The family legacy started in the early years of Washington State College.
Carl “Iron Man” Gustafson (1928 Phys. Ed.), known for his pluck and fighting spirit, played fullback for the Cougar varsity football team from 1925 to 1927.
Along with quarterback Butch Meeker (1928 English), the WSU Cougar mascot’s namesake, he heroically led the Cougs to a 9–6 upset victory over the University of Washington in 1926.
(Courtesy WSU Libraries)
The college’s alumni newsletter called out Gustafson’s play: “In that contest his single-handed efforts paved the way to a touchdown that eventually won for the Cougars in one of the bitterest battles in the history of either school.”
Gustafson received WSC’s coveted J. Fred Bohler medal in 1927–28 for inspiration of the football team. He also went on to inspire three more generations of Cougar football players.
“I would have loved to go back in time and see what that was like for him. This is about my family’s legacy,” says Peyton Pelluer (’17 History), great-grandson of Gustafson and standout linebacker for the Cougs under Coach Mike Leach.
Peyton’s grandfather Arnie Pelluer (’61 MS Phys. Ed.), Gustafson’s son, played end for WSU from 1953 to 1955 and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.
(Courtesy WSU Libraries)
Arnie’s son, Scott Pelluer (’82 Phys. Ed.), stepped up to the family tradition of WSU football in 1977. He played linebacker for the Cougs through 1980, finishing his college career among the all-time WSU leaders in tackles and sacks. He also received WSU’s Bohler Award like his grandfather.
Scott played six years in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. After his pro football career, he coached two stints at UW, and at Arizona, Boise State, and Northern Arizona. He also spent the 1999 football season alongside legend Bob Robertson as color analyst on Cougar radio broadcasts.
Sadly, Scott died in 2023 following a heart attack at age 64. Many former players and coaches recalled Scott’s passion and integrity.
“Scott was a tremendous person, a really good man, and a real treat to be around all the time. He was an excellent captain for the Cougs,” Jim Walden, WSU head coach from 1978 to 1986, told Cougfan.com in 2023.
Scott left many other Coug connections. Scott’s wife Kimberly (x’80 Ed.), mother Jodee (’57 Phys. Ed.), and uncle Rich Gustafson (’63, ’68 MA Phys. Ed.) all went to WSU.
Scott wore the number 47 at WSU, another tradition he passed to son Peyton.
In 2016, Scott told Cougfan.com: “You couldn’t draw it up any better, I feel really fortunate as a father that Peyton is wearing my number [47] … I couldn’t be more proud of him, with how conscientious and passionate Peyton is about the game. That’s all you ask for as a dad.”
Peyton joined the WSU football squad in 2014, where he shone as both a player and a team leader.
He played a program-record 54 games under Leach, earned Defensive MVP honors at the 2018 Alamo Bowl, and received All-Pac-12 Conference selection three times and Pac-12 All-Academic selection five times.
Peyton was WSU’s tackling leader in a thrilling 9–4 season in 2015 and then repeated as top tackler in 2016. He is WSU’s fifth-best career tackler.
“We believed in Leach’s vision and we really embraced the brotherhood. We embraced the fact that, hey, this is on us to turn this place around,” Peyton says.
Peyton was a team leader as well, tutoring linebackers while nursing an injury and helping support the team in the aftermath of quarterback Tyler Hilinski’s tragic death by suicide.
Beyond WSU, Peyton’s brothers, Tyler and Cooper, also played college football. “We’re a sports family and believed in the benefits of playing sports,” Peyton says. “From an early age, we were instilled with values and attributes that it takes to be a great teammate.”
After college, Peyton had coaching stints at the University of Southern California and Mississippi State University. Peyton left college sports in 2024 to coach football and teach special education at his high school alma mater, Skyline High School in Sammamish.
“I come from a family of educators,” Peyton says. “High school is just a lot more pure than college sports. And I’ve got my teaching, so all my cups are filled.”