Catching up with ... Jim Everett
It’s always fun to catch up with former Boilermakers. And that’s the intent of this new feature. It’s a chance to find out what ex-Purdue athletes are up to, how life is going and … best of all … to reminisce. First up is Jim Everett, a personal favorite of mine because he played when I attended Purdue.
A product of Eldorado High in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Everett was in West Lafayette from 1981-1985, providing bright spots during what largely was a dreary decade for Purdue. Everett threw for 7,411 yards in his Boilermaker tenure, hitting 572-of-965 passes (59.3 percent) with 43 touchdowns and 33 picks.
He started in 1984 and 1985, leading the program to the Peach Bowl in 1984 during a 7-5 season that saw the Boilers finish second in the Big Ten (6-3). Everett led the program to wins vs. Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. No other Purdue team has beaten those three storied programs in the same season.
Everett’s best season was 1985, when he hit 285-of-450 passes (63.3 percent) for 3,651 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That year, Everett finished sixth in Heisman balloting but Purdue finished 5-6.
The 6-5, 212-pound Everett was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1986 draft and enjoyed a 12-year NFL career. He threw for 34,837 yards with 203 touchdowns and 175 interceptions while playing for the Rams, Saints and Chargers. Everett’s best season was with the Rams in 1989, when he passed for 4,310 yards with a league-high 29 touchdown passes. Los Angeles went 11-5 and advanced to the NFC title game.
GoldandBlack.com caught up with Everett.
GoldandBlack.com: How did you end up at Purdue?
Everett: I was actually thinking about going to Stanford. My (Eldorado High School) English teacher was named Wona Deverman. She ended up being the president of the Purdue Alumni Association (Board of Directors). She personally called Jim Young and informed him about this tall angular kid and he ended up coming out. The Krannert School of Management had a lot to do with (me going to Purdue). My parents were both teachers, so education was important. If I had gone to Stanford, I would have had to be in economics and I wanted to have more computer involvement. It was a combination of a bunch of things. But if it wasn’t for Wona Deverman calling Jim Young, I don’t know if it would have happened.
GoldandBlack.com: Did you think about transferring from Purdue?
Everett: Leon Burtnett was the coach at that point (beginning in 1982). When you have a new coach come in, you have your guys. And I didn’t know if I was gonna be his guy. Leon wanted me on the field, but he wanted me as a tight end. So, at that point, I wasn’t sure if I could play for him or if he wanted me. I didn’t know what my future was at quarterback. I saw myself as a quarterback and my head coach saw me as a tight end. I had a good relationship with Doug Scovil, who was the head coach at San Diego State. I thought about going there.
But I decided to stick it out. They had brought in Jeff Huber and Doug Downing (in 1983). They were all blue chip All-Americans. And we competed for the job in 1984. (Burtnett) told me: ‘If you are anywhere close to these guys, they will start … you are not (close).’ That was Leon’s deal. I said: ‘They aren’t gonna be close.’ And I didn’t think it was close. But he kept saying it was. It was absolute mental torture. I felt like I was doing well. I would make one mistake, they would make 10 … and he thought they were doing good, and you’re not. So then we played Notre Dame in the Hoosier Dome. We won that game. And from that point on, I was Leon’s guy. I don’t think I ever worked harder, physically, mentally, I really wanted something. I talk to people about that in speeches today. When you really want something, are willing to pay for it; devotion, fortitude, sacrifices. Guys had better talent then me, but I wasn’t gonna be out worked.
GoldandBlack.com: The 1984 season was special with wins vs. Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. Which win do you recall best?
Everett: The (Notre Dame game) was pretty damn special because my (butt) was on the line for a job. If that doesn’t go well, I might be playing tight end.
Against Ohio State, they thought they could rattle me, so they blitzed. They thought they could blow the doors off our line, I was young. I checked out each time … and touchdown. They didn’t have an alternative strategy. So, we got them. Next year, they changed. They dropped eight (41-27 loss in Columbus).
In the Michigan game, I probably never have played a better half of football in my college career, for sure, than against Bo’s defense that day in the first half. I think we went up 28-0 and won 31-29. There was no stopping us.
In 1985, I had a staph infection most of the year. No one knows that. My (right) elbow got gashed open at Minnesota and became a staph infection. The Michigan game was the only game my senior year I didn’t throw for 100 yards. I was in the hospital all week on antibiotics. I was white as a sheet at Michigan. I kept playing through it all season.
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GoldandBlack.com: Is it true you thought the Colts would draft you?
Everett: I went third (overall) in 1986. Bo Jackson was first, Tony Casillas went to the Falcons second. I met with Atlanta on my way to spring break. The offensive coordinator wanted to meet me. My meeting was so impressive they drafted Tony Casillas.
Houston was picking third. And they had Warren Moon. They don’t need a QB. Indianapolis had the fourth pick. I met with the Irsays. They were gonna draft me. I was like: cool. Houston called Indianapolis and said: ‘Switch with us or we are drafting Everett.’ But Indy didn’t think Houston would draft me. I basically had all of the terms set to have (my contract) done when I was picked. I was ready to become a Colt. Everyone in the room was ready for the Colts to call. And Houston calls me. (The Oilers subsequently traded Everett to the Rams.)
GoldandBlack.com: What have you been doing post-football?
Everett: I got my MBA at Pepperdine. I was gonna be a partner in an asset management firm, but my mentor died and I started my own. I ran the Jim Everett Company for 14 years. It was a small boutique shop. In 2014, I decided I wanted to do something else. I am piddle-paddling around with some TV stuff. I am on NFL disability. I have a few issues that keep me low key. I haven’t been back to Purdue since Jeff Brohm has been coach, but I follow from afar. I admire the work he is doing. He fits there. I like the work he is doing. When you think of Purdue, you think of astronauts, and very mental football. Quarterbacks. If I am gonna go to Purdue, I am gonna know the latest technology in something. That is Purdue. We send guys to the moon, and we send them to the NFL. That is Purdue.
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