Ed Langsdorf and John Elway: More in common than just football

Photo (July 2008 ) shows the football field and track at Lincoln Middle School in Pullman, Wash.

Linfield’s Ed Langsdorf and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway have more in common than just football.

The commonalities include Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Wash., Lincoln Junior High School (now Lincoln Middle School) of Pullman and Pullman High School.

Ed, a former head and assistant football coach at Linfield, earned a master's degree (1969, physical education) at WSU, alma mater of his wife, Jan, and her parents.

While in Pullman, Ed (photo above, left) taught physical education at Lincoln Junior High. He coached at Pullman High School, assisting in track both years. In football, the first year he scouted Pullman High’s upcoming opponents on Friday night. The second year, he was a PHS football varsity assistant.

And, John Elway (photo, above right)? He attended and was an athlete for 7th and 8th grades at Lincoln and as a freshman at PHS.

John's father, WSU grad/former WSU quarterback Jack Elway, was an assistant football coach at Washington State before the Elways left Pullman for California. There, John was a quarterback in high school (graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1979) and college (Stanford) and Jack a head football coach (Cal State Northridge, San Jose State, Stanford).

So, did Ed coach John in football while both were in Pullman? No. In fact, Ed says, “I wasn't aware of John Elway during my time in Pullman …”

Based on a review of dates when Langsford and the Elways were in Pullman, it appears Ed was gone before the Elways arrived from Montana, where Jack Elway was an assistant coach at the University of Montana in Missoula.

But, back to John Elway. When you read biographies about him, his time in Pullman is frequently briefly mentioned or ignored.

For the record, Pullman has four hills, Pioneer, Military, College and Sunnyside, where the Elways lived. They moved there from Missoula, Mont. And, they moved from there to California.

What may have been the first time John’s name was in print was in the Feb. 17, 1972, issue of the Pullman Herald (now defunct) weekly newspaper. The story is about Jack being hired by WSU from the University of Montana and Missoula. “The Elways have three children: Lee Ann, 13, and twins John Jr., and Jana, 11,” it said.

In Missoula in 1970 as a sixth grader, John ran for either six or four touchdowns -- reports differ about the exact number -- in the first half in the first football game in which he played.

In Pullman, he competed on 7^th and 8^th grade teams at Lincoln. Immediately before John arrived in California (summer of 1976) he played football and basketball for the PHS Greyhounds during the 1975-1976 school year. He apparently played baseball, too, but other than a pre-season preview, no articles support that supposition.

While glimmers of the football player John Elway was to become appear in the Herald (see below), if you didn’t know you’d guess he went on to become an outstanding basketball player. If that had happened, George Raveling, former WSU men’s basketball coach, would have been right.

From sixth to ninth grade Elway took part in Raveling's summer Cougar Cage Camps at WSU. Raveling envisioned Elway being a great basketball player.

But, Jack envisioned his son being a great quarterback in football. However, John thought his best position was running back. “…Jack had to convince him that his best position was quarterback, not halfback,” said one story.

Pullman Herald articles which mention John Elway when he lived/went to school in Pullman include:

Feb 17, 1972- “Elway Added.” Jack Elway hired as a WSU football assistant coach. “The Elways have three children: Lee Ann, 13, and twins John Jr., and Jana, 11.”

Sept 25, 1975-“Pullman frosh drop verdict late in game.” Rushing for Pullman High School frosh football team in game with Sacajawea (of Lewiston, Idaho) included “John Elway minus three yards.” Pullman lost 8-6.

Oct 2, 1975-“Orofino next ‘Hounds frosh fall.” Pullman High frosh football team (lost 20-6) rushing stats included John Elway 14 yards.

Oct 9, 1975-“Defense fails Pullman frosh fall.” PHS frosh football team lost 18-6 to Orofino (Idaho). “John Elway set up Pullman’s lone touchdown on a 50-yard run….Elway was 0-2 in passing.

Oct 16, 1975-“Frosh squad wins again.” Story lead: “Pullman’s John Elway game Jenifer of Lewiston a one-man show in the first half as the Pullman High freshman football squad ran to a 34-6 victory.” Story includes, “Elway scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter and then on a 26-yard romp in the second.” Also, “Brent Meyer had Pullman’s lone reception from Elway for 43 yards.”

Oct 30, 1975-“Frosh close season by blitzing Moscow.” Story lead: “John Elway scored a pair of touchdowns and passed for another as the Pullman High School freosh walked to a 34-12 football victory over Moscow High School last week.” Story includes: “Elway scored on runs of five and one yard and passed 13 yards to Ed Rhon for another….” In the first quarter, after a punt block, “Pullman quickly moved it in with Elway breaking for the five-yard score.” Early in the second quarter, “Elway gave Pullman an 18-0 lead…on a one-yard plunge.” Game stats included “Elway was four for seven for 39 yards in the passing department” and gained 14 yards rushing.

Nov 20, 1975-“Frosh defense does the impossible…” In its 3-3-1 season, Pullman High frosh football team shut out all of its opponets in the first quarter. Season stats included John Elway gaining 197 net yards. Story includes, “Pullman wasn’t noted for its passing attack” and “Elway, who passed for 87 yards, averaged 29.1 yards per kick in the punting department on 10 boots.”

Dec 11, 1975-“Big third quarter lifts PHS frosh to a 62-41 victory.” Pullman boys’ frosh football team beat Moscow 62-41. John Elway scored 10 points.

Dec 18, 1975-“John Elway cans 47 points as frosh beat Dogs, Bantams.” Story lead: “John Elway pumped in 47 points last weekend to lead the Pullman High School frosh to two victories.” In the game, “Elway, hitting from all angles, had 21” points and 15 rebounds against the Clarkston Bantams. Against the Colfax Bulldogs, Elway scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to bring Pullman from behind.

Dec 25, 1975-“Frosh suffer first setback.” Prior to a two week winter break, Pullman High School freshman boys’ basketball team lost to Colfax 60-57 in overtime. John Elway scored 27 points. In another game in the same week, Pullman beat Sacajawea in Lewiston, 47-39. Elway scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds.

Jan 22, 1976-“PHS Frosh roll.” John Elway scored 23 points as the PHS freshman boys’ basketball team 62-36.

Feb 5, 1976-“Elway paces PHS frosh in sweep.” He had 21 points in a 52-47 win over Sacajawea and 28 points in a 75-41 over Moscow. Story includes, “The 5-7 Elway is averaging 21.0 points per game.”

Feb 19, 1976-“PHS frosh win 11^th straight.” PHS boys’ freshman basketball team beat Jenifer of Lewiston, 47-28. Story includes, “John Elway led Pullman once again. The 5-7 Elway hit 26 points. Elway is averaging 23.1 points per game on the season and has scored 26 points or more in each of Pullman’s last three games.”

Feb 26, 1976-“Record breaking frosh finish season 17-1.” The Pullman High School boys’ freshman basketball team closed its season as the best Pullman ninth grade team in history…Pullman beat Orofino 56-36 (John Elway 18 points) and Moscow 86-45 (24 points).

May 18, 1976-“Pitchers hold key to Hounds’ season.” Preview for Pullman High School baseball season includes “…with freshman John Elway getting a look at both shortstop and second base.”