Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1964-1966
Place of Birth: Evansville, IN
Date of Birth: Feb 03, 1945
Jersey Number: 12
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
High School: Evansville, IN (Rex Mundi HS)
Many schools have a tradition of producing a host of great players at a particular position. At Ohio State you think of fullbacks and Penn State is synonymous for great linebackers. Purdue University is famous for quarterbacks. One of the Boilermakers best signal callers was Bob Griese. Coming out of Evansville, Indiana; Griese became a starter in his 1964 sophomore season. That year Purdue posted a 6-3 record. Griese gained national prominence in the second game of the 1965 season as he led Purdue to a 25-21 victory over top ranked Notre Dame. In that game, Griese set a Purdue mark for pass completion percentage as he completed 19 of 22 passes, including 13 consecutive completions. That year he was recognized as a consensus All-America as Purdue posted a 7-2-1 record. In 1966, Griese completed his varsity career repeating as an All-America and was the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting. The Boilermakers were ranked sixth nationally and lost only to Notre Dame and Michigan State, the two topped ranked teams in the nation. At the conclusion of the regular season Purdue defeated Southern California in the Rose Bowl. As a professional player he was in three Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins. In 1987 Griese was named as Purdue's all-time quarterback as part of the school's Football Centennial Celebration.