University Southern California Trojans
Marcus Allen Enshrined In Hall Of Fame
August 13, 2001 | Football
Aug 11, 2001
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The play that ended John Elway's college career is shown repeatedly at the College Football Hall of Fame - in the bloopers section. Though it caused pain for a while, he laughs about it now.
The play is the infamous five-lateral kickoff return by Cal through the Stanford band in 1982 for a winning touchdown on the final play of the game, costing Stanford a possible bowl berth.
"It hurt at the time. But each year it gets a little funnier," said Elway, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. "It sure wasn't a lot of fun at the time. We just wish we had the band come out for some tackling practice."
Elway, who never played in a bowl game, was enshrined in the hall Saturday along with former Southern Cal running back Marcus Allen, former Nebraska wingback Johnny Rodgers and 22 other former players and coaches.
The inductees, most of whom were officially inducted into the hall at a banquet in New York in December 2000, took part in a full day of activities at the hall Saturday that included a news conference attended by fans, a youth clinic, an autograph session and a flag football game.
Elway threw for four touchdowns as the West hall of famers beat the East 29-28 in overtime. Allen ran for the two-point conversion as former Grambling quarterback Doug Williams, who now coaches at the college, dived to pull the flag off Allen but instead grabbed hold of his belt momentarily before losing his grip.
Elway, Allen, Williams and the others also took part in the youth clinic, with Elway working with the youngsters on passing. Allen, working a running drill, picked up one boy who tried to run past him and told him, "Keep moving your feet, keep moving your feet."
Instead, the boy tossed the ball ahead to a friend.
"Forward lateral, 5-yard penalty," Allen said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.
Elway said his one regret was that his father, Jack, who died April 15 at the age of 69, wasn't there to see him enshrined.
"It breaks my heart because he was my mentor. He was my hero. He was my best friend. He was really one of the biggest reasons why I'm here today. College football was his love," he said. "He would have loved to have been here and walked through the Hall of Fame. But I know he's here in spirit."
His father may have been instrumental in Elway becoming a great quarterback, but it was his mother, Jan, who decided he would attend Stanford. Former UCLA coach Terry Donahue told about trying to recruit Elway, Allen and Rogers to UCLA but losing out.
Elway said he thought about going to UCLA, but because his father had just been hired as the San Jose State coach he wanted to be closer to family. So he narrowed his choices to San Jose State and Stanford.
"The bottom line of it is, my mom wanted me to go to Stanford," he said.
Elway passed for 9,349 yards at Stanford, completing 774 of 1,246 passes for 77 touchdowns and finishing second to Herschel Walker for the Heisman Trophy in 1982.
During Saturday night's enshrinement ceremony, Elway and Allen were among several speakers who thanked their parents for making their careers possible.
"When I was young, they filled my gas tank up with encouragement, love, support, and character," Allen said. "They were there every step of the way. I love them. Tonight this award really means that mom and dad, you guys did well, and I hope I made you proud."
Others enshrined Saturday were Michigan offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf, Arizona State cornerback Mike Haynes, Oklahoma center-linebacker Kurt Burris, Notre Dame end Bob Dove, Georgia defensive back Terry Hoage, Alabama halfback Johnny Musso, Pittsburgh linebacker-fullback Joe Schmidt, Texas guard Harley Sewell, Arkansas defensive end Billy Ray Smith, Wyoming halfback Eddie Talboom, Maryland tackle Stan Jones, Navy end Dick Duden, tackle John Outland of Kansas and Penn, and coaches Donahue of UCLA, and Forest Evashevski of Hamilton, Washington State and Iowa.
Among the players from smaller schools to be enshrined are Indiana of Pennsylvania defensive end Jim Haslett, who now coaches the New Orleans Saints, Holy Cross defensive back-halfback Gordie Lockbaum, Amherst receiver Freddie Scott, Occidental quarterback-defensive back Bill Redell, and coaches Joseph Fusco of Westminster College and Ace Mumford of Jarvis Christian College, Bishop College, Texas College and Southern University.
