but a.m. practice. We had gone through there was nothing she could do to fix it. drills for about 45 minutes, and coach V wanted to wrap things up playing My neurologist told me sometimes this 3-on-3. Each end of the floor had two FORGE type of reaction happens. The medicine teams playing against one another. At didn’t make it into my nervous system my end, my team had been behind the

| and the block didn’t take hold, which whole drill. In the last two minutes, we SUMMER 2019 meant not only was I now experiencing were making a comeback and when the pain from the failed nerve block but horn sounded for practice to end we also the pain from my headaches wasn’t were tied. “Keep playing,” coach yelled going away any time soon. from half court. So we did. On the next shot, the ball bounced off the rim to After days of deliberation and decisions, my side of the basket. It ping-ponged 6 from one hand to the other, and a foundation for the rest of my life, if you mess up, the 17 family and I ultimately ended up with it. As once-in-a-lifetime opportunities friends that are here for you will I tried to secure the ball, I was and a world-class education. still have to love you.” met with a swinging palm that made contact with my temple. Traveling with Purdue women’s “Hello everyone. My name is Nora Immediately, my world went black. basketball is a first-class experience. Kiesler, and no, the podium is I couldn’t see, my ears were ringing Top-of-the-line accommodations, not that small, I’m really just that and the pain in my head felt like meals and, of course, the tall.” Laughter erupted in the hall. my skin was splitting right down destinations themselves always I mean who doesn’t love a good the middle. I started to panic. I set the standard. I have been tall joke, right? From there, the laid myself down in the Mackey everywhere from Maine to Mexico, teleprompter kept me on track, and Arena tunnel. Our athletic trainer from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands. the ensuing four minutes of the met me there, asking the standard Every trip was incredible in its own speech were delivered flawlessly. questions: “What happened? What way, but I never will forget our Coming down from the stage are you feeling?” I couldn’t get my journey to Italy and Switzerland started what I like to call my 15 breathing to slow enough to answer my freshman year. The 12-day seconds of fame – smiling to the her, but she knew. While the tour showed off the cities of Rome, strangers along the aisle, thanking contact to my head was minimal, it Florence, Pisa, Venice, Lake Como the people who complimented me had caused significant symptoms. and Montreux. Days were spent and posing for picture after picture. exploring cobblestone streets and It was a dream, a moment in time The next few days were spent appreciating the history of these filled with so much joy I thought I doing normal concussion-recovery beautiful places, not to mention could never feel again. protocol: sleep in a dark room with enjoying gelato. It was truly an little stimulation. No television, experience of a lifetime. I WAS WRONG no movies, no cell phone, nothing. I experienced another moment like I was so preoccupied with how Not only did Purdue give me the it six months later. crummy I felt, I didn’t even take opportunity to travel the world, the time to process what my fifth university also honored me with February 17, 2019, is another date concussion meant. Or maybe I just memorable on-campus occasions I will never forget. But this time, in wanted to deny it. – the most obvious being my role the best way. as the student responder at the The next Friday, coach V and our 235th Purdue Commencement Sixty-six seconds. That’s all the athletic trainer pulled me aside Ceremony in August of 2018. With playing time I got for my entire after watching practice. Before two months of preparation and senior year. Barely over a minute. saying a word, I knew something a team of proofreaders, I created Only played in one game. But was wrong. Their demeanor told a graduation speech I was proud believe me, those 66 seconds meant me everything I needed to know. of (and one that I hoped would more to me than the entire 18 Ultimately, they were preparing me not put the audience to sleep). I years of playing time before it. for the decision that would come decided to compare the college one week later. experience to skydiving, making Putting on my jersey, my shorts, my parallels between the emotions at shoes – it was all so much sweeter A DATE I WILL NEVER each stage of both. The idea came that day. It meant so much more. FORGET to me from a professor’s “Final I actually forgot what it felt like to July 20, 2018. A moment I truly Words of Wisdom” presentation wear that silk-smooth Dri-FIT on can’t talk about because it still that spring when he told us, my body, to run out of Mackey’s brings up too much emotion, so “Graduating from college feels a tunnel, to just be a basketball I black it out. The day I felt my lot like being forced to jump out of player. world crash down around me. a plane with no parachute. Jump anyway, and just make sure you

It was near the end of the third FORGE When grief overcame me, I have a soft place to land.” quarter and the game was tied. focused on what was taken away Coach V had promised I would from me rather than what I had On August 4, 2018, I stood on see the floor, but I understood | accomplished with what had been stage in the Elliot Hall of Music the importance of a win over SUMMER 2019 given to me. For a long time, I with lights shining in my eyes and Northwestern that night, and I grieved the loss of the fantasy 6,000 pairs of eyeballs looking still couldn’t get myself out of the of what could have been, rather attentively at me. My armpits were “team-first” mindset. than celebrating what was: a sweating, my hands just a bit shaky basketball career that provided me and my mind telling me, “Well, All of the sudden, coach V ran 7 FORGE | SUMMER 2019 8 down the bench and pulled me out of my Through all of it – the highs and the lows, seat. With one minute and six seconds on the the really good and the really ugly – one clock, my time had come. I sprinted to the thing cannot be forgotten: my friendship scorer’s table, peeling off my warmup in the with my teammate and now best friend Abby process. The ball had been blown dead and Abel. Abby is the type of person that brings subs were waved into the game. But not so fast. happiness into your life by just being herself. The referees came running together to review She always says that what she lacks in height whatever call had been made on the previous she makes up for in heart, and wow is that the play. With that time, coach V pulled our team truth. Whether it was a note to make me smile together and said, “Nora, if we have the ball on a bad day, a cake on my birthday every we’re running MSU, and you’re making the year or just a jam session in the car when the pass. If we’re on defense we’ll be in a 2-3 sunshine finally came out after winter, Abby zone.” has been my “person” these last four years. She complements me in the best ways – reaching I froze. Standing there stunned, I thought to the bottom shelf, cleaning up after I cook and myself, “Hold on now, did she just insinuate even tying my shoes when I just don’t feel like that I’m ACTUALLY PLAYING?! AND SHE bending alllllllll the way down there. College WANTS ME TO MAKE A PASS WHEN athletics is tough, and if anyone thinks they can THE GAME IS TIED, AND I HAVENT get through the experience alone they are flat PLAYED SINCE JULY?! out wrong. This best friend of mine, a stranger four years ago and now the only other player OK, so it was more like a scream in my head. that made it through these four years with me, forever will be part of my life. And because of I looked down at my shoes – barely tied and what? You guessed it: basketball. no ankle braces. My idea of “playing” was five seconds of standing in the corner and maybe NO REGRETS getting the ball thrown to me if I was lucky. As a high school senior in the fall of 2014, Not a minute of actual offense and defense. I committed to Purdue. The academic Gulp. reputation, the women’s basketball tradition and the life-changing opportunities that I checked into the game and, of course with awaited me were all factors in my decision. But my luck, immediately was given a technical foul there was one thing that really set Purdue apart because someone (I won’t name names) forgot from the others – the feeling that it was exactly to write my name in the scorer’s book. where I was supposed to be.

What happened next was a minute of my life Looking back, I’m glad high school senior that I hold so close to my heart. The public- Nora listened to that little voice inside her head address announcer called my name, the crowd that told her to come to West Lafayette and cheered, and I couldn’t help but soak it all in. wear the old gold & black. Because now, four The fans, the band, all the people who knew years later, I’m educated, well-traveled and part what it took for me to step on the floor that of a Boilermaker family that lasts much longer evening had loved me through it all. One than my time on campus. I’m leaving with not possession of offense, one possession of defense one, but two degrees, as I will add an MBA and, boom, it was over. What was just one from Krannert to my undergraduate degree in minute felt like the blink of an eye to me, but management and marketing. All because of a an eternity to my poor mom who was in the bouncy orange ball. stands praying that I didn’t take another blow to the head in this final game. Good news: I Do I wish I could do it again? Abso-freaking- didn’t.

lutely. But not because I would change FORGE anything about my unpredictable journey; It’s hard to put that moment into words and, I just want to live it all over again. Yes, my to be honest, I don’t know that I want to share college experience was nothing like I planned | it. Because it’s a moment that is entirely mine. it would be, but it was still more than I ever SUMMER 2019 It’s sacred to me and overwhelming in so many imagined. ways: the joy, the pain, the love. Ever grateful, ever true. I will put it like this: I had basketball ripped away from me and on that day, I took it back. 9 By Tom Dienhart

The vortex of sound swirls around to go in to in the Big Ten regardless It was a night wrapped in a wave the Mackey Arena court. The how good the Boilermakers are. of emotions that encapsulated 14,804 black-and-gold clad fans Because when they are home, they the passion of this fandom. It also are whipped into a frenzy, feeding are pretty good.” contained a trend. Purdue has the noise. You can feel it, as the seen attendance skyrocket at wall of sound rises and envelopes Purdue ended up being more than Ross-Ade since head coach Jeff Purdue’s home court, turning it “pretty good” last season, as the Brohm arrived in 2017. Brohm into a cacophony of sound and Boilermakers won the Big Ten and went 7-6 during his maiden voyage, fury. advanced to the Elite Eight during after the program had won a total a thrilling NCAA Tournament run. of nine games in the previous four “There is really nothing like it,” And along the way, the program years. Attendance at Ross-Ade rose says Michael Wood, a former got a big boost from the screaming by 13,433 per game, from 34,451 president of the Paint Crew and zealots sardined into Mackey. It’s in 2016 to 47,884 in 2017. It was recent Purdue graduate. “Your ears a testimony to a Boilermaker fan the largest per-game average in are ringing, and you are trying to base whose support has played an the nation, and there is still room match what everyone else is doing.” integral part in the fortunes of not for the Boilermakers to add. Last just the basketball squad, but also season, Purdue saw its home Welcome to Mackey Arena, where the football program. average jump to 51,119. Capacity the Boilermakers played to 98 for Ross-Ade is listed at 57,236. percent capacity last season and in That never was more apparent front of sellout crowds 10 times out than last October, when a jam- Yes, winning has played a big of 15 games. packed Ross-Ade Stadium served part in that jump. But there are as the backdrop to one of the other factors, including an ever- The venerable domed edifice that biggest and most memorable increasing emphasis on marketing sits along Northwestern Avenue victories in school history. With and fan experience. has earned a reputation as one of super-fan Tyler Trent on hand the loudest venues in the country. It as inspiration, the Boilermakers “Our goal is to provide an is a deafening den of decibels that crushed No. 2 Ohio State 49-20. environment where people can un-nerves opponents, fueled by a enjoy themselves, learn a little ESPN play-by-play man Chris about our student-athletes,

FORGE Boilermaker fan base that ranks among the nation’s best. Fowler tweeted: “Incredible night connect a little bit and also enjoy @BoilerFootball – from Boilers’ the atmosphere that surrounds

| “Mackey Arena still is the best total team performance to the games,” says Chris Peludat, SUMMER 2019 venue,” college basketball analyst @theTylerTrent sharing his associate athletics director for Andy Katz said this past season. powerful story and having his marketing and fan experience. “We “It’s the loudest just the way wish fulfilled and the team prayer obviously can’t control the result, it reverberates off the top of around him in the locker room. I but we can work to make sure we that dome. It is by far the most will not forget this game.” complement that as best we can.” intimidating place for an opponent FAN-DEMONIUM 10 The John Purdue Club also is the fan base. He saw the fever to create something where people doing its part to enhance the of Purdue fans up close last come. And even if the team doesn’t fan experience. This spring, it December when tickets for the win, they had a great time.” instituted the Boilermaker Athletics Music City Bowl went on sale. Representative program. The JPC No doubt, Michael Wood had fun isn’t just trying to sell tickets, it is “This year’s bowl game, we sold while he was in the Paint Crew. trying to cultivate donors and fans 3,000 tickets above and beyond at the same time and trying to give our allotment of 8,000,” Fordyce “It really is unbelievable to feel and people a personal experience. says. “We used 11,000 tickets. It hear how the sound gathers near was a week of 16-hour days in the the center of the court,” Wood “We want to take the approach ticket office. They were some long says. “If I was an opposing player, where we are building on the days to execute that because of the I would be rattled because it is one experience Purdue fans want,” quantity of tickets.” of those things when you just stop says Tim House, senior associate and think of how loud it is, it is athletics director and senior Fordyce got an indication of what pretty incredible.” director of development. “We are was ahead in the Brohm era at the learning more about our fan base. start of his tenure. What also is remarkable to Wood We can guess what we think people and others is that the environment want to see. What’s Ohio State “The thing that sticks in my mind is becoming win/loss agnostic. doing? What’s Michigan doing? is the game against Louisville in Aggressive marketing and social What’s Clemson doing? Whoever. Indianapolis (Brohm’s first game),” media set the table for high- And model what we do after other he says. “When coach Brohm came performing teams. Fans feel the schools. Or we could go to our in, everyone was excited. But our need to be at the stadium or fan base and ask them what they fan base had been excited before. arena and share in the want.” But when the team put forth that experience. effort and that showing in that first It’s all about building trust with game, people realized what we had No matter what. the customer and delivering then. I think we sold 10,000 tickets a good experience. It’s also the week of the Michigan game. about forging a bond. That is Our phones and system blew up where the Boilermaker Athletics for that game. All of sudden, one FORGE Representative program comes in. game and people were on board.” The JPC assigns a staff member to | every member and season-ticket That 2017 debut for Brohm turned SUMMER 2019 holder. That individual is assigned out to be magical, ending with a contact in the JPC and given that a Foster Farms Bowl win staffer’s personal email and direct over Arizona. It served phone number. as impetus to better attendance in 2018. But “We will build relationships with winning isn’t the sole 11 trust that way,” House says. “We key to selling tickets. can build a relationship where we are explaining to them and they “Winning is aren’t just showing up seeing it isn’t important,” Fordyce how they want it and assuming says. “We are trying they think we don’t want what is to create an best for them.” atmosphere and a relationship Ticketing also has been a key with our fans. component to the rise of fans and You can’t just cultivation of a rabid atmosphere sit back and in Mackey and Ross-Ade. The say, well, the athletics ticket office offers different team is good, packages to fans; the more options, they will come; the more likely to hit a fan’s sweet if the team is no spot. Brian Fordyce, director of good, we can’t do ticket operations and analytics, anything about knows there is an appetite from it. You have to try FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING A HEAD START ON THEIR COLLEGIATE CAREERS

By Tim Newton

Spring practice or senior prom?

That’s the question high school seniors face once they

FORGE sign a letter of intent to play college football. While a majority of them complete their senior year of high school, some are opting to graduate a semester early

| and enter college for the spring semester, giving them SUMMER 2019 an opportunity to take part in spring practice. 12 FORGE | SUMMER 2019

George Karlaftis 13 Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm says college career early was made well around here without the pressure he leaves that choice up to each in advance. of starting school during the individual. season.” “I brought it up to my mom, and “I don’t want people to do it before she was kind of hesitant about Jones also knew that there was an they’re ready, and they have to be it,” Karlaftis says. “She had immediate opportunity to play. mature enough to handle college at never heard of it. It probably was Akeem Hunt, Raheem Mostert a younger age,” Brohm says. “But decided about a year ago. and Brandon Cottom all had if they’re prepared, both mentally exhausted their eligibility after the and physically, it gives them an “I thought it would give me the 2014 season. opportunity to get on the field early best opportunity to play come against college players and allows August 30 (Purdue’s season Jones took full advantage. He them to get used to the academic opener). It would be better for me appeared in all 12 games, starting schedule here.” to develop into the player I want to six, in 2015, and ran for a Purdue be my freshman year.” freshman-record 875 yards with 10 Students can graduate early by touchdowns. taking courses online or in the Athletically, Karlaftis immediately summer. Those options weren’t proved he belonged on the “I don’t think I would have been available when Brohm was a collegiate field, running with the able to contribute to that extent high school student in Louisville, first-team defense throughout without coming in the spring,” he Kentucky. He admits that even spring practice. And he quickly says. “I might have been able to if they were, he wouldn’t have noticed a big difference in his play special teams and have some left high school early because he physical stature. spot duty, but being here early and enjoyed playing basketball and going through spring practice had baseball. Brohm was selected by “I’ve actually lost weight,” he says. me ready to play.” the Montreal Expos in the seventh “I’ve lost about 12 pounds in fat round of the 1989 draft, but opted and gained 10 to 15 pounds in Like Karlaftis, Jones used those for college football instead. muscle. It’s been really good for extra months on campus to me.” transform his body. He came to MAKING THE Purdue at 195 pounds, but gained NUMBERS WORK Karlaftis has been fine in the 10 pounds of muscle before The only limitations for mid- classroom, too. “I went to West playing as a freshman. year enrollees are the scholarship Side, and they take academics numbers. Each program is pretty seriously. So, the transition Jones is finished with football. He allowed to have 85 players on wasn’t as difficult for me. It’s still concluded his Boilermaker career scholarship at one time. If a team a different speed and you have a with 20 rushing touchdowns, good is at the maximum of 85 and has different workload, but it’s been for ninth place in program history. 20 seniors, suppose 10 graduate pretty good so far,” says Karlaftis, He will graduate in August with during the fall semester (or sooner) who is leaning toward construction a degree in professional flight of their final year of eligibility management as a major. technology, and will follow in the and the other 10 will graduate in footsteps of his dad, a pilot. Jones subsequent semesters. Using an FLYING INTO THE FRAY eventually hopes to fly for UPS, NCAA legislated exception, the Karlaftis is hoping to have a similar because “the packages don’t worry program may take up to 10 mid- freshman year to another early about smooth landings.” year enrollees, including junior enrollee. Markell Jones came to college and graduate transfers, as campus in the spring of 2015 Any regrets about missing the well as high school seniors. after being named Mr. Football last half of his senior year in high in Indiana. He made his decision school?

FORGE This year, four high school seniors for both academic and athletic decided to enroll at Purdue in reasons. “No,” he says without hesitation. January: defensive end George “In fact, if I could have come in a

| Karlaftis, safety Jalen Graham, “I wanted to acclimate to the full year early, I would have.” SUMMER 2019 offensive lineman Spencer rhythm that I would be in during Holstege and quarterback Paul the season, with classes in the By the way, Karlaftis and Jones Piferi. Karlaftis was a highly sought morning and practice in the attended their high school proms recruit from West Lafayette High afternoon,” Jones says. “It gave me as juniors. Both said once was School. His decision to begin his a chance to get to know people enough. 14 LEADER OF THE PACK When George Karlaftis committed to Purdue during his junior season at West Lafayette High School, it was a win on two fronts.

First, it gave the Boilermakers one of the top defensive ends in the country, a player coveted by the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State. It also gave Jeff Brohm a boost in his quest to show that the program was turning in the right direction.

“It was huge to have such a high-profile recruit in our backyard decide to jump on board,” Brohm says. “It set the table for other top players to join him. He’s a great advocate for the university and for our program.”

Karlaftis has been active on social media, encouraging other top prospects to join him at Purdue. It’s part of the plan that he discussed with Brohm during the recruiting process.

“Coach talked to me, since I was a big-time name, and asked if I would help recruit other players,” Karlaftis says. “I wanted to do that because I knew I wanted to go to Purdue, and I wanted to have a great recruiting class here. I just set it as my goal to help get the best class we could possibly get.”

His efforts helped drive the Boilermaker recruiting class to a top-25 ranking by 247Sports.com. Karlaftis is one of four incoming players ranked as four-star recruits, along with receiver Milton Wright from Louisville, safety Marvin Grant from Detroit and defensive tackle Steven Faucheux from West Chester, Ohio.

Since arriving on campus, Karlaftis has impressed the coaching staff with his high motor and work ethic.

He’s doing everything he can to help continue the FORGE turnaround of Purdue football.

“I try to lead in any way I can,” says Karlaftis, who | turned 18 during spring practice. “I’m young, so it’s SUMMER 2019 kind of different. But in my recruiting class and with a couple of the younger guys, I would consider myself a leader.” 15 FORGE | SUMMER 2019 16 A dollar deal gives Purdue a

STORIES ABOUT THE LEGENDARY COURSE DESIGNER AND HIS IMPACT

By Tom Campbell

Pete Dye, designer of some of the most memorable golf courses on folks like Brouse. The fairways had no irrigation. Sprinklers were the planet, was deep in thought. From his vantage point on the fourth hauled from green to green just to keep them from turning into 18 hole on Purdue’s Kampen Course, Dye repeatedly glanced up at the perfectly round, brown circles during the summer months. fairway, then back to the tee box. “Those fairways were like landing strips,” Brouse says. “Just hard His dog, “60,” meandered wherever his curious nose would take him. and, mostly, straight. Tee shots would just bounce and roll forever.” A golf course, it turns out, is a smorgasboard of sniffs. Good for the golfer’s ego, but bad for the game. From the shade of the tee box, three men and one woman – Purdue men’s coach Rob Bradley, women’s head coach Devon Brouse and DOC AND DYE assistant Caroline Hegg, and golf course superintendent Jim Scott – all Transforming the course into the jewel it is today became the mission stood motionless in the sauna of an Indiana July day, waiting for the of John “Doc” O’Neal, Purdue golf team captain and most valuable genius to kick in. And with Dye, it was always just a matter of time. player in 1975 and 1976 and victim of a painful North Course initiation. Suddenly, Dye, now 93, sprang to life. A few waves of his right hand sent Hegg off the tee box and out into the fescue. “It was on my first qualifying round as a freshman,” recalls O’Neal, co-owner of a golf management company based in Carmel, Indiana. “Go stand over there,” Dye said. Hegg trudged through the ankle- “I was walking to the fifth tee and got hit in the head by a tee shot high grass in the general direction of the adjacent third fairway. from a teammate playing the fourth hole. Knocked me out cold. I didn’t even finish the round.” “You are a tree. Keep going until I tell you to stop.” But long after the bump on his head disappeared, the bad memories On this day in 2014, Dye was on campus to look at changes he of the North Course remained. wanted to implement in his redesign of Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen Course. By now, the Kampen Course had been open for 16 years. Shortly after being named athletics director in 1993, Morgan Burke But Dye never really signs off on any of his projects. Each is an called O’Neal, his fraternity brother. He wanted to get some ideas eternal work in progress. on increasing revenue from the golf courses by boosting the number

of rounds played. But Burke was not interested in spending a lot of FORGE Dye and Scott had a warm spot in their hearts for the Kampen Course. money on golf. They built it with their hands with the help of three dozen students who signed up for the project. To some, it was just a job in the out of doors. “What if I brought Pete Dye up to look at the North Course?” | But many signed up for the chance to work with Dye. O’Neal asked Burke. SUMMER 2019

The consummate tinkerer, Dye always was suggesting subtle changes for O’Neal grew up playing the same courses as Dye and his wife, Alice. Kampen, even while he was working on the Ackerman-Allen layout. He often crossed paths and fairways with the couple who were golf royalty in Before the Kampen project was completed in 1998, the North the Carmel area. Course (as it was known) was dismissed as an “airport course” by 17 Photo by Tom Campbell

“That’s great,” Burke said. “He can give us he would charge Purdue $1 just to make it a mind, then transferring it into a plan.” a few ideas.” legal transaction. So if the tradeoff for spending time with Dye Burke, however, was not interested in a Beering knew a good deal when he saw one. meant she would have to be a tree, Hegg was total redesign or the $1 million fee Dye was He nearly jumped across the table to shake all in. She walked toward the third fairway charging. Dye’s hand and lock down the agreement. with her arms stretched to the sky. “If I had to be a tree for Pete Dye, then I was going to “I have to tell you Doc, redoing the North When Dye returned home and told Alice of be the best tree I could be.” Course is not a priority with me,” Burke said. his dollar deal with Purdue, she was less than “We have a lot of other things that we need thrilled. At different times that summer, Dye had to fix first. And right now, we don’t have two asked Hegg to be a green, a tee box and nickels to rub together for that place.” “You did what?” Alice barked. “You go a bunker. It helped him visualize what the right back up there and tell those people you course eventually would look like, way before A week later, O’Neal and Dye showed up made a mistake.” But Dye stayed true to his the days of virtual reality and GPS maps. with a gallery in tow the likes of which the handshake with Beering. North Course had rarely seen. Even Brouse once was asked to stand on the It may be the best buck Purdue ever spent. top of a golf cart so Dye could see what a “We had about 20 people,” O’Neal recalls, particular shot over a grassy mound would “engineers, agronomists, hydrologists, TIME WITH A LEGEND look like to a golfer. community leaders, even some curious golf A Pete Dye sighting always excited the fans. For about five hours, we walked every Purdue golf community, including Hegg, a But in the summer heat, the branches of the hole on that course from tee to green.” Purdue golfer from 2003 to 2007 and the Caroline tree began to wilt. team’s assistant coach from 2010 to 2015. Burke was about to get a lot more than a few “I dropped my arms, and, finally, I just sat suggestions from Doc and Dye, who also had “We all wanted to spend time with Pete down,” Hegg says. scheduled a visit with then-Purdue president Dye,” Hegg says. “Who wouldn’t?” Steven Beering. “Get up,” Dye commanded. “Trees can’t sit Dye is just the second living golf course down!” “I told Dr. Beering we would need about $7 designer to be voted into the World Golf million for the project,” Dye said at the time. Hall of Fame. His courses have hosted U.S. NO MORE SHORTCUTS “Dr. Beering says, ‘Well, we just don’t have Open, PGA Championship, Tournament For years, tournament players teeing off the that kind of money right now.’” FORGE Players Championship and Ryder Cup par-5 fourth hole had been able to trim 100 events, among others. yards off the hole by playing up the adjacent Ever the salesman (Dye sold insurance before third fairway.

| he was a golf course designer), Dye made “He is an amazing person to listen to,” says SUMMER 2019 Beering an offer he couldn’t refuse and his Hegg, currently the women’s head coach at “It used to drive Pete crazy,” Scott says. “He wife couldn’t believe. Augusta (Georgia) University. “It was always never thought players would do this when he interesting to see how his brain worked. It was building the course.” LET’S MAKE A DEAL was an awesome thing to see him go through “I said I would raise the money myself and the entire process of building a golf course, During the Monday practice round for the that I would waive my fee.” Dye joked that hole by hole, first, recreating every shot in his NCAA women’s championship in 2003, 18 tournament officials took notice of players was his payment for what he saw as a free taking advantage of the shortcut. Purdue education.

“What can we do?” one official asked. “It’s When he started in the design business, dangerous for the players on the third hole. Dye sought the advice of two people, Bill Balls are coming right at them.” Diddle and William Daniel. Diddle designed Purdue’s South Course and suggested Dye “Well, let me plant a few trees in there and not give up his day job to design courses. block off the tee box,” Scott offered. Daniel, a Purdue agronomy professor and “You can’t make trees grow that fast, can you?” namesake of the turf grass center that now sits adjacent to the Kampen Course, became “Sure I can.” And by the time the first Dye’s go-to guy on all things agronomic. players reached the fourth tee the following day, a foursome of ash trees now shaded “Pete would drop in on Dr. Daniel’s classes Photo by Tom Campbell the tee box, preventing access to the third from time to time, attend seminars or just fairway. call him on the phone when he had a turf Scott had grown especially close to Pete question,” Brouse says. “Pete was most Dye. Even though managing a work crew The tree stand was a bigger overnight comfortable when he was talking about dirt of students “aged me 30 years and landed success than Jack’s beanstalk, making Scott or turf. And he loved to talk to Dr. Daniel me in the hospital with exhaustion.” He and his crew heroes among golf course about both. Dr. Daniel was a huge influence calls working side-by-side with Dye to build superintendents everywhere. on Pete and designing these two courses the Kampen Course “the experience of a was Pete’s way of thanking Dr. Daniel for lifetime.” The ash trees stood sentry for years, but everything he did for him.” eventually they became infested with In the course of spending so much time with emerald ash borers and were removed. So PETE AND ALICE: PURDUE’S a man generally regarded as a genius, the by the time Dye came up for a visit in July FOREVER FRIENDS relationship – based on respect, admiration of 2014, the shortcut issue had become a In golf circles, Pete and Alice were the and a little bit of fear – could go one of two festering sore. ultimate power couple. Married for 69 years ways. until her death in February, there was hardly “Stop right there,” Dye said to Hegg. “That’s a decision made in the household or on the “Jimmy,” Dye told the superintendent one where we’ll put the tree.” golf course that didn’t involve Alice. The day, “if Purdue ever fires you, you’ve got a iconic island green at TPC Sawgrass? That lifetime job with me. But if I fire you, you’ll But that was only half of the solution. If was Alice’s idea. never work in this business again.” golfers were bold enough to try the shortcut, they were probably skilled enough to fly tee And she helped shaped the Purdue courses. Scott once called Dye “the best man I know, shots over any tree Scott could plant, even a Alice always made sure there were enough outside of my dad.” But he would never do tall, leafy maple tree. forward tees to accommodate all levels of anything to the course without first clearing golfers. And she helped cure Kampen’s case it through Pete. No matter what Alice said. SOUVENIRS AND SOLUTIONS of the measles. Dye turned back to Brouse, Scott and “But what about Pete?” Scott asked. Bradley, standing in the shade cast by a “Jimmy! Jimmy! Come here,” she said majestic pin oak tree. “And we’ll move the to Scott during one of the many routine “I’ll take care of Pete,” she said. “You just tee right next to this tree,” he said. inspections of the Kampen Course. A huge get rid of these bumps.” waste bunker parallels the eighth fairway. The new tee would not add any length to Dye had sprinkled tufts of fescue throughout Alice went to Pete and revealed her plan to hole, but those overhanging branches sure the bunker. Each looked like a tiny golf ball- change the bunker. Pete looked at his wife, would keep golfers from shortening it. eating island floating in a sandy sea. immediately recognizing the seriousness of her intentions.

FORGE The Kampen Course got a new tee that “I want you to get rid of all of these day and Hegg got two souvenirs. Above her measles,” Alice said, pointing to the fescue “I think that’s a great idea,” Dye said to office desk flies a Kampen Course pin flag pods. Alice. “I’ve been telling him to do that for | with Dye’s autograph. And from that day years.” SUMMER 2019 forward, the rest of the Purdue golf staff Scott was confused. “What measles?” he asked. simply called her “Tree.” Within days, Scott had cleared all of the “All of these little bumps. I can’t stand these “measles” out of the bunker. PURDUE PAYBACK little bumps.” For Dye, designing two courses at Purdue 19 & with Matt Painter Q ABy Tom Schott

On the heels of one of the Edwards, it was from guys who championship. Then at the end, most-memorable seasons in had come off the bench for us. when Carsen played so well in the Purdue men’s basketball history – The experience of Ryan Cline and NCAA Tournament, we got within highlighted by the Boilermakers’ Grady Eifert, both in their fourth a half a second of going to the Big Ten-leading 24th conference year in our program, really showed Final Four. championship and first trip to in how they played. Matt Haarms the NCAA Tournament Elite might be the oldest sophomore in FORGE: When many Eight since 2000 – Forge visited the country, and that showed. Nojel folks were writing off this with personable head coach Matt Eastern’s abilities and maturity team with a 6-5 record Painter. The National Association showed. in mid-December, what of Basketball Coaches National encouraged you? Coach of the Year looked back, I think there was a national PAINTER: Sometimes, when you glanced ahead and chatted about narrative that Carsen had to do win more non-conference games, family and the Chicago Cubs. a lot from a scoring standpoint in you are beating people that you order for us to win, and I think should beat, and you are beating

FORGE FORGE: What are your we proved that theory wrong. them in your home arena. We lost reflections of the 2018-19 When we won some home games two games on a neutral site against season? in late December, we saw a lot Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. | PAINTER: When you graduate of guys start to build confidence We lost at Texas in a close game. SUMMER 2019 four senior starters, you can fall and find their niche and their We lost a close game at Florida into the trap of worrying about role. We proved we could win State, which ended up being a No. what you lost instead of what games without Carsen scoring 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. you have returning. I felt like we a lot of points. We kept getting We were a possession away from had a lot of experience coming better, started winning games on winning a couple of those. back, even though besides Carsen the road and won the Big Ten 20 The loss to Notre Dame got job setting him up and did a good FORGE: What is it like everybody’s attention. A lot of our job making good decisions, we having your son, Brayden, guys, and this is very natural, were executed at a high level. at Purdue and involved playing through their offense, and with your program as a they were equating their value with FORGE: What does being student manager? taking shots, making shots, and you named national coach of PAINTER: Brayden is 20 years just can’t play that way. We had the year mean to you? old, but he is very youthful in to be more defined in our roles. PAINTER: It means we have good terms of his passion for Purdue Everybody had to be better in what players. When your peers recognize basketball and football. Sometimes he was doing. We needed to win you, I think they respected the he is a little bit too engaged with to gain confidence, and I think job that our staff did from where what is going on in our program. once we started to get some wins we were at the beginning of the He always has been supportive of there, especially beating Belmont year. Coaches know how tough it every coach and every player. He at home and Iowa at home, I think is to be in a rut and to get out of simply wants Purdue to win. His that really helped us. Then getting that rut and achieve some level of passion is unmatched, and I think that win at Wisconsin was huge for consistency. We were able to do it, that is pretty cool. us, and we really got on a run after win the Big Ten and come close to that and played good basketball. the Final Four. It’s a team award FORGE: Likewise, it anytime someone receives an must be nice to have your FORGE: What was it like individual award. parents and stepparents coaching in the Sweet 16 see you succeed. and Elite Eight games – FORGE: As we sit here in PAINTER: They are very loyal, two games for the ages? late spring, what are your and I appreciate all their support. PAINTER: After going to Hartford thoughts heading into next They come to a lot of games and for the first two rounds, being in season? travel with us a lot. When I was Louisville, where all the Purdue PAINTER: We have two starters in fourth grade, my parents built fans could come, the atmosphere returning who really can expand me a full-court basketball court was unbelievable. During the Elite their game, but they also have with floodlights in our backyard. Eight game, we had a tremendous to expand their game under the I spent a lot of time playing on advantage with our crowd. parameters of what they can and that court. So for them to be able can’t do. We have some guys who to follow us, it has been great. My FORGE: What will you came off the bench for us that dad coached me from kindergarten remember most about have a lot to prove. It is a kind through sixth grade. He graduated Carsen Edwards’ four of proving-ground time for those from Indiana, so he went to the games in the NCAA guys to make improvements and 1976, 1981 and 1987 Final Fours Tournament? get better, but also understand you as an Indiana fan. It would have PAINTER: To me, it was like he have to be able to showcase those been neat for him to go to the Final was playing Pop-a-Shot. He just things within good judgment and Four as a Purdue fan this year. got into one of those rhythms, and good decision-making. I’m excited Hopefully, we can do that someday, he felt really good about himself. about the future. We signed three so both my parents can go and root The whole nation got to see we freshman that will come in next for Purdue in a Final Four. saw in practice. Even when he was year, and I think at some point all not shooting at a high percentage three are going to be really good FORGE: Are you bullish during the season, he always would players for us. about the Chicago Cubs come back to practice and shoot for the 2019 season? the ball well. I always felt that Emmanuel Dowuona redshirted PAINTER: It is a long season. when he lands on two feet, the ball for us and got hurt, but I like his After a tough start, they strung is going in the basket. When he attitude and think he’s going to together some wins, and I feel

lands on one foot, it doesn’t go in help. He has a high motor, he good about them. I definitely think FORGE as much. plays hard, and he cares. Evan they have the pieces. They have so Boudreaux played early in the year, many guys that are either all-stars

He had similar games – at Illinois, and then he got hurt, and we went or potential all-stars, and not every | at Texas, at Wisconsin, at Penn with Trevion Williams. With a new team can say that. They are going SUMMER 2019 State – but to be able to string season and his experience, we are to have to do a better job with their them together like he did and get hoping Evan will be able to help us relief pitching. That is the one area on that kind of run, especially in next year. of most concern right now, just to those type of games, he showed a be able to get some consistency. lot of growth. When we did a good 21 LIFE

COACHADAM SOLDATI // HEAD DIVING COACH

When you walk into Purdue diving coach Adam Soldati’s office, you immediately notice all of the accoutrements of a world-class coach. The eight Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year trophies. The banners representing the last four Summer Olympic Games, signed by the athletes he coached. There are various certificates that are given to only the best of the best.

But to understand what makes Soldati special, you STAFF have to look beyond the awards that typically denote SPOTLIGHT success. It all begins with a plaque emblazoned with INSIDE PURDUE ATHLETICS a motivational quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. It reads, “Life’s most important question is: What are By Cory Palm you doing for others?”

It is in this question and his wide-ranging answers to it that you find the real essence of Soldati.

“Diving is a vehicle to help us grow in character, not just for self-exultation,” Soldati says when asked about success in his sport. “If that happens, that’s awesome, but we’re going to have more failures than successes. Do we still come to work every day passionate because we can see that God is working on us? You’re going to have a life beyond this and the more you learn now

FORGE how to be resilient in the face of trials, you’re going to have a peace of mind about yourself and about everything else.” |

SUMMER 2019 Soldati may be the most-successful coach Purdue has had in any sport. Ever. In 13 years in West Lafayette, he has coached 12 NCAA champions, 17 Big Ten champions and 50 All-Americans. He’s been named NCAA Diving Coach of the Year five times and has mentored four Olympic medalists. 22 But when asked why the program is successful, Soldati doesn’t point to himself or the sterling facilities at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center. To him, the quality of the program is measured by the quality of the individuals in and around it.

“When you win things and accomplish a lot, people may deem that as special,” Soldati says. “In my mind, we’ve had some special results but, when I think of what makes Purdue diving special, it’s the people. We have Purdue University and all of the support staff behind us. We have a special environment of people that care about the student-athlete. We cast a vision of where we’re going to go and then we try to bring athletes in that are going to fall into that Johnson knew he had Olympic aspirations worked with Soldati for 11 seasons. He says mission and purpose and really fly.” in 2012 and was looking for a new place to it’s not just student-athletes that benefit from train that would help him meet those goals. his example. One athlete who soared while at Purdue is He found it an hour up Interstate 65 and four-time Olympic medalist David Boudia. never looked back. “There is no doubt Adam’s the best diving A member of the 2008 Olympic team the coach in the country, but what truly makes summer prior to his freshman year, Boudia Seven years later, Johnson has exceeded him stand out is that he is a better person, was an accomplished diver before coming to his dreams, winning five NCAA titles at husband and father than he is a coach,” campus. But he credits Soldati with molding Purdue and a silver medal in the 2016 Klinge says. “Adam is a great mentor and him as a man who understands there is so Olympic Games in Rio. But it’s not these role model for everyone in our program from much more to the world than success in the accomplishments that he speaks about when divers to swimmers to his fellow coaches.” diving well. talking about Soldati. Yes, Soldati has had immense success at “One of the attributes that I admire most “He not only taught me about diving, but every level of his sport and it matters to him about Adam, both inside and outside of the also what it was like to be a man of God, for many reasons. It represents the sacrifices pool, is his character,” Boudia says of the what it was like to be a good husband,” of everyone involved in the process. And he coach who helped him win individual gold Johnson says. “He teaches me all of these freely admits that it is a test for him to stay at the 2012 Games in London. “Throughout things as he is teaching me diving. His focus humble in the process. But going through my time at Purdue, I’ve never seen it isn’t on making me the best diver ever. It’s those struggles is something that makes them waver. He always walks upright and with about making me a good man that is loving stronger together. And Soldati realizes it isn’t integrity. He stays firm in his foundation and to the people around him. Everything else winning medals or standing on a podium everything else builds from that.” falls into place after that.” that brings fulfillment.

For Soldati, the molding of that environment Learning how to love others more than “I am most proud of watching my athletes starts the minute he begins recruiting a yourself is a touchstone for Soldati. It’s a move on from here having developed a prospective athlete. And the message may lesson he imparts daily on his team. And level of character that allows them to be not quite be what you think. it’s a lesson that he has really taken to heart outstanding mothers and fathers, husbands, because of the six children he and his wife, wives, coworkers, members of society,” he “I tell every single recruit that it’s not my Kimiko, are raising. says. “I’ve actually never gotten a message job to make them a champion,” Soldati (from a former student-athlete) that says says. “It’s my job to create an environment “Being a father has taught me how to love in ‘Thanks so much for helping me win that where you can become a champion. We the face of adversity,” Soldati says. “Because Big Ten championship.’ Never! It’s hard to FORGE self-sacrifice for the good of our teammates any parent who is going to read this article get them to realize when you’re in the fight, sometimes and show that humility each and knows that there’s a whole lot of ‘hard’ when but those accolades are not going to last. The every day. This helps create an environment it comes to being a parent. But as a father, medals are going to tarnish and fade away. | full of people that are striving for a cause I’m called by Christ to love, period. That’s They aren’t what truly matter.” SUMMER 2019 greater than themselves.” also my role as a coach.” Soldati knows what truly matters. And that That philosophy has played out in real That love extends beyond just the eight to 12 is what makes Purdue diving, and its coach, time with recent graduate Steele Johnson. divers on Soldati’s roster in any given year. special. Growing up in the Indianapolis area, Women’s swimming coach John Klinge has 23 PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE | IDA AYU INDIRA MELATI PUTRI | WOMEN’S GOLF | SENIOR | MANAGEMENT FORGE | SUMMER 2019 24 PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE | JALIL BREWER | TRACK & FIELD | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE | KINESIOLOGY FORGE | SUMMER 2019 25 Indy Conversion Folks are all things Purdue in the Circle City and beyond

There are no bigger supporters of years to fall fully in love with predicated to some extent on what of Purdue University and Purdue the Boilermakers. His undergrad interested her father: watching pro Athletics in the Indianapolis area experience allowed him to separate basketball and boxing to television. than Matt and Mary Folk. from his cream and crimson College sports were not on her upbringing. radar (or television) screen in her DONOR Check that. early days. And the rest, as they say, is history. SPOTLIGHT There are no bigger supporters Not long after graduation, he That is until about 17 years ago. THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS of Purdue anywhere than Matt and bought basketball and football That is when she met Matt. It Mary Folk. season tickets and has missed only didn’t take long for Mary to figure By Alan Karpick a couple of football games since out what she was in for if she was But it wasn’t always that way. the Joe Tiller era. going to spend much time with him. Matt grew up in Huntington, For Mary, the path was a bit Prior to meeting her future FORGE Indiana, and like many from his different, but the result was the hometown his college rooting same. husband, she never had been to a interest was IU. He played high football game, let alone a Purdue

| school sports and liked Purdue Mary hailed from Westfield, just sporting event. Coincidentally, SUMMER 2019 when it wasn’t playing IU, but the north of Indianapolis, where she however, it was Purdue friends that Boilermakers were second in line. had a youthful passion for horses set them up on their first date in before attending and graduating 2002, and the two were married It took Matt, a 1991 electrical from the University of Findlay three years later. engineering graduate, being on the with an equine science degree. Her West Lafayette campus a couple sports-consumption habits were “Our first date was an Indiana 26 Pacers game and our second was a chairperson) Pete Quinn, and we “It’s always great to see them at the trip to Mackey Arena,” says Matt, thought we knew everybody in games and out there supporting somewhat sheepishly. “She met Indianapolis. It turns out we hardly us. Their presence is felt on a my parents, sister, brother-in-law, knew anybody, but that is changing daily basis, and their generosity is a cousin, uncles and aunts who, by with the impact of the BBE.” unparalleled.” that time, were entrenched in the gold and black.” Speaking of impact, despite their Matt and Mary also have been relatively young ages, the Folks are significant supporters to the Mary had no choice; she was making their mark on Purdue’s Football Performance Complex, going to be a Boilermaker if their athletic campus. The Boilermaker and they love the overall direction relationship to take flight. Yet, Soccer Complex was renamed of Purdue Athletics. Folk, the chief Mary admits it wasn’t all that hard after Matt’s parents as Loren and executive officer of Technology for her to get the Boilermaker bug. Donna Folk Field in 2016, thanks Marketing Corporation, a She loved the spirit of competition to a leadership gift from Matt and manufacturers representative firm and loved becoming part of the Mary. based in Carmel, Indiana, said his Purdue family. hope is that more people in their “It has always been a goal of mine 30s and 40s will jump on board to “Everyone was very welcoming,” to have a facility named after support the school’s programs. recalls Mary, when thinking of her our family, and our daughter (a first impressions of Boilermaker rising junior in Purdue’s nursing They drew inspiration to get Nation. “Even the die-hards were program) loves soccer, so it was a involved at a deeper level at the very welcoming, and Matt’s friends family fit,” Matt says. “We wanted “Drew Brees Summit” a couple of have become fantastic friends of to draw attention to women’s summers ago in California. That ours. And I have made my own programs, too.” meeting, which included Purdue Purdue friends, and it sort of just president Mitch Daniels, set the built from there.” The Folks are extra proud that the strategy for the football program. venue named after their family It allowed the focus to pivot, And that is what the Folks have consistently is recognized as one becoming all-in on a new football done in Indianapolis – made more of the top soccer surfaces in the facility that has, among other and more Purdue friends and have nation, earning its sixth consecutive things, helped transform the entire continued to be ambassadors for Fields of Excellence Award department. all Purdue Athletics has to offer. following the 2018 season. And they have done a great job of “Since then, the athletics connecting Boilermakers. “The look in my dad’s eyes when department, from top to bottom, is he learned of the naming of the hitting on all cylinders,” Matt says. “It took me awhile to get there, field was priceless to me,” Matt “The entire Indy community is but once I did, I figured it out,” says. “It means a lot to us, and to taking notice.” Mary says. “I love the integrity our entire family, but the fact that of the Purdue programs. No it is nationally recognized as a top Knowing Matt and Mary, their matter the sport, you know the facility is all the better.” collective pride in energizing and student-athletes are held to a converting anyone and everyone higher standard, and I think that’s The Folks are a consistent presence to be more involved Boilermakers fantastic. It is easy to talk to people at Boilermaker soccer matches, and is heartfelt and genuine. Yet, there about it because it is such a good it is important to the program. is a sense that they know the work story to tell.” is just beginning. Part and parcel “Matt and Mary have been very with this resurgence is convincing Matt serves as president of the supportive of Purdue Athletics all Purdue fans to think big. It is a Boilermaker Business Exchange, and Purdue soccer, and we are so mantra shared by the BBE and the a group of like-minded business appreciative of their commitment Folks. FORGE people whose mission is to to what we do,” says head coach strengthen the Purdue brand in the Drew Roff, who will begin his fifth “Even IU people I know are now

Circle City. And the BBE continues season in West Lafayette in the completely jealous of the way | to blossom and burgeon with fall. “We have the opportunity to we’re set up and how things are SUMMER 2019 membership and influence. play at one of the finest facilities working,” Matt says. “Sure, it is in the country, and it just goes to a lot of work to do some of the “It’s grown from one to two events show how much pride they have in things we do, but it sure is fun to be a year to about 10 or 11,” Matt Purdue Athletics. a Boilermaker right now.” says. “I work closely with (BBE 27 JACK KARL’S SERVICE TO PURDUE BASKETBALL IS UNMATCHED THE Jack Karl has carved his place in officials for a game will be, I email KARL: The great Art White, he Purdue basketball history. them and let them know that they was always in control. Jim Enright have to be there 90 minutes before was a great one, too. He had a Karl has assisted Purdue in one tipoff. That’s when I arrive at the booming voice, but he also was the form or another for the past 59 arena. I let them know where to sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, HOST years, but one of his greatest park, how to enter the arena and, something that is hard to imagine contributions is having served as if they are particularly new, how an official in that professional gameday host of the referees for to apply for their complimentary capacity today. every season dating to the opening tickets. Once they arrive, I just of Mackey Arena on December 2, meet them at the locker room, ask These are accomplished WITH 1967. Yet his role as a Boilermaker if they need ice bags, if they need individuals. Ed Hightower was basketball ambassador actually to see the trainer or need anything terrific. Few know he was a Ph.D. began in 1960 when Karl was was taped or whatever. and superintendent of schools an usher in what is now Lambert in the Alton, Illinois, area. My Fieldhouse. Each game, Purdue provides two favorite might have been Gene university police escorts, and they Steratore, who you saw all over TV THE stay with them the entire game and as an officials’ analyst during the While he worked his last game as referees host on Senior Day escort them to their car after the Final Four and NFL games. He is a against Ohio State in March, game, and that’s when I leave the great storyteller. Karl’s longevity and thoughtful arena. attention to putting Purdue’s best FORGE: Positioned behind MOST foot forward on all occasions may FORGE: What is the the opposing team bench By Alan Karpick never be duplicated in quite the typical referee like? all these years, seeing the same manner. KARL: Ninety-nine percent are likes of Bob Knight, Tom really terrific individuals. But once Izzo and John Wooden. In his day job, Karl worked on the game starts, they’re focused. What stood out? campus at a high level, first in The one-tenth of one percent (that KARL: Knight and Izzo provided the division of recreational sports aren’t as terrific), we don’t see them memorable moments, but I really before enjoying a several-decade at Mackey Arena very often, if at liked Illinois’ Lou Henson in the stint as an executive with the all anymore. The process kind of 1970s and ’80s. He was a lot of Purdue Alumni Association. Few takes care of the bad ones. fun. Lou would always bring his have served Purdue with greater wife to the game, and she sat a row permanency than Karl. Forge FORGE: Is there anything or so behind me and she got on the caught up with him to get his that would surprise fans officials more than anybody else. thoughts shortly before his final about the referees? I’m surprised she didn’t get the game. KARL: Most of the officials that team technical fouls the way she our fans see work 80 games a year acted. She was a lot of fun, too. FORGE: What advice did and are assigned to several other athletics director “Red” conferences. They work an awful FORGE: You have had the Mackey give you when lot of games. opportunity to be around you first began to host the many great Purdue players referees? FORGE: What are too, a good by-product of KARL: He said, “I just want your most memorable your gameday role. you to be polite. Treat them as moments? KARL: Getting to know some

FORGE guests. Don’t get involved in their KARL: The IU games have been of the great Purdue basketball discussions or anything like that, awesome. It’s just exciting and players, like Terry Dischinger, who and you’ll do fine.” That’s the way deafening to be there. The 10 Big just was named to the Basketball

| it happened, and 53 years later, Ten Conference championships Hall of Fame, was special. Dave SUMMER 2019 that’s the way I’ve been. that have been won since I’ve been Schellhase became a great friend. doing this have been fun. I will It is the relationships I have made FORGE: What is your never forget those. with so many people over the years gameday regiment with involved in and around Purdue the referees? FORGE: Which referees that has made this the greatest KARL: Once I know who the have stood out to you? experience for me. 28 The Archives

1961 Men’s Golf National Champions Purdue won the first of its three NCAA team titles in school history June 20, 1961, on what is now the Ackerman-Allen Golf Course. Coached by Sam Voinoff, a 165-pound guard on Purdue’s 1929 Big Ten Conference championship football team who wasn’t much of a golfer, the Boilermakers were dominant in men’s golf during his tenure. His teams won 10 Big Ten championships in his 25 years as coach and finished as NCAA runner-up five times. Known as Purdue’s version of Yogi Berra, saying things like “pair them up in threes” with his thick Bulgarian accent, Voinoff was one of a kind. And so were his teams. Non-Profit Organization PURDUE ATHLETICS U.S. Postage 900 JOHN R. WOODEN DR. PAID WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47907 Purdue University Permit No. 221

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