Danielson discusses his Purdue experience, the state of the program, and more.

Purdue Cradle of Quarterback member Gary Danielson has lived a good life in his 73 years. He’s been a standout quarterback, a big-time college football player, and a television analyst. He has also enjoyed a great family, which includes four children and 14 grandchildren.

But one thing he learned growing up in Dearborn, Michigan, is to be brutally honest and call it as he sees it. It hasn’t always been perfect or easy, but man, it has been interesting. 

Yes, Danielson gives a frank assessment of what went wrong and what went right in his college years, which were over fifty years ago.

 “My experience at Purdue is everything I am today,” said Danielson about his college days in West Lafayette. “ I am glad I stuck at Purdue when things were really tough; yet, I was not happy about everything around me but (mostly) not happy with how I handled it.”

With all the options available to players today through the transfer portal, NIL, and the like, Danielson admitted in his interview on “Gold and Black LIVE” on Nov. 15 that he probably would have transferred. But what he gained by sticking it out has served him immeasurably in his family life, a nearly 15-year pro career that followed, and 35 years in college football broadcasting with ESPN, ABC, and CBS, working with Hall of Fame level broadcasters Brad Nessler, Brent Musburger and Verne Lundquist. 

“What I came out with not transferring was a  (great) determination, a high degree of understanding what it takes to be successful, and then a wonderful family on top of it,” said Danielson, who worked his way from the World Football League to a dozen year career in the NFL with the Lions and Browns. “I get that the transfer things work (for kids now), but everything that I am was part of my parents raising me,  my high school experience, and Purdue; I’m grateful for everything. 

“I just wish for my teammates that I would have been the quarterback at Purdue that I turned out to be in the NFL. I apologize to them every time I see them.”

Relating to the current state of Purdue football

While Danielson loves being back at his alma mater more frequently now that CBS is back to doing Big Ten games as part of its contract, he has had the misfortune of broadcasting two blowout losses at the hands of Notre Dame and Penn State. 

“The Purdue fans have hung in there,” said Danielson, who, despite leading the Big Ten in passing in 1971, battled injuries and endured an eight-game losing streak in his junior and senior seasons. “When you talk to other people, they’re still impressed by how many show up for these games.

“I’ve known Ryan Walters for quite a while since his days as an assistant, and the thing that the Purdue fans should be proud of is they are still battling their butts off the whole game. However, Purdue fans have the right to be frustrated with the product. I feel for those players.  I’ve been out there (at Purdue in a similar situation)  so I say it all with humility.  We didn’t win, and we had a good football team, so I understand it.”

‘Upheaval in College Football’

Like many in the college football business, Danielson is worried about the near  future of college footballI as he sees the storm clouds on the horizon.

“I don’t think anybody was ready for what has happened in college football recently,” Danielsson said.  “Bu, that is going to look calm. What it’s going to look like the next two or three years in college football, the mass transfers that are going to be hitting the portal, the NIL narrative (with the presumed upcoming House Settlement), all the shuffling (that is sure to happen). We’re not done with conferences (realigning). I don’t think we’re done with the TV contracts of how the TV networks work together. This is all by the seat of the pants. 

The game is still beautiful, but I can understand the frustration by the people who give money to the school and commit to the school; the players.”

‘Beautiful’ Mackey Arena and the love of Danielson’s Life

Freshmen were ineligible when Danielson arrived on Purdue’s campus in the fall of 1969. In his freshman year, he battled several scholarship quarterbacks to replace All-American Mike Phipps for the 1970 season (and he initially lost out to Chuck Piebes, and Danielson did not earn playing time until later in his sophomore season). But he did get to take in some basketball games in the Rick Mount Era of Boiler Ball. 

“I loved the Rick Mount days under coach George King,” said Danielson, who never played high school basketball until 10th grade and played youth hockey with many elite players who went on to play collegiately. “But my favorite player of those days was George Faerber; I loved the (physical) way he played.

“But I tell this to everybody, but the day I was on my recruiting visit to Purdue, I remember walking into Mackey on my recruiting visit, and it was clean and polished then as it is today.  Every time I go in there, I marvel at the respect everybody at this university has shown for that arena.”

But the best thing about Mackey for Danielson? The answer to that is simple. It was where he met his future wife, Kristy King, the daughter of the Purdue head basketball coach. 

“We met at a game when she was still in high school,” Danielson said. “With all the kids and grandkids, nobody has been to more games to watch their kids and grandkids than she has.”

Danielson admits that Kristy and his mother-in-law, the late Jeanne King, set the highest standard for their families. 

And that, above all, is the reason Danielson has had a charmed life in so many ways.

Purdue football this week: Opponent view-Michigan State | How Purdue’s Depth Chart was Built