Sunday, November 20, 2011

Weekend in West Lafayette

 There are few stadiums in the Big Ten that have their stadium is such close proximity to its Campus. Ross-Ade Stadium is literally across the street from many of its buildings of higher learning. This gateway to the Purdue campus is located at the corner of Stadium John Wooden Drive and Stadium Avenue.

 Purdue is known for their engineering programs. One graduate of the school is astronaut Neil Armstrong. This statue is erected in front of the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering where a replica of Apollo One resides inside.
 Football isn't the most important sport south of South Bend in Indiana. Basketball is the sport of choice in the Hoosier State. Freshly renovated Mackey Arena is the home to Boilermaker Basketball. Purdue honors its past in many ways throughout the concourse. But the highest honor goes to long time coach Gene Keady as his name adores the actual playing court.
 Prior to leaving the locker room at home or on the road, each member of the Iowa Football team must touch the "Break the Rock" sign above the final exit to the field.
 It was Senior Day for not only the Purdue Football team, but also for members of its spirit squads and marching band. Purdue has long been known for a number of traditions in its marching band.  Among them is the pre-game ritual of "I Am an American" where those in attendance state their belief in unison declaring, "I Am an American" at the end of the patriotic program. Purdue also boasts of owning the World's Largest Drum. And on this final Saturday of the home football season, each senior member of the marching band unit had the opportunity to bang the drum for the final time.
It was a happy locker room following the Hawkeye victory. But many members of the local Iowa media as well as the Big Ten Network cram into the small room off from the visitor locker room at Ross - Ade Stadium. It was a disappointingly attended game for those supporting the Boilermakers, but the Iowa media continues to follow Iowa in every town they play in.

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