Elmer Busch
Encyclopedia
Elmer Eugene "Pete" Busch was a professional football
player with the Oorang Indians
of National Football League
in 1922. He was a Native-American as a member of the Pomo tribe. He played his college football
at the Carlisle Indian School. In 1973, Busch was inducted into the American Indian Hall of Fame.
. Elmer had two brothers and a sister. Busch had been schooled at the Potter Valley Indian School, from 1897 until 1902, and the Sherman Institute in Riverside, California
, from 1907 until 1910. While there, he was selected to attend the Carlisle Indian School.
, entered the Carlisle Indian School on October 10, 1910 at the age of 20. While attending Carlisle he became interested in football. He joined the school's football team and played there from 1911 until 1914 as an offensive tackle
. In 1911 Carlisle won 11 and lost 1 game. The 1912 Carlisle team averaged less than 170 lbs. Busch who was 22 years old, the heaviest, weighing 186 pounds and standing 5’10” tall. However that year, Carlisle compiled a total of 504 points as against their opponent’s 114 points. Their record was 12 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie. As a linemen Busch consistently beat his heavier defensive opponents, allowing the backs to gain good yardage on their runs. In 1913 Carlisle won 10, lost 1, and tied 1 game. he was elected as the team's captain in 1914, however he lost the title to Pete Calac
after he was forced to resign. After leaving the Carlisle School in April 1915 at age 25, he worked in the boiler department of the Santa Fe Railroad in San Bernardino
from 1915 - 1917. He also coached football at Riverside from 1916-1917.
with the Oorang Indians. The Indians were a team comprised completely of Native Americans. It was the idea of Walter Lingo
, an Airedale
breeder from LaRue, Ohio, with the sole intention of promoting his kennel. Busch left the team after the 1922 season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player with the Oorang Indians
Oorang Indians
The Oorang Indians were a traveling team in the National Football League from LaRue, Ohio . The team was named after the Oorang dog kennels. It was a novelty team put together by the kennels' owner, Walter Lingo, for marketing purposes. All of the players were Native American, with Jim Thorpe as...
of National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1922. He was a Native-American as a member of the Pomo tribe. He played his college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the Carlisle Indian School. In 1973, Busch was inducted into the American Indian Hall of Fame.
Early life
Busch was born in 1890 to Jack and Maggie Busch, who lived in Potter Valley, CaliforniaPotter Valley, California
Potter Valley is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located north-northeast of Ukiah, at an elevation of 948 feet . It is located at the headwaters of the East Fork of the Russian River...
. Elmer had two brothers and a sister. Busch had been schooled at the Potter Valley Indian School, from 1897 until 1902, and the Sherman Institute in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, from 1907 until 1910. While there, he was selected to attend the Carlisle Indian School.
Carlisle Indians School
Busch, a PomoPomo people
The Pomo people are an indigenous peoples of California. The historic Pomo territory in northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point...
, entered the Carlisle Indian School on October 10, 1910 at the age of 20. While attending Carlisle he became interested in football. He joined the school's football team and played there from 1911 until 1914 as an offensive tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
. In 1911 Carlisle won 11 and lost 1 game. The 1912 Carlisle team averaged less than 170 lbs. Busch who was 22 years old, the heaviest, weighing 186 pounds and standing 5’10” tall. However that year, Carlisle compiled a total of 504 points as against their opponent’s 114 points. Their record was 12 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie. As a linemen Busch consistently beat his heavier defensive opponents, allowing the backs to gain good yardage on their runs. In 1913 Carlisle won 10, lost 1, and tied 1 game. he was elected as the team's captain in 1914, however he lost the title to Pete Calac
Pete Calac
Pedro "Pete" Calac was a professional football player who played in the Ohio League and during the early years of the National Football League...
after he was forced to resign. After leaving the Carlisle School in April 1915 at age 25, he worked in the boiler department of the Santa Fe Railroad in San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
from 1915 - 1917. He also coached football at Riverside from 1916-1917.
Oorang Indians
Busch played the 1922 NFL season1922 NFL season
The 1922 NFL season was the 3rd regular season of what was now called National Football League . The NFL fielded 18 teams during the season, including new league teams such as the Milwaukee Badgers, the Oorang Indians, the Racine Legion, and the Toledo Maroons...
with the Oorang Indians. The Indians were a team comprised completely of Native Americans. It was the idea of Walter Lingo
Walter Lingo
Walter Lingo was a Airedale breeder from La Rue, Ohio. During the 1920s, he owned the Oorang Dog Kennels. As a way of promoting his kennels, Lingo financed a National Football League franchise, called the Oorang Indians in 1922.-Dog breeder:...
, an Airedale
Airedale
Airedale is a geographic area in Yorkshire, England, corresponding to the river valley of the River Aire . The valley stretches from the river's origin in Malham which is in the Yorkshire Dales, down past Keighley and Bingley, through Leeds and Castleford and on to join the Humber...
breeder from LaRue, Ohio, with the sole intention of promoting his kennel. Busch left the team after the 1922 season.