Gus Ornstein

Quarterback

Claymores 2001

Inducted in 2002

 

Although Gus never started a game at Quarterback for the Claymores during his season over here in 2001 he was a still shoe-in for the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility mainly because he was a class act with the fans all year. Sadly, his lack of playing time combined with bad timing has been a re-occurring theme through his star-crossed career that has called home places as diverse as South Bend, Indiana and Glassboro, New Jersey as well as Glasgow, Scotland.

Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Gus was an All-American High School QB at nearby Fieldston in the Bronx, and was highly recruited by several big schools. In the end he chose Notre Dame. Although Ron Powlus had been recruited the year before, Gus's plan was to redshirt his first year, giving him the potential to be Fighting Irish's signal caller for a couple seasons down the line when Powlus eventually turned pro.

However disaster struck during Gus's supposed redshirt year in a game versus Navy. Powlus got hurt, and then Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz inserted Gus into the lineup. This had the effect of negating any redshirt possibilities for Gus, and the chances of him making his name at South Bend declined considerably with Powlus firmly #1 and likely to play through his senior year. With the bench looming, Gus decided to transfer to Michigan State in 1995. Naturally Spartans fan were thrilled to get such a high profile transfer.

Gus sat out his transfer year at MSU by rule and entered the 1996 season, his sophomore year, as the #2 QB behind Todd Schultz. In an early season loss to Nebraska, Schultz was hurt and Gus saw some action against the mighty Big Red. With Schultz still ailing, the following week would see Gus's first start versus Louisville. However the big news that week was that the NCAA was placing the Spartans on probation, and this may have contributed to a surprising 30-20 loss to the Cardinals. Gus completed 21 of 37 passes for 237 yards, including a TD to future NFL star Derek Mason - but he was upstaged by Louisville and their freshman QB Chris Redman.

Gus's tough luck started at Notre Dame

The following week coach Nick Saban pulled a surprise move by starting freshman QB Bill Burke ahead of Gus. This was unfortunate for Gus, as MSU after playing two tough opponents were up against the not so mighty Eastern Michigan. Not surprisingly they won in a rout 47-0 and Burke kept the job the rest of the year. His junior year didn't go much better sitting behind Burke most of the year. He played in three games completing 39 of 68 passes for 481 yards and 3/4TD's, but in a loss against Michigan suffered a fractured arm and was done for the year.

Then continued at Michigan State

Gus still had other options at this time, namely baseball. A few years before the New York Yankees pilfered QB Drew Henson from Michigan to play first base, they were interested in Gus at Michigan State to play the same position (Gus had been a two sport star at high school). They had him report for spring training in Florida, but disaster struck again when a hamstring injury impeded his progress. It also stopped him for taking part in spring football drills back at MSU and ended his hopes for winning back the starting QB job.

With only one year of eligibility left, Gus was faced with the prospect of the NFL scouts having little game tape to see to his talents - so he chose to transfer again, this time to Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Because Rowan is a Division III school, Gus could get some serious playing time that fall. Finally shaking free of the injury bug, Gus started all year for the 'Profs', hitting 194 of 330 passes for 3,198 yards and 19 touchdowns. His play helped catapult the Profs to a 10-3 record and all the way to the Divison III title against Mount Union (Jim Ballard's alma matter which had beaten Rowan for the title with Ballard at the helm in 1993). They would however fall to the Div III powerhouse MU in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl losing 44-24, who incredibly won their 42nd straight game.

But his play had attracted the attention of NFL scouts and the St. Louis Rams signed him to their training camp roster in 1999. Gus however was merely a 'camp arm', and didn't see the field in the pre-season. When Rams starter Trent Green tore his knee in a pre-season game versus the Chargers and was lost for the year, the Rams elected to sign a veteran QB in Paul Justin to be #3 instead. Perhaps a team with more established depth at the position might have hung on to Gus - but the Rams were suddenly forced to start a complete unknown at QB in Kurt Warner and needed somebody with NFL experience instead.

Bouncing around NFL training camps then became the norm for Gus. In 2000 he had unsuccessful stints with both the Colts and Dolphins. After the 2000 season the Chiefs, where ex-Rams WR coach Al Saunders was now the offensive co-ordinator, signed Gus and allocated him to the Claymores for the 2001 season. However Gus was unable to unseat Clint Stoerner for the starting job in Scotland and faced another football season on the bench, this despite a spluttering Claymores offense that needed a spark.

 

Gus and Scott Couper talk it out on the sidelines in Dusseldorf

 

He saw his first action coming off in the bech in a Week 4 loss 27-17 to Frankfurt threw a TD completing 4 of 7 passes for 45 yards and a late 14 yard TD to James Whalen. His perseverance paid off toward the end of the season with some serious game action in Weeks 9 and 10, but not the starting assignment that many Claymores fans had been pushing for (us included!). In Barcelona he hit 11 of 23 passes for 89 yards, but couldn't get any points in a 26-7 loss, and in Scott Couper's final game he went 2 of 2 for 11 yards as the coaches elected to run the ball in the 2nd half protecting a big lead.

 

In 2001, Gus set an un-official season record for post game fan high fiving

 

His season in Scotland, while not lighting up the scoreboard on the field, provided many an opportunity off the field. Always eager to help, Gus was the face of the Claymores during 2001 - attending charity events, supermarket openings etc and left a great impression on the many people he met. The Scotsman even interviewed him about his culinary skills (impressed no doubt that fans had taken to wearing Chef hats at games in his honour). The New York Jets must have been reading the article, because once the Chiefs released Gus on his return to the US, they immediately contacted him - and subsequently signed him after the 2001 season. Then he will battle it out this summer for the #3 job and a chance to play for his hometown team.

 

Gus gets on the field in Berlin, but is forced to call a time out

 

The "Cooking with Gus" hats modeled by Preston and Gus's brother Jim

 

Congratulations Gus - You're in the Hall of Fame!

 

 

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