Rest in Peace Cleveland Elam

Sad new that Cleveland Elam passed away. He was part of a short-lived but great defensive line in the late 70s that was nigh unstoppable. He, along with Skip Vanderbundt, Cedrick Hardman, and Tommy Hart formed the Gold Rush. A defensive line that waylaid opposing QBs at will. In 1976 he had 17.5 sacks, and was part of the Ram game that Tommy Hart recorded 6 sacks in one game. The team ended up with 10 sack that game. He had 4 strong years with the Niners and got hurt in Detroit, which cut his career short.

Other than that, I’m out of town for the weekend. Pismo Beach! Taking the dirt bikes out for fun while my wife works.

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About unca_chuck

Lifelong SF 49ers, SF Giants, and Golden State Warriors fan
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49 Responses to Rest in Peace Cleveland Elam

  1. unca_chuck's avatar unca_chuck says:

    My memory’s a bit faded as well. I thought he played DE and Hart was the LB . . . but I could be confusing him with Harper . . .

  2. Berger's avatar Berger says:

    The D-line was Hardmann and Hart at DE. Elam played DT and DE. Webb was a DT. Vanderbundt was defitely a LB, along with Wilcox and Nunley. I’m talking 1976, not sure what year you guys are musing? Two of my all time 49ers were on that defense, Wilox and Johnson.

  3. unca_chuck's avatar unca_chuck says:

    IIRC, Wilcox was retired by 76. He was bad-ass. This came up in reference to Cleveland Elam and his 4 season with the Niners. 75-78 if I ain’t mistaken.

  4. Berger's avatar Berger says:

    You might be right about Wilcox. They had some guy named Washingon who I don’t remember too well. I’ll be right back, I’m going to go look it up.

    Yep, you nailed it. Wilcox retired after the ’74 year. It was Dave Washington. I don’t remember anything about him.

  5. unca_chuck's avatar unca_chuck says:

    Jimmy Johnson was nearly done by then as well. I think his last year was 76. Seeing him play with casts on both hands, and teams still wouldn’t throw to his side was nuts. He was the best cover guy hands down.

  6. unca_chuck's avatar unca_chuck says:

    Not like Bergs likes yours, Nipper.

    • phil fan's avatar phil fan says:

      Famous quote: “What did the inventor of the cotton gin (harvester) Eli Whitney say when he was drunk?”

      Answer; “Keep yer cotton pickin’ hands off my gin!”

  7. phil fan's avatar phil fan says:

    The blog’s warming up fer another season. Blogmeister’s well rested; some of the usual suspects are coming back around.

    Here we go…

  8. unca_chuck's avatar unca_chuck says:

    New post new post new post

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