[qwerty49]

It would have been tough for Walsh to start Elway over Schonert in '79 because Walsh wasn't the coach. I remember Dowhower giving both Schonert and Elway playing time in 1979, but I don't remember Elway's perfomance being that superior to Schonert's. It's been awhile though.

Dowhower did platoon Schonert (may he rest in peace) and Elway from the very start of the season.  They were neck in neck, and Elway may have taken a lead vs UCLA in the old lady. He led Stanford down the field with less than a minute to go to give Ken Naber the chance for the 59 yard winning FG.  Afterwards, UCLA HC Terry Donahue said, "He's not a good quarterback, he's a great quarterback".  Donahue recruited Elway hard, but Elway told him they didn't throw enough.  Donahue promised he would change if Elway committed.

The following week was the epic 21-21 tie vs USC (one of the greatest teams even, with White, Lott, Munoz).  Elway did throw an interception in the first half, and the halftime score was 21-0.  Schonert had an epic second half, and he unquestionably earned the starting position from that point.

---

I went to practices in those days.  I still remember the first time I saw Elway.  They were having receivers run go routes. Schonert threw nice 40 yard passes.  Looped a bit as you’d expect.  Elway threw 40 yard rockets.  The railbirds gasped.  

Hey lex,
    I've told this story before on the old Bootleg board.  I bet you were there too: It was the 1980 Big Game in Memorial.  I was seated on the shady side, south end of stadium maybe 10 yard line.  Stanford had the ball on their own 20, north end.  Elway went back to pass, had a heavy pass rush, and ran back towards his own end zone.  He juked right, then juked left, making a big U turn in the end zone.  From where I sat, I saw Ken Margerum running a go route down the east sideline - and kept running.  I saw him out of the corner of my eye approaching the cal 20 and thought, "Oh man, if Elway could just see him - but he can't throw it that far."  Turned out I was wrong - Elway did see him, and launched it.  It went 80 yards with practically no arc.  Margerum couldn't catch it, and even if he did, he would have been out of bounds.  But the entire stadium - Red and Blue - let out this collective "Whoa!!" as if to ask - did a human being actually do that?

And the SC game in the Old Lady where I think our lone score in the first half came with Elway scrambling for his life, reversing field at least once and launching a 60 yd howitzer to Margerum in the end zone.  The ball was in the air for an eternity and I remember watching Ronnie Lott roaring across the field to just plaster Margerum but Kenny held onto the ball.  That clip used to be on YouTube but I can't seem to find it anymore.

[qwerty49]

It would have been tough for Walsh to start Elway over Schonert in '79 because Walsh wasn't the coach. I remember Dowhower giving both Schonert and Elway playing time in 1979, but I don't remember Elway's perfomance being that superior to Schonert's. It's been awhile though.

Dowhower did platoon Schonert (may he rest in peace) and Elway from the very start of the season.  They were neck in neck, and Elway may have taken a lead vs UCLA in the old lady. He led Stanford down the field with less than a minute to go to give Ken Naber the chance for the 59 yard winning FG.  Afterwards, UCLA HC Terry Donahue said, "He's not a good quarterback, he's a great quarterback".  Donahue recruited Elway hard, but Elway told him they didn't throw enough.  Donahue promised he would change if Elway committed.

The following week was the epic 21-21 tie vs USC (one of the greatest teams even, with White, Lott, Munoz).  Elway did throw an interception in the first half, and the halftime score was 21-0.  Schonert had an epic second half, and he unquestionably earned the starting position from that point.

---

I went to practices in those days.  I still remember the first time I saw Elway.  They were having receivers run go routes. Schonert threw nice 40 yard passes.  Looped a bit as you’d expect.  Elway threw 40 yard rockets.  The railbirds gasped.  

Hey lex,
    I've told this story before on the old Bootleg board.  I bet you were there too: It was the 1980 Big Game in Memorial.  I was seated on the shady side, south end of stadium maybe 10 yard line.  Stanford had the ball on their own 20, north end.  Elway went back to pass, had a heavy pass rush, and ran back towards his own end zone.  He juked right, then juked left, making a big U turn in the end zone.  From where I sat, I saw Ken Margerum running a go route down the east sideline - and kept running.  I saw him out of the corner of my eye approaching the cal 20 and thought, "Oh man, if Elway could just see him - but he can't throw it that far."  Turned out I was wrong - Elway did see him, and launched it.  It went 80 yards with practically no arc.  Margerum couldn't catch it, and even if he did, he would have been out of bounds.  But the entire stadium - Red and Blue - let out this collective "Whoa!!" as if to ask - did a human being actually do that?

And the SC game in the Old Lady where I think our lone score in the first half came with Elway scrambling for his life, reversing field at least once and launching a 60 yd howitzer to Margerum in the end zone.  The ball was in the air for an eternity and I remember watching Ronnie Lott roaring across the field to just plaster Margerum but Kenny held onto the ball.  That clip used to be on YouTube but I can't seem to find it anymore.