Arni's Birthday Zoom: Former Purdue running back Ben McCall
We celebrate birthday No. 64 (July 31, 2023) with former Purdue running back Ben McCall, the Chicago native that played a key role in the Boilermaker backfield during its three-straight bowl championship seasons under coach Jim Young (1978-80).
McCall, who is recently retired with his wife of 30 years, shares his nearly four decades of experience working with the Chicago area’s youth in coaching, teaching and mentoring in addition to some of his best moments as a Boilermaker running back. He also talks about his former Boilermaker teammates’ importance in his life.
“I have been very fortunate to have such good friends and teammates at Purdue,” McCall said. “We share a special bond to this day and have always worked to get together over the years. That has increased that bond since our college days.”
McCall burst on the playing scene later in his career, as a standout in the Boilermakers’ last four games of the 1979 season. It remains Purdue’s lone 10-win season in its history. When the chips were down, McCall rose to the occasion. In a huge win over coach Bo Schembechler’s Michigan squad he scored two touchdowns and rushed for 98 yards in a crucial win over the Woverines. He followed that up by rushing for a career-best 148 yards in the Boilermakers Bucket win in Bloomington, and followed it up with a 91-yard effort in Purdue’s 27-22 Bluebonnet Bowl win over Tennessee.
Wearing jersey No. 13, he rushed for over 500 yards in his junior and season seasons and totaled nine touchdowns. He was also a solid receiving target out of the backfield for All-American quarterback Mark Herrmann.
Recent Arni’s Birthday Zoom interviews of former Purdue athletes:
Terone Johnson (July 13, 2023)
Warren “Ike” Moore (May 30, 2023)
Other Arni’s Birthday Zoom links
Jane (Calhoun) Schott (5/5/2021)
Life of Eugene Parker (2/24/2022)
Lauren Mioton-Connor (4/20/2022)

