NEXT TIME YOU’RE IN ATLANTA, VISIT COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, SEE AD RUTSCHMAN REPRESENTATION

 

Ad Rutschman was enshrined as a coach in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. On 8/31/2018, JP, a friend of Wildcatville, took these photos of Coach’s. Other photos from “Hall” website.

In 1998, when Coach Rutschman was enshrined, the “Hall” was in South Bend, Indiana. Opened in 1951, in 2014 it moved to Atlanta.

Says one online source, “Instead of busts or plaques, Hall of Fame members (are) viewed interactively.”

Only 0.02 percent of “college football’s players and coaches can claim the honor of being named into the Hall of Fame. Meet the elite few who made the cut. These ‘0.02%-ers’ have endured the blood, sweat and tears it takes to go from college greats to legendary sportsmen,” says the “Hall” website.

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Adolph Rutschman, Coach

Inducted: 1998

Date of Birth: 10/30/1931

Birthplace: Hillsboro, Oregon

School: Linfield College (Football coach 1968 - 1991)

Ad Rutschman Football Coaching Stats at Linfield

Wins 183 - Losses 48- Ties 4

Adolph "Ad" Rutschman was head football coach at Linfield College 24 years and won three national championships in NAIA Division II in 1982, 1984, 1986. He was Linfield baseball coach 13 years, 1971-83, and won NAIA national championship in 1971. He is the only coach who won national championships in both football and baseball. He served 25 years as Linfield director of athletics.

In 1995, Linfield built Rutschman Field House, named for Ad and his wife, Joan, for their service to the school.

In his years as Linfield head coach, Rutschman never had a losing season. This helped Linfield break the national record of producing 42 consecutive winning seasons. Rutschman won 15 conference championships. His record was 183-48-4, a percentage of .787.

He was in the NAIA playoffs 12 times. In 1984, Linfield trailed Northwestern (Iowa) 22-0 in the title game and won 33-22. Linfield won in 1982 over William Jewell 33-15 and in 1986 over Baker 17-0.

Ad Rutschman was a three-sport star at Hillsboro High School, enrolled at Linfield in 1950 and won 12 letters in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he set a school rushing record, 3,761 yards in his career, and it still stands.

He returned to Hillsboro High School as a teacher and a coach in 1954. He won one state championship in football, three in baseball and moved to Linfield. He was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. He added a master's degree in 1983.

Rutschman's philosophy is contained in his quotes: "We can teach integrity, trust, accountability, getting along with each other, and living within a set of rules." "I hope I've had a positive effect on people. The most satisfying thing is to see your kids have success after they graduate."

According to the “Hall,” the “College Football Hall of Fame is 94,000 square feet of pure awesomeness. Upon entering, fans are greeted by a three-story wall donning 768 mounted college football helmets—one for each college football team in the nation.”

To clarify, that means football helmets representing every NCAA Division III, Division II, Division I and NAIA program.

Posted here is a photo taken 8/31/2018 by JP showing the “Hall” entry area with the Wall of Helmets on the right.

Says an online source, when you enter the Hall, “you can pick one (football helmet as your favorite” and the helmet will light up.

Have you been to the “Hall?” Or, if you go to the “Hall,” please email a photo of the Linfield helmet to wildcatville@gmail.com. The close-up photo of the Linfield football helmet you provide will be posted here!

According to an article posted at cleveland (dot) com, when the “Hall” was opened in 1951 it was “a different era for (college football) to be sure, when there were only eight bowl games to be played and all were on Jan. 1.”

The location of the “Hall” in Atlanta is "the Heartland of college football," said Dennis Adamovich, “Hall” CEO.

The “Hall” also includes a pseudo ESPN College GameDay Desk where you can “proudly belt out your alma mater's song for a recording.”

You do know the ‘Linfield Fight Song’ don’t you? It’s the same tune as “On, Wisconsin,” fight song of the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

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Linfield Football 2018 preview in 8/31/2018 McMinnville N-R

Linfield football 2018 preview—

‘Cats on the prowl: Linfield seeks 63rd consecutive winning season, playoff success

Story by Logan Brandon

Photos by Rusty Rae

McMinnville N-R/News-Register, Aug. 31, 2018

Linfield football simply bristles with offensive weapons entering the 2018 season.

Stable of reliable running backs led by all-conference rusher Chidubem Nnoli?

Check.

Veteran-laden wide receiving core boosted by senior J.D. Lasswell and converted quarterback Aiden WIlder?

Double check.

A massive and technically proficient offensive line headlined by All-American Dakota Smith?

Better believe it.

Playoff-caliber starting quarterback?

McMinnville alum Wyatt Smith emphatically crosses that off the Wildcats’ list.

This Linfield offense is primed for a breakout campaign. Commanding this dangerous unit is coach Joseph Smith, who returns for his 12th year as head man and 26th overall.

Count Coach Smith as a cautious advocate for his team’s scoring potential.

“Our offense is doing some good things, but I’d like us to be a little more consistent. But that’s how every coach feels after two-and-a-half weeks of practice,” noted Coach Smith.

He continued, “Our offensive line has a chance to be solid in the running game. We have some very good backs, so (running the ball) needs to be the strength of our team. 

“As that running game goes, it opens up so many things for us in the passing game. Getting those big chunk plays from intermediate and deep passing comes from that running game.”

Linfield’s tail back depth ranks among the best in the program.

Of course, Nnoli leads the way with his amazing blend of speed and power. He gashed opposing defenses for 1,051 yards and nine touchdowns on 202 carries last season. After another offseason workout program, Nnoli appears even more powerful at this position.

As a second-year starter, Nnoli’s comfort in the offense is also much better. He feels his general awareness of the play-calling and offensive schemes to be miles ahead of last season.

“Things have slowed down for me,” he explained.

Overall, the junior appears excited for the offense to reach its potential.

“I think the ceiling is very high for this offense,” noted Nnoli. “We are really deep at running back and receiver, Wyatt is coming back with a year of experience and the line, the most important unit, they’re looking really good right now; should be a special year for us.”

Wyatt Smith, a sophomore, earned the starting quarterback job after displaying incredible resolve as a freshman during the ‘Cats’ postseason run last year. He threw for 1,065 yards and seven touchdowns and completed 64 percent of his passes.

Dakota Smith, who protects Wyatt’s blindside as the team’s starting left tackle, believes one crucial trait separates Wyatt from the quarterback pack: Poise.

“Wyatt is very patient. Most young quarterbacks today like to scramble, but he is able to stay in the pocket. He does a great job deciding when to step up and when he needs to escape the pocket,” explained Dakota.

Fortunately, Wyatt relies on a solid offensive line for protection this season. The experience at the interior is impressive, and Dakota holds his fellow linemen in high esteem.

“Gabe Majarro, who is a Tacoma guy just like me, makes all the calls for our line. He does a great job directing our offense.

“Our two guards – Aaron Kokubun and Cody Mitchell – are massive and will create some running lanes for us. Duncan Mattson is a senior who has great length at his position,” said Dakota.

Coach Smith said Wyatt’s performance during the stretch run solidified his candidacy for the starting role.

“He basically earned the job in last year’s playoffs, coming in late in the game and getting some wins for us,” said Coach Smith.

“The quarterback position is so much about decision-making and being able to keep your poise when all heck is breaking loose.

“He throws the ball very accurately – has a good arm and makes good decisions. 

“Decision-making and accuracy are the two biggest things that a starting quarterback needs, everything else is a bonus. Wyatt is used to big situations growing up and he’s used to dealing with pressure.”

Wyatt explained the experience he gained as a starter boosted his conviction entering Year Two.

“Any experience you can get helps big time,” he noted. “Being able to play those last four games last year gave me a lot confidence. 

“Things don’t seem like they’re going 100 miles an hour this year. I know how to handle the game now, which is something I’ve learned since high school.”

The receiving group boasts serious star power. J.D. Lasswell posted a conference-leading nine touchdowns on 33 receptions a year ago. He gained 637 total receiving yards using quickness and sure hands to decimate defenses.

Joining him are junior wide out Tyler Torgeson and slot receivers Keegan Weiss, Kory Day and converted quarterback Aiden Wilder.

Wilder, who hassled defenses as a constant running threat at QB, remains too much of a weapon to keep off the field, said Coach Smith.

“Aiden is transitioning really well to that receiver role for us,” explained Coach Smith. 

“Obviously he can still play quarterback for us, but right now he’s focused on being a receiver.

While the Wildcat offense looks promising, questions remain for a defense which lost multiple playmakers.

“Our defense is progressing nicely – that was certainly an area of concern coming in, considering the seniors we graduated,” noted Coach Smith.

“With time, our defense has chance to be very strong. It’s a matter of learning from our mistakes and how big the mistakes we learn from.”

Continuity isn’t a strength of the unit, but several impact players return, including in the secondary.

“Duke Mackle and Tyler Burgeron look very, very good at the safety positions. Marquis (Perrilliat) and Anthony Guttadaro have been really strong at corner and Chris Adamo has done some very nice things so far. I think we have really good secondary in the making, and that’s so important,” said Coach Smith.

Mackle, an all-conference safety, posted 35 tackles, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and forced a fumble. He dismisses concerns regarding the defense’s experience.

“We have had a lot of seniors step up who earned playing time last year,” he observed.

“We have guys that know the defense well and they have a lot of potential. We’re not really hurting too much, even though we need a few young guys to step up.

“We can be as good as we want to be,” added Mackle. “It depends on how hard we work and how much we study the playbook. Our coaches are pushing us every day in practice, really challenging us, so that’ll put us in position for success.”

Depth at linebacker and on the defensive line must be reconciled before Linfield’s season opener September 8 at Montana’s Carroll College.

“If our linebackers just get some time and experience, they’ll get better.

“Coach (Phil) Rombach is doing a great job with that unit and Coach (Jackson) Vaughn is as good as it comes as a defensive coach,” said Coach Smith.

Patrick Pipitone stands as a dynamic athlete at linebacker, a player to watch in the heart of the ‘Cat defense.

Though Linfield’s consecutive winning seasons streak sits at 62, Coach Smith notes the squad doesn’t stress about records.

“I think our program doesn’t think about it all. 

“One: we usually have pretty good starts so it’s not an issue.

“Two: Our sights are so much higher; a conference title and making a deep playoff run are our main goals here. As long as we focus on how good we can be there’s no pressure about the streak,” he said.

Entering the season ranked number-five in the nation, the Wildcats hold high expectations yet again. A year ago, they lost only twice, both times to Texas powerhouse University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Asked what it takes to overcome the juggernaut, Coach Smith answered,

“The most talented team in the country beat us the last two years. If the bracket stays the way it is, then we have to find a way to beat that team.

“They are very talented – they gave up only two touchdowns last year, so it’s pretty ridiculous.

“They’re tough to score on so we have to move the ball and put it in the end zone versus that defense.

“We have a long way to go before we worry about that game,” he added.

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AD RUTSCHMAN'S HILHI FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF WAS ALL-WILDCAT

During some of his 13 years (1958-1967) as head football coach at his alma mater, Hillsboro, Ore., High School (Hilhi), Ad Rutschman (Linfield Class of 1954) had a staff of all Linfield grads. This black & white photo, possibly taken in 1965, 1966 or 1967 by the Hillsboro Argus newspaper, shows head coach Ad with assistant coaches (l-r) Jerry Dressel (Class of 1965), Ted Henry (Class of 1960) and Bill Parrish (Class of 1962). (Wildcatville photo of Ad Rutschman 8/24/2018)

Linfield Alma Mater, a song to sing

Linfielder John Prutsman (Class of 1957) has a big booming voice and an ear for music.

He laments, “One tradition I think we at Linfield have lost is standing and singing the Alma Mater after every home football game.”

John, a grad of Portland’s Lincoln High School, played football for the Wildcats in the 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956 (the season in which The Streak started).

As a Linfield football player John said, “I don’t recall team members singing the Alma Mater after the home games. But, the crowd did. I recall watching home football games in immediate years after I graduated. Those crowds did not leave the stands after games until they stood and sang the Alma Mater. 

“At that time the Linfield Pep Band sat in the stands just south of the Memorial Stadium tunnel out of the locker room. The band would play the Alma mater intro -- actually the end of the song where the words are ‘Alma Mater we’re loyal to you’ -- and everyone automatically would start singing.”

In more recent times so to speak, some 15 or 20 years ago John thinks, the Linfield Choir had a reunion on campus during a Homecoming. “Choir alums joined with the student choir members to sing the Star Spangled Banner before the game and Alma Mater at the end of the game. At choir rehearsal before that sheets with the lyrics were handed out because student in the choir didn’t know its words.”

Debbie Harmon Ferry (Class of 1990), Linfield Alumni and Parent Relations director, said the Alma Mater is sung at the conclusion of every Linfield Commencement ceremony. “Typically it’s led by a graduating senior, often someone who was in the choir,” she said.

With this story is photo of page from the May 14, 1967, Linfield Commencement printed program. Alma Mater lyrics are bottom of the page. (Lyrics are also below). Interesting to see only the first two of four stanzas of the Alma Mater are included.

In lyrics, note “The Old Oak gives us courage…”

(The Old Oak fell on Jan. 8, 2008. A newspaper story at the time said the Old Oak, an 80-foot tall white oak, “stood majestic when Linfield was founded 150 years ago.” It was estimated to be 200-250 years old when disease caused its death.)

Debbie said the Linfield Alma Mater “still references the Old Oak, but we now tend to use ‘the old oaks give us courage’ – referring to the oaks in the Oak Grove, not the Old Oak itself.”

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Linfield's Alma Mater: "We’ll Be Loyal"

We’ll be loyal to old Linfield
With her backing never yield
Each day will bring some vict’ry
One more honor for her shield.

The Old Oak gives us courage
Keeps us steadfast on our way
For her we’ll fight will all our might
Alma Mater, we’re loyal to you!

You may search all Linfield’s hist’ry
For one more of disloyalty
Each student upholds her spirit
With her loyal faculty

Linfield’s friendships are the truest
They’ll back you in each test
For her we’ll fight will all our might
Alma Mater, we’re loyal to you!



 

TED HENRY: Memorial service 8/22/2018, McMInnville Covenant Church

Ohio farm home in which Henry Lever, Linfield Athletics legend, born in 1883 still stands

If you are versed in Linfield College Athletics lore, you know the importance of Henry Lever (1883-1980 at age 96). (His photo from 1938 Linfield Oak Leaves yearbook.)

Lever Street (see street sign photo) on campus (running behind Memorial Stadium at Maxwell Field/Catdome) is named for him. And, in 1998 he was in the first “class” to be enshrined in the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame (see photo of his Hall of Fame electronic tribute).

The year, 1930, Lever came to Linfield as coach of all sports (football, basketball, baseball, track & field) and athletic director was the start of Linfield Athletics as we know it today.

During his years, 1930-1949, at Linfield he coached/guided hundreds of Wildcat athletes and positively influenced them and others – athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, family and friends -- on or off the field, court or track.

Among the many Linfield students he coached were Paul Durham and Roy Helser.

He later hired Durham as Linfield football coach. That done, Lever served as athletic director one more school year and then turned the program over to Durham.

Among Durham’s hires as athletic director was Helser, who went on to coach baseball (head coach), basketball (co-head and head coach) and football (assistant coach) at the college. Later, Helser became Linfield athletic director.

Henry Lever was born in Loveland, Ohio, near Cincinnati, Oct. 4, 1883.

According to his biography, “He survived a near fatal burst appendix at age 15 with a life-saving operation on the kitchen table of his family's farm home.”

Read Henry Lever’s biography here:

http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2008/06/biography-of-henry-w.html

Now (this was written in 2018) a light is shining on that very Lever family farm home, Henry Lever’s birthplace.

Brad Searcy and his family bought the Lever family farm home in Loveland in late May 2018. “We are still unpacking boxes,” Searcy told Wildcatville in August 2018.

(Note: The Lever family name was originally spelled “Leever.” This explains the use of Leever/Lever in following text.)

“I have had a general curiosity about who built it and what types of people lived here, and the old maps and the Wildcatville biography of Henry Lever really got me going on this project,” he said.

“The house is described as a 'farmhouse' but the 'farm' would have been fairly small according to the old maps, so I have wondered what the people here actually did for a living.

“The yard is really in rough condition with lots of big roots so I suspect that it has been relatively untouched for the most part,” said Searcy.

“My son and I used a metal detector in the back yard on Sunday to look for 'clues' to the former residents and immediately found a few items. Nothing of value but a couple of very old iron pieces.

“The house has some interesting characteristics such as a relatively large dining room with a high ceiling and two large bedrooms upstairs, but the kitchen has very low ceilings with a tiny bedroom (with a separate very worn wooden stairway) above.

“When I looked in the crawlspace, the kitchen (in back of the house, not visible in the photos) has different floor joists which look more like logs than cut lumber, so I have wondered if the kitchen is actually older than the rest of the house rather than an addition as we originally expected.  There are some very large, old trees in back of the house which I am sure were present when the house was built and during the Leever/Lever time.

“Ultimately I wanted to build a timeline of all of the former owners.  I have good evidence about the Leevers/Levers and some info about the late 1960s-early 1970s, plus assessor data from 1979-present.  Not sure how long the Levers/Levers stayed here. Believe I stumbled upon a census record or something that implied that they moved to another part of Loveland by 1920.  But I might be wrong on this. By that time, I believe that Henry Lever was already out of the house.”

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Included with this posting are two photos taken in July 2018 by Brad Searcy of the Leever/Lever house in Loveland, Ohio.

In addition, there are pieces of old maps he found online.

“Our (Leever/Lever house was built in 1875 according to the assessor's records but the previous owner claimed that is was closer to 1860 (no proof of this that I know of),” Searcy said.

Following are links provided by Searcy:

--1891 map of Henry Lever's boyhood house, now home of Searcy family. It’s at 6278 Branch Hill Guinea Road in Loveland, Ohio. He included a cropped and enlarged map of the area.

“You will see ‘Thos. Leever’ as the property owner. He was Henry's father, according to the "findagrave" links below and other online sources,” Brad Searcy said.

“The square by Thos. (Thomas) Lever is the (Searcy) house.

“There is also a ‘Henry W. Leever’ nearby on the map. This must have been Henry's grandfather as it was also there in a 1870 map (before Henry Lever was born). Also, the family name was originally spelled "Leever" as you can see but Thomas changed it to "Lever" at some point after his marriage (I read about this somewhere)”:

--From Atlas of Clermont County, Ohio, from actual surveys, digital.cincinattilibrary.org

http://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll9/id/5148/rec/14

--1870 map of the same area, showing a square that "could" be Searcy house, but showing as property of "HW Leever". Henry Lever was not born yet, and his father Thomas probably wasn't old enough to have his own house:

--From Atlas of Clermont County, Ohio, from actual surveys, digital.cincinattilibrary.org

http://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll9/id/5110/rec/13

--Henry Lever Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_W._Lever

                                                 

--Another article of interest about Henry Lever:

http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv19/CFHSNv19n1a.pdf

--Information about grave of Thomas Lever, father of Henry Lever:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112906765/thomas-hamer-lever

--Information about grave of Henry Lever:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109080025/henry-work-lever

Brad Searcy said “there is some info online including a photo of our house in a book about Morgan's Raid, a Confederate army raid through this area in which Henry W. Leever (Henry's grandfather) lost a $7 saddle to the raiders. However, I do not believe it was actually taken from what is now the Searcy property, but rather from Henry's grandfather, formerly across the street.”

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