When Purdue graduates and Geist residents Pete Quinn and Jeff McKean met on a Saturday morning in mid-December last year, the question on both of their minds was how could they capitalize on the positive energy generated by the recent hiring of Mitch Daniels, former Indiana Governor and now Purdue University President, as well as new football coach Darrell Hazell. Both felt that if there was ever a time to strike, this was it.
The idea to “unite business men and women who have a passion for all things Purdue” led them to join forces and involve other passionate Purdue alumni. This became the foundation for the Boiler Business Exchange of Indianapolis or BBE as it is known in social media circles. Pete says, “The primary objectives of the organization are to capitalize on the strength of central Indiana’s Boiler business network and community leadership, to support the John Purdue Club and Purdue Alumni Association and to promote Purdue University academics and athletics.”
As the color commentator for Purdue football for the past 22 seasons, Pete knows a little about football. As the center for the 1977-1980 Purdue football team, he was also intent on keeping former Purdue football greats together. Jeff, an attorney by trade, is an avid fan and Purdue football tailgater but also a master of getting things done as a member of the Lawrence Township School Board and keeping the Purdue loyal connected.
With blind faith, the two men began inviting Purdue business leaders to join the effort. The response was overwhelming. Support poured in from expected and unexpected sources, and the concept gained traction.
“The idea was that Purdue alumni can get organized and have a greater impact by combining our efforts,” said Jeff. Rather quickly, BBE had an impact on its members. This past April, BBE invited Coach Hazell to come to Meridian Hills Country Club and speak to what they hoped would be about 100 Purdue business leaders but instead the crowd swelled to over 400.
“Over half of those in attendance were owners, CEOs, partners, managing directors and the movers and shakers from the Indianapolis area,” said Pete. “This is long overdue,” Jeff added, and that it “legitimized the demand for strengthening Purdue in the Indianapolis area.” A golf outing soon followed in June. Both events generated enough income to cover expenses, and along with the remaining events, they generated $5,000 toward scholarship funds for local students.
The BBE committee decided to focus their energy on maximizing the football season opener scheduled in Cincinnati. They created a super-sized tailgate event and a private event with President Mitch Daniels exclusively for members of the BBE. They set their sights on hosting the tailgate event on Monument Circle. This was the opportunity for Boiler Nation to take over Monument Circle and create a “sea of black and gold.”
With the help of Geist resident, Purdue Trustee and graduate Michael Berghoff, President Daniels accepted the invitation to speak prior to the tailgate event at the Columbia Club. President Daniels presented “An Exclusive Look at the First 200 Days as Purdue President” to a standing-room-only crowd of 400+. At the conclusion of the event, the business crowd spilled onto the crowded spokes of Monument Circle to join the energized crowd.
The atmosphere of the super-sized tailgate was pure Ross-Ade Stadium with the gameday smells and sounds. There were food trucks from campus favorites, Arni’s and Triple XXX Family Restaurant, a beer garden and the most spirited fleet of tailgate vehicles creating the perfect tailgate environment. Completing the feel of game day, “The World’s Largest Drum,” the Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete. In addition to President Daniels and Athletic Director Morgan Burke, other notable Purdue graduates included emcees Kevin Gregory and Angela Buchman (also a Geist resident), 2012 Miss Indiana MerrieBeth Cox, Father Phil Bowers and numerous Purdue football and basketball legends.
With temperatures soaring to over 85 degrees during the height of the event, the crowd swelled to more than 7,000 fans, enjoying the school fight song by the pep band. But it was the entrance of Coach Hazell and the football team that inspired the crowd. After hearing Coach Hazell and the team captains address the crowd, the team returned to the busses for the drive to Cincinnati.
August 30 was officially declared “Boilermaker Tailgate on the Circle Day” in Indianapolis by Purdue graduate and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, but the BBE and alums believe the impact of these events will be felt for months and years to come. Pete and Jeff are proud and energized. Speaking for Indianapolis alums, they have one message: “Get ready because the train is coming down the tracks! Boiler Up!”
