1974 Oregon Ducks football team

The 1974 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Don Read, the Ducks compiled a 2–9 record (0–7 in Pac-8, last)[2] and were outscored 330 to 116. Home games were played in Eugene at Autzen Stadium.

1974 Oregon Ducks football
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Record2–9 (0–7 Pac-8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Wade (1st season)
Offensive schemeVeer[1]
Defensive coordinatorFred von Appen (1st season)
CaptainNorv Turner, Tim Slapnicka
Home stadiumAutzen Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Pacific-8 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 USC $ 6 0 1 10 1 1
Stanford 5 1 1 5 4 2
California 4 2 1 7 3 1
UCLA 4 2 1 6 3 2
Washington 3 4 0 5 6 0
Oregon State 3 4 0 3 8 0
Washington State 1 6 0 2 9 0
Oregon 0 7 0 2 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

A former head coach at Portland State, Read had been an Oregon assistant for two years (quarterbacks, receivers); he was promoted in early January, immediately after Dick Enright was fired by athletic director Norv Ritchey.[3][4][5][6]

Through 2024, this is the most recent season that Oregon football finished last in conference and is widely considered to be the worst season in program history.

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 1411:30 amat No. 7 Nebraska*L 7–6176,053
September 211:50 pmAir Force*W 27–2323,500
September 286:30 pmat Utah*W 23–1623,520
October 511:30 amat Northwestern*L 10–1427,481
October 121:30 pmat CaliforniaL 10–4037,268
October 191:30 pmNo. 6 USC
  • Autzen Stadium
  • Eugene, OR
L 7–1632,500
October 261:30 pmat WashingtonL 0–6652,500
November 21:30 pmWashington State
  • Autzen Stadium
  • Eugene, OR
L 16–2121,500
November 91:30 pmat UCLAL 0–2132,839
November 161:30 pmStanford
  • Autzen Stadium
  • Eugene, OR
L 0-1718,500
November 231:30 pmat Oregon StateL 16–3532,156
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

[7][8][9]

Roster edit

1974 Oregon Ducks football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 22 Don Reynolds Sr
QB 17 Norv Turner Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 38 Steve Donnelly Sr
DE 88 Don Johnson Jr
DE 99 George Martin Sr
FS 12 Chuck Wills Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt
Source:[10][11]

All-conference edit

One Oregon senior was named to the All-Pac-8 team; safety Steve Donnelly was a repeat selection.[12][13]

NFL Draft edit

Two Oregon seniors were selected in the draft; tight end Russ Francis (16th) and defensive end George Martin (262nd); Francis sat out the 1974 season.[14][15]

References edit

  1. ^ Newnham, Blaine (October 6, 1974). "Wildcats sneer at the veer". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  2. ^ Conrad, John (November 24, 1974). "Beavers pluck the Ducks". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1D.
  3. ^ "UO fires Dick Enright; assistant to take over". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). January 4, 1974. p. 1A.
  4. ^ "Oregon fires Enright, hires assistant". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. January 4, 1974. p. 8.
  5. ^ Cawood, Neil (January 4, 1974). "Enright sacked, shocked". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1D.
  6. ^ Newnham, Blaine (January 5, 1974). "Want to be head coach?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  7. ^ "1974 Oregon Ducks Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "1974 Football Schedule". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 Oregon Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Oregon Athletics. p. 47. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 21, 1974. p. 1B.
  11. ^ "The lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). November 23, 1974. p. 1B.
  12. ^ "Donnelley on Pac-8 squad". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 5, 1974. p. 1C.
  13. ^ "3 Cougars on Pac-8 all-stars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1974. p. 49.
  14. ^ Cawood, Neil (December 4, 1974). "Russ resurfaces". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  15. ^ "Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 26, 1975. p. 12B.

External links edit