Think of John Elway and visions are likely to include the lifting of Super Bowl trophies and maybe a helicopter spin across the goal line.
Think of his Stanford days and some of the most vivid memories about Elway probably occurred in losses:
- His scramble and 70-yard (through the air) pinpoint strike to Ken Margerum over Ronnie Lott in the back of the end zone in a 1980 loss to USC.
- Running for his life in consecutive losses to San Jose State teams coached by his father, Jack Elway.
- And leading a comeback against California in the 1982 Big Game only to see his team overtaken by "The Play," in the most unusual finish in college football history.
But that's not fair to Elway. Stanford went 20-23-1 in his four seasons (1979-82) and never went to a bowl game. But Elway showed every bit of his talent, lethal arm, and athletic ability in his Stanford career that he would showcase in five Super Bowls.
Elway definitely had his victorious highlights as well, including a 31-14 victory at Barry Switzer's No. 4 Oklahoma in 1980, and his 407-yard passing performance and game-winning touchdown pass to Emile Harry with 34 seconds left in a 23-20 victory at No. 13 Ohio State on Sept. 25, 1982.
But the greatest was Stanford's 43-31 upset of No. 2 Washington at Stanford Stadium on Oct. 30, 1982.
Though Stanford improved to 5-3 and probably was within one victory of giving voters enough reason to hand Elway the Heisman Trophy, Elway would not get another in his final season, which ended at 5-6.
The rain came early that day and a mist steadied itself over the field. ABC chose this for its national audience, to see how Elway would fare against a Husky team ranked No. 1 in the coaches' poll and No. 2 by AP.
Ironically, there was so much emphasis on Elway – with "suicidal safety blitzes" in the words of Sports Illustrated writer Ron Fimrite -- that Stanford exploited Washington's defense by allowing Elway to showcase his teammates.
Stanford offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, who in 2000 would coach the New York Giants into the Super Bowl, was fine with the Husky blitz.
"If they sack us, they take seven yards away from us," Fassel said. "But if they don't, they give us seven points."
That's what happened on the pivotal play of the game. Trailing 17-7 midway through the second quarter following a series of early miscues, Mike Dotterer sprinted through the line on a 46-yard touchdown run up the middle that launched a 30-0 Stanford run. Stanford's top two fullbacks had been removed with injuries and reserve Kaulana Park, a sophomore, was brought in and made an outstanding block on a blitzing strong safety to allow Dotterer to rush into the open space.
"I could feel things picking up," Dotterer said.
After a Washington punt, Elway took control, hitting tight end Chris Dressel for big gains to set up Dotterer's go-ahead 1-yard plunge. A field goal put Stanford ahead 24-17 on the next Cardinal series, and Elway's 41-yard pass down the middle to Dressel set up an 18-yard pass to Emile Harry for a 31-17 lead.
Elway would complete 20 of 30 passes for 265 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Dressel had six catches for 106 yards, with plenty of room down the middle, partly because Elway was so good at looking off the linebackers.
"They were playing my eyes," Elway said. "By looking off, I got them flaring out. That left the middle open."
Defensively, Stanford couldn't completely stop Washington's Jacque Robinson, a San Jose native who rushed for 132 yards. But Stanford harassed quarterback Steve Pelluer throughout. Outside linebacker Garin Veris had 14 tackles, including four sacks, and Pelluer was limited to 98 yards passing on a 9-for-19 day before he was lifted.
The Huskies closed to within 37-24 in the third quarter, but could not draw closer. After one fourth-quarter stop, the Huskies punted. Stanford's Vincent White was instructed to fair-catch the ball, as an injury precaution. But because the 57-yard boot had outkicked the coverage, White thought he could make something happen.
Here's Fimrite's account:
As the Huskies converged—failing to cover the lateral 30 yards (Washington) coach Don James insists on—White swerved sharply to the right sideline behind a screen of blockers. And that's just what it was: a screen. Not a block was thrown on White's behalf as he headed for the sideline. Suddenly, he was loose, twisting and juking the way his friend (Darrin) Nelson had done before him.
Near the Washington 40, he was confronted by (punter) Partridge. "I knew then I had a chance to go all the way," said White. Partridge got a hand on White's jersey but couldn't hold on. Free again, White reversed his field, cutting across the center of the gridiron and angling for the left corner of the end zone. He had eluded nine tacklers, by (Stanford coach Paul) Wiggin's estimate. When White reached the goal line after this tortuous jaunt, he looked back for officials' flags. Finding none, he bounded high in celebration.
The play covered 76 yards and cemented a Stanford victory that left Elway grinning and raising his arms in triumph as the Stanford band played and played, even as Stanford Stadium long had emptied and the sounds of "White Punks on Dope" echoed across the wooden bleachers.
Stanford discovered it didn't have to rely on Elway's superhuman talents to beat a team like Washington. And playing a part in Stanford's huge triumph, rather than dominating it, was the ideal send-off to Elway's Stanford career.
"Today," said Wiggin, "We were a team."