Fans of all ages look forward to seeing Purdue Pete on campus, at athletic events, and in the community. Pete brings the energy to America's best student section and embodies what it means to be a Boilermaker.
Hayden Burke and Sam Titzer can now say with pride they both have been able to live the most incredible student-athlete experience as Purdue Pete. Hayden and Sam are both Indiana natives and longtime Boilermaker fans – so when they both came across the opportunity spring semester of their freshman year to try out for Pete there was no hesitation. Now 3.5 years later, Hayden and Sam will put on the head one last time in Mackey Arena this Sunday and celebrate Senior Day.
We asked them a few questions to summarize their experience as Purdue Pete:
What will you miss most about Purdue and being Purdue Pete?
"I think what I'll miss most about being Pete is getting to put the head on and do my thing in Mackey for basketball gamedays. Thankfully, I can say that my teammates and brothers aren't going anywhere so I won't have to miss them, but I grew up a Purdue Basketball diehard fan. Rocking out in Mackey with fans of all ages and the best student section in the country in the best arena in the country is indescribably special and something you would only understand if you were to do it yourself." – Samuel Titzer
What is your favorite game day memory as Pete?
"My favorite gameday memory as Pete had to be either dunking against Maryland during a timeout and making Zach Edey laugh at my sheer athleticism, or when I did the rollercoaster with the Ross-Ade Brigade on top of a platform against Northwestern. The dunk speaks for itself, but the rollercoaster is a whole other story. Having a half full crowd of football fans out in the rain and cold that are following my every move in unison was amazing to see. I had built the wooden platform the night before the game and then we painted it the day of the game, so my confidence in it holding me were very low in the first place. When I hopped on, I was a little wobbly, but I got my footing and rocked the rollercoaster, giving everybody a jolt of energy." – Hayden Burke
What is the most unique opportunity you've had as Pete?
"I think the most unique opportunity I've had as Pete was purely getting to embody the character. At any given time, on a campus of over 40,000 people, there are 5 of us and I GOT TO BE ONE. Every event, every game is a unique opportunity because we don't know who we're going to meet or what is going to happen. I've met Purdue Basketball and Football legends and slow-danced with Brian Cardinal at Boiler Ball. It's hard to pick just one." – Samuel Titzer
How difficult was it to keep a secret that you are Pete?
"Keeping Pete a secret at times could be challenging. I found that lying to random people about not being Pete was not hard on my own end, but keeping my friends and family quiet was a hassle. As soon as I told my family about it, I had to stop my mom from making a Facebook post to celebrate. When I told some of my closest friends, they initially promised to not tell anybody. Usually by about the second week of them knowing, they would introduce me as Pete to their other friends. Needless to say that having a lot of friends did not help the secret aspect, so sometimes I would just have to lie and make up horrible excuses as to why my friends would say that." – Hayden Burke
Describe your experience representing Purdue University and Athletes as Purdue Pete.
"Representing Purdue and Athletics as Pete has been the greatest thing I have had the privilege to be a part of. I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like had I not chosen to try out for Pete my freshman year. This program brought me some of my best friends, favorite memories, and a brotherhood that will last me the rest of my life." – Samuel Titzer
"My experience representing Purdue as Pete has been nothing short of amazing. I have been able to be a light in so many people's lives by simply acting goofy wherever I am. From dunking at a basketball game to gifting random people with strawberries on a plate at retirement parties, there is always enthusiasm from whoever you interact with. I personally was the biggest fan of gameday activities because I grew up a huge sports fan, so being able to think that I have an input on the outcome of the game is surreal to me. I have always dreamed of being a D1 athlete, so what better way than to become THE D1 athlete at Purdue? Overall, I have enjoyed the people the most though, and I would not trade this experience for that of any athlete at another school." – Hayden Burke
Thank you, Hayden and Sam, for your commitment, pride, and dedication to Purdue and Purdue Athletics.
Boiler Up, Hammer Down, Hail Purdue!
Hayden Burke and Sam Titzer can now say with pride they both have been able to live the most incredible student-athlete experience as Purdue Pete. Hayden and Sam are both Indiana natives and longtime Boilermaker fans – so when they both came across the opportunity spring semester of their freshman year to try out for Pete there was no hesitation. Now 3.5 years later, Hayden and Sam will put on the head one last time in Mackey Arena this Sunday and celebrate Senior Day.
| Hayden Burke from Sellersburg, Indiana. Mechanical Engineering major. |
Samuel Titzer from Newburg, Indiana. General Management and Economics major. |
We asked them a few questions to summarize their experience as Purdue Pete:
What will you miss most about Purdue and being Purdue Pete?
"I think what I'll miss most about being Pete is getting to put the head on and do my thing in Mackey for basketball gamedays. Thankfully, I can say that my teammates and brothers aren't going anywhere so I won't have to miss them, but I grew up a Purdue Basketball diehard fan. Rocking out in Mackey with fans of all ages and the best student section in the country in the best arena in the country is indescribably special and something you would only understand if you were to do it yourself." – Samuel Titzer
What is your favorite game day memory as Pete?
"My favorite gameday memory as Pete had to be either dunking against Maryland during a timeout and making Zach Edey laugh at my sheer athleticism, or when I did the rollercoaster with the Ross-Ade Brigade on top of a platform against Northwestern. The dunk speaks for itself, but the rollercoaster is a whole other story. Having a half full crowd of football fans out in the rain and cold that are following my every move in unison was amazing to see. I had built the wooden platform the night before the game and then we painted it the day of the game, so my confidence in it holding me were very low in the first place. When I hopped on, I was a little wobbly, but I got my footing and rocked the rollercoaster, giving everybody a jolt of energy." – Hayden Burke
What is the most unique opportunity you've had as Pete?
"I think the most unique opportunity I've had as Pete was purely getting to embody the character. At any given time, on a campus of over 40,000 people, there are 5 of us and I GOT TO BE ONE. Every event, every game is a unique opportunity because we don't know who we're going to meet or what is going to happen. I've met Purdue Basketball and Football legends and slow-danced with Brian Cardinal at Boiler Ball. It's hard to pick just one." – Samuel Titzer
How difficult was it to keep a secret that you are Pete?
"Keeping Pete a secret at times could be challenging. I found that lying to random people about not being Pete was not hard on my own end, but keeping my friends and family quiet was a hassle. As soon as I told my family about it, I had to stop my mom from making a Facebook post to celebrate. When I told some of my closest friends, they initially promised to not tell anybody. Usually by about the second week of them knowing, they would introduce me as Pete to their other friends. Needless to say that having a lot of friends did not help the secret aspect, so sometimes I would just have to lie and make up horrible excuses as to why my friends would say that." – Hayden Burke
Describe your experience representing Purdue University and Athletes as Purdue Pete.
"Representing Purdue and Athletics as Pete has been the greatest thing I have had the privilege to be a part of. I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like had I not chosen to try out for Pete my freshman year. This program brought me some of my best friends, favorite memories, and a brotherhood that will last me the rest of my life." – Samuel Titzer
"My experience representing Purdue as Pete has been nothing short of amazing. I have been able to be a light in so many people's lives by simply acting goofy wherever I am. From dunking at a basketball game to gifting random people with strawberries on a plate at retirement parties, there is always enthusiasm from whoever you interact with. I personally was the biggest fan of gameday activities because I grew up a huge sports fan, so being able to think that I have an input on the outcome of the game is surreal to me. I have always dreamed of being a D1 athlete, so what better way than to become THE D1 athlete at Purdue? Overall, I have enjoyed the people the most though, and I would not trade this experience for that of any athlete at another school." – Hayden Burke
Thank you, Hayden and Sam, for your commitment, pride, and dedication to Purdue and Purdue Athletics.
Boiler Up, Hammer Down, Hail Purdue!