Ceremony Marks Birthplace of Spread Offense
Hoquiam High School commemorated former head football coach Jack Swarthout and his starting quarterback Jack Elway at Olympic Stadium on Friday night. The event honored the pair for their role in implementing what is now known as the spread offense, marking the first program at any level to run the strategy in 1947.
During a pre-game ceremony ahead of the Grizzlies’ matchup against Tenino, Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkelman declared Olympic Stadium the "birthplace of the football revolution and the spread offense." The declaration was made as members of the Swarthout and Elway families gathered on the field.
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway attended the event, acknowledging the crowd from the stadium. His father, Jack Elway, was the primary subject of the honors alongside Swarthout.
Elway Reflects on Family Roots and Coaching Legacy
John Elway stated that Hoquiam meant so much to him and his mother, Janet, both of whom were born and raised there. He told The Daily World that the Elway family roots are deep in Hoquiam and expressed thrill that his father was being honored for his coaching career.
Elway noted that while his father played baseball with Legion baseball and with the Grizzlies, the family primarily discussed the annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game against Aberdeen. He told the Olympic Stadium crowd that his father continued to build upon offensive philosophy and passing concepts learned from Coach Swarthout throughout his coaching career.
John Elway stated that his father understood coaching was about teaching young men hard work, discipline, character, and doing things the right way. He cited former players who still feel positively influenced by him.
Family Members Share Impact on Community
Dusty Swarthout, Jack Swarthout’s grandson, spoke about his grandfather’s impact on the community and the legacy he left with players and students. The ceremony served to recognize the long-term influence of the two figures on Hoquiam's athletic history.