Originally posted Thursday, June 19, 2008.
AD RUTSCHMAN information , compiled by Tim Marsh in Oct 2005 from stories in the Oregonian, other source, and from Ad Rutschman. Updated Jan 2020.
CAME FROM HILLSBORO
Ad Rutschman came to Linfield in the fall of 1950, after an outstanding career as a student-athlete (football, basketball, baseball) at Hillsboro, Ore., High School, also know as Hilhi.
SHRINE GAME AT MULTNOMAH STADIUM
After graduating from Hilhi in 1950 and before he entered Linfield in 1950, he was a left halfback on the Oregon team (versus the city of Portland team) in the 3rd annual Shrine high school All-Star football game at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. Ad said he primarily played defense in the game.
FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
In McMinnville on Linfield's Maxwell Field, Saturday Sept. 16, 1950, a 37-7 win over Eastern Oregon College of Education. Linfield scored five touchdowns in the game. Two TDs were scored by Ad and two others set up by him, according to the Oregonian.
LAST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
In McMinnville on Linfield's Maxwell Field, Saturday, Nov. 14, 1953, a 21-6 win over Willamette. This game is remembered in Linfield sports yore as the game in which Linfield President Harry Dillin, fulfilling a promise, stood on his head on the 45-yard line after the Wildcats won in an upset. But, it was also Ad's last football game as a Linfield varsity player. According to the McMinnville News-Register, the game was billed as "Win One for Ad." It was the final game of Linfield's 1953 football season.
The Oregonian said, "Ad Rutschman, Linfield's brilliant senior fullback, was the leader again as the McMinnville 'Cats produced their fifth victory in history over Willamette, but Rutschman had tremendous help from a whole team of fierce Wildcats." Linfield took a 6-0 lead and was "dominating the game. But once those Linfields got a break in the form of a Bearcat fumble, they latched onto it with a vice-like grip. They were absolutely unbeatable from there on out," said the Oregonian.
On top of Ad's offensive exploits, he also played defense in the game. One example, the Oregonian said: "In the third quarter, Willamette progressed to the Wildcat 22, but Rutschman intercepted a pass on the goal line."It was an amazing 1953 season for Linfield football. The Wildcats were expected to finish last in the Northwest Conference. Instead, they finished second, behind champion the College of Idaho. Along the way, they upset all over Oregon schools (Willamette, Lewis & Clark, andPacific) in the conference.
AMONG AD'S MANY HONORS AS A PLAYER
Ad was a Northwest Conference all-star selection his sophomore, junior and senior years and was an honorable mention Associated Press Little All-American in 1953, as a senior.After his senior football season, the Linfield student body took a vote and retired his jersey, number 32.
During his playing career, he had nicknames including, The Flying Dutchman, Air Foam Ad, and The Slippery Swiss. His Linfield football coach, Paul Durham, said, according to the Oregonian, while fully appreciating Ad's running, passing and kicking talents: "Greater than any of his accomplishments was his eternal desire to win and his inspirational leadership of the team."
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN 1954, MEd in 1958
In 1954, he earned a Linfield bachelor's degree in physical education. In 1958, he earned a Linfield Masters of Education degree.
After graduating from Linfield in 1954, he was drafted as "Dolph Rutschman" as the 337th pick in the 28th round of the NFL/National Football League draft by the Detroit Lions. He was offered a contract by the Lions. But, instead of a pro football career, he decided to teach and coach at his alma mater, Hillsboro High School. The Lions were not the only pro team interested in Ad. He was also offered contracts by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. Married to Joan and with the first of their five children born, he turned down the professional offers, earned a master's degree at Linfield and went on to teach and coach at Hillsboro High School.
As a Hilhi coach, he led teams to state championships in both football and baseball. Specifically, there was one football state champ and two baseball state champs. In addition, there was one baseball state champ tie. Tie? Yes, the game was rained out and there was no provision to make it up. At Linfield, he would repeat the feat, leading Wildcat teams to national titles in baseball (one) and football (three). He is the only coach at any college level to have teams winning both baseball and football national championships.
ONE MORE GAME AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
On Sept 16, 1962, Ad Rutschman played on the Linfield Alumni football team which beat Linfield football varsity team, 14-6, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 1962. A story about the game says: "The other Alumni touchdown was sparked by the passing of Bill Parrish and the runningof Al Tarpenning and Ad Rutschman. Tarpenning ripped off 28 yards in four carried. Rutschman gained 19 in four carried, while Parrish completed three passes and sneaked the final two yards. This touchdown came with only 29 seconds showing and Rutschman wrapped up the Alumni win by sweeping the end for the extra point.
FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1968, in Boise, Idaho, at the original Bronco Stadium, the Wildcats beat Boise State College, 17-7, in the Bronco's first game as a four-year school after being a junior college. Linfield led 14-0 at halftime.
LAST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Saturday, Dec 7, 1991, at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, Wash., 23-0 loss to Pacific Lutheran in NAIA quarterfinal playoff game. Linfield was Columbia Football Association Mt. Hood League co-champ.
CAME FROM HILLSBORO
Ad Rutschman came to Linfield in the fall of 1950, after an outstanding career as a student-athlete (football, basketball, baseball) at Hillsboro, Ore., High School, also know as Hilhi.
SHRINE GAME AT MULTNOMAH STADIUM
After graduating from Hilhi in 1950 and before he entered Linfield in 1950, he was a left halfback on the Oregon team (versus the city of Portland team) in the 3rd annual Shrine high school All-Star football game at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. Ad said he primarily played defense in the game.
FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
In McMinnville on Linfield's Maxwell Field, Saturday Sept. 16, 1950, a 37-7 win over Eastern Oregon College of Education. Linfield scored five touchdowns in the game. Two TDs were scored by Ad and two others set up by him, according to the Oregonian.
LAST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
In McMinnville on Linfield's Maxwell Field, Saturday, Nov. 14, 1953, a 21-6 win over Willamette. This game is remembered in Linfield sports yore as the game in which Linfield President Harry Dillin, fulfilling a promise, stood on his head on the 45-yard line after the Wildcats won in an upset. But, it was also Ad's last football game as a Linfield varsity player. According to the McMinnville News-Register, the game was billed as "Win One for Ad." It was the final game of Linfield's 1953 football season.
The Oregonian said, "Ad Rutschman, Linfield's brilliant senior fullback, was the leader again as the McMinnville 'Cats produced their fifth victory in history over Willamette, but Rutschman had tremendous help from a whole team of fierce Wildcats." Linfield took a 6-0 lead and was "dominating the game. But once those Linfields got a break in the form of a Bearcat fumble, they latched onto it with a vice-like grip. They were absolutely unbeatable from there on out," said the Oregonian.
On top of Ad's offensive exploits, he also played defense in the game. One example, the Oregonian said: "In the third quarter, Willamette progressed to the Wildcat 22, but Rutschman intercepted a pass on the goal line."It was an amazing 1953 season for Linfield football. The Wildcats were expected to finish last in the Northwest Conference. Instead, they finished second, behind champion the College of Idaho. Along the way, they upset all over Oregon schools (Willamette, Lewis & Clark, andPacific) in the conference.
AMONG AD'S MANY HONORS AS A PLAYER
Ad was a Northwest Conference all-star selection his sophomore, junior and senior years and was an honorable mention Associated Press Little All-American in 1953, as a senior.After his senior football season, the Linfield student body took a vote and retired his jersey, number 32.
During his playing career, he had nicknames including, The Flying Dutchman, Air Foam Ad, and The Slippery Swiss. His Linfield football coach, Paul Durham, said, according to the Oregonian, while fully appreciating Ad's running, passing and kicking talents: "Greater than any of his accomplishments was his eternal desire to win and his inspirational leadership of the team."
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN 1954, MEd in 1958
In 1954, he earned a Linfield bachelor's degree in physical education. In 1958, he earned a Linfield Masters of Education degree.
After graduating from Linfield in 1954, he was drafted as "Dolph Rutschman" as the 337th pick in the 28th round of the NFL/National Football League draft by the Detroit Lions. He was offered a contract by the Lions. But, instead of a pro football career, he decided to teach and coach at his alma mater, Hillsboro High School. The Lions were not the only pro team interested in Ad. He was also offered contracts by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. Married to Joan and with the first of their five children born, he turned down the professional offers, earned a master's degree at Linfield and went on to teach and coach at Hillsboro High School.
As a Hilhi coach, he led teams to state championships in both football and baseball. Specifically, there was one football state champ and two baseball state champs. In addition, there was one baseball state champ tie. Tie? Yes, the game was rained out and there was no provision to make it up. At Linfield, he would repeat the feat, leading Wildcat teams to national titles in baseball (one) and football (three). He is the only coach at any college level to have teams winning both baseball and football national championships.
ONE MORE GAME AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER
On Sept 16, 1962, Ad Rutschman played on the Linfield Alumni football team which beat Linfield football varsity team, 14-6, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 1962. A story about the game says: "The other Alumni touchdown was sparked by the passing of Bill Parrish and the runningof Al Tarpenning and Ad Rutschman. Tarpenning ripped off 28 yards in four carried. Rutschman gained 19 in four carried, while Parrish completed three passes and sneaked the final two yards. This touchdown came with only 29 seconds showing and Rutschman wrapped up the Alumni win by sweeping the end for the extra point.
FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1968, in Boise, Idaho, at the original Bronco Stadium, the Wildcats beat Boise State College, 17-7, in the Bronco's first game as a four-year school after being a junior college. Linfield led 14-0 at halftime.
LAST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Saturday, Dec 7, 1991, at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, Wash., 23-0 loss to Pacific Lutheran in NAIA quarterfinal playoff game. Linfield was Columbia Football Association Mt. Hood League co-champ.
