The Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry was a record-breaking success last Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds thanks to the keynote speakers Coach Gene Keady and Coach Bob Knight. With 2,300 people in the audience, the event was sold out before it became advertised to the public.
Keady and Knight spoke of their times as rivals and how they became friends. Their banter back and forth kept the audience laughing. Through all of the banter, anyone could see the great respect that each coach held for one another after their time as rivals.
There was no denying that coach Knight was supporting "Purdue for the day" in his gold sweater and black undershirt. He had nothing but good things to say about what the university was accomplishing.
Knight was not shy about taunting Purdue President Mitch Daniels to get up and run for president. This received the most response from the crowd.
"No one wants to listen to Hillary for the next four years," said Knight when he addressed Daniels about getting up and doing something about it.
The keynote address was moderated by the former Bloomington Sports writer, Bob Hammel.
Before Keady and Knight spoke, Vice President of the Purdue Ag Alumni Assn. recognized the winners of the Certificate of Distinction Awards. The awards went to Ralph E. Booker, Plymouth; John T. Costello, Plainfield; Larry Nees, West Lafayette; Kenneth Craig Newman, Mount Carmel, Ill.; Donald E. Orr Jr., Noblesville, Ind.; and David C. Petritz, West Lafayette.
In a surprise move, the executive director, Donya Lester was recognizing the retiring directors from the Purdue Ag Alumni Assn. when Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann joined her on the stage and presented her with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award for all of her hard work as the director of the association.