Positively influenced by Ad Rutschman

This story posted in January 2010. Updated March 2010.

There’s not enough room or time to list every former Linfield football player or former Linfield assistant football coach who served and was positively influenced by Ad Rutschman for the 24 years (1968-1991) head was the Wildcats’ head football coach. But, nonetheless, here are a few of them:





Mike Riley and Randy Mueller. In January 2010, bkfootball.com selected the first all-time All-Idaho Football All-Star team. Former Linfield assistant football coach Riley (born in Wallace, Idaho) was named the team’s head coach. Mueller, Linfield grad and former Wildcat quarterback (born in St. Maries, Idaho) is the team’s general manager. Riley is Oregon State University head football coach. Mueller is senior executive for the NFL San Diego Chargers.

Jay Locey. He was an assistant football coach (starting in 1983) at Linfield before becoming head football coach (1996-2006). He is now an assistant football coach at Oregon State University.

Todd Spencer. He’s an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech and used to be at Navy. He was a Rutschman assistant working the offensive line while Spencer earned a M.A. degree in physical education from Linfield in 1981.

Matt Cate. He was appointed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on May 16, 2008, as Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. A Linfield business administration grad, he was a National Scholar Athlete. He lettered in football for the Wildcats during the 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons.

Ed Langsdorf and his son Danny Langsdorf. Ed, now college scout for the NFL San Diego Chargers, was an assistant football coach before he succeeded Rutschman as head coach, serving the 1992-1995 seasons. Danny, now an Oregon State University assistant football coach, is a Linfield grad and played quarterback for the Wildcats, lettering in 1994 and 1995.

The brothers Lopes, Lance and Steve. Lance is NFL Seattle Seahawks’ VP/General Counsel and business development. Steve is University of Southern California senior associate athletic director. Both lettered in football for Linfield, Lance is 1981-1982-1983 and 1984 and Steve in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.


Wes Suan. He is a Southern Methodist University assistant football coach. His football coaching background includes serving at the University of Hawaii and Linfield, where he lettered 1971, 1972,1973 and 1974. In addition to coaching football at Linfield, he also served as assistant athletic director.

Reflecting, Ad Rutschman says, "Wonderful memories and wonderful people. At last count, about 120 or more became head coaches. I have no idea how many became assistatn coaches."

Water Crew: 2009 Wisconsin Whitewater football trip

When Linfield’s Wildcat football team traveled to Wisconsin to play the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in semifinals of the 2009 NCAA Division III football championship playoffs, Water Crew members John Schindelar and John O'Connor were part of the team’s traveling party.

Schindelar told Scott Carnahan, Linfield athletic director, that traveling with the team to Whitewater “was the experience of a lifetime for us. It gave us an opportunity to get to know all the people associated with Linfield athletics.”

Immediately prior to the trip, Schindelar said he and O’Connor had not missed a Linfield football game in the 2009 season and “there was no reason to miss” it. As with all road games during the season, Water Crew members pay their own way for airfare and lodging.

UWW won the game, 27-17, played Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, on artificial turf on a sunny and chilly day – with snow on the sidelines -- at its Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisc. The following week, UWW won the 2009 NCAA DIII national football championship, beating Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl played in Salem, Va.

In preparation for traveling, Schindelar and O’Connor consulted with Water Crew member Eric Lundeen, who has lived and gone to school in Wisconsin. The two Johns followed several of Lundeen’s recommendation including wearing long underwear.

The team flew/from on a chartered flight from Portland International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisc. It was transported in Wisconsin via chartered buses from Van Galder Bus Co. of Janesville, Wisc. The team stayed at a motel in Janesville, which is located about 20 miles from Whitewater and about 40 miles from Madison. The team left Portland on Dec. 10 and returned to Portland on Dec. 12.

Itinerary for the team included practicing in the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Dave McClain (indoor) Athletic Facility on the UW Madison’s campus in Madison, Wisc.

All photos here, except for exterior to the Dave McCain facility were provided by Schindelar. Photo ID (from top to bottom):

• Linfield Water Crew’s John O’Connor (left) and John Schindelar posing at Perkins Stadium on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, while Linfield football team did a “walk through” on the field.
  
  
• Linfield football team on the field, before kickoff, on game day, Saturday, Dec.12, 2009.
  
  
• UW Whitewater Perkins Stadium on game day.
  
  
• Linfield head athletic trainer Tara Lepp, Brandy Mailer, athletic trainer and John O’Connor of the Linfield Water Crew pose at Perkins Stadium prior to start of the game on game day.
  
  
• Ryan Carlson, Linfield football video guru, former Linfield football player, creator and coordinator of catdomealumni.com outside one of the Linfield team’s chartered buses taken after the game.
  
  
• Linfield head athletic trainer Tara Lepp, and Brandy Mailer, athletic trainer, in the team’s Perkins Stadium locker room on Friday, Dec. 11.
  
  
• University of Wisconsin Madison's Dave McCain facility.

Purple not standing alone as a Linfield color

While purple is a dominant color these days for Linfield College athletics, the college and athletic team colors are cardinal and purple.

A “few” years ago, Linfield’s football teams home purple jerseys were the one or one of the few Wildcat teams displaying the color. Other teams showed more cardinal than (if any) purple. For that matter, the Linfield baseball hat was cardinal and blue.

• “Cardinal L” is (was?) the name of the Linfield club for athletic letter winners in all sports.
• "Cardinal Circle" is (was?) a senior men’s honorary comprised of varsity letter winners of all sports.

Why? Because Linfield athletic letters are (were?) cardinal in color.

Shown here are examples of cardinal (and some purple, too) in relation to Linfield athletics. From a Linfield 1970 grad, who completed in athletics while a student between 1966-1970 is a first-year letter winner jacket; a second-year (and subsequent) letter winner jacket (note cardinal letter on blue); part of a senior letter winner blanket; a current vintage coat designed/owned by Linfield football fans, a decal and pennant from the Linfield bookstore; a Linfield diploma (purple cover with cardinal and purple inside); a current “vintage” purple Linfield water bottle


See Linfield Athletics Website’s Traditions section and read about
“Cardinal and Purple” and “Why the Wildcats?”

“Purple is the Color”

Purple is the Color
Football is the game
Were the Linfield Wildcats
and winning is our aim
So let’ give all of the ‘Cats a cheer
For the Linfield Wildcats will be here
So let’ give all of the ‘Cats a cheer
For the Linfield Wildcats will be here

*With apologies to the Portland Timbers’ “Green is the Color,” a version of “Blue Is the Colour,”a song associated with professional soccer’s Chelsea Football Club in England.