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The Griffith Files: A Speck of Orange in a Black Sea

The Griffith Files: A Speck of Orange in a Black Sea

7 years, 2 months ago Mary Griffith

Or, "Where did all these Purdue fans come from?"

School spirit is good for the soul.  The most school spirit filled person I know is Janell Hilton Farmer of Fowler.  Within five minutes of meeting Janell you will know she is pretty, perky and a Purdue University alum.  The first two you will figure out on your own.  The Purdue connection?  She'll either outright tell you or you will get the hint from her Purdue themed attire. 

Janell owns and regularly wears Purdue glasses, headbands, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, handbags and watches.  She has a vast collection of Purdue t-shirts, sweatshirts, vests, sweaters, turtlenecks, pants, athletic wear and socks.  The floor mats in her car say Purdue.  So does her cell phone case.  The woman has enrobed her entire life in Boilermaker Gold and Black.

So, when she picked me up the morning of January 17th, I wasn't surprised she was "head to toe Purdue".  I was wearing my bright orange Illini Basketball sweatshirt and blue jeans.  We were headed to West Lafayette, Indiana to see Illinois take on Purdue in Mackey Arena.  If you watched the game on the Big Ten network, I was that speck of bright orange in a sea of black seated right behind the Purdue bench.  Awkward!  The Boilermakers beat the Illini by almost 30 points.

I didn't care.

Because it is a blast just listening to Janell Hilton Farmer talk about Purdue.  She is truly PROUD to show off the campus of her alma mater.  She knows the story of every contributor to every campus building.  A lot of great Americans graduated from Purdue. Janell thinks the greatest thing they ever did was go to Purdue!  In the five hour drive over and the longer drive back, I learned so much.  For example, did you know the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, and the last man to walk on the moon, Gene Cernan, are Purdue alums?  That is impressive. There was a moment of silence for Cernan prior to the tip-off Tuesday night. I am in danger of knowing more about Purdue than my own alma mater, Illinois.

School spirit is contagious.  Spend any time with Janell Hilton Farmer and you will catch it.  

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