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

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
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[7]
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

[8][9][10]

Roster

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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:[11][12]

All-conference

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One Oregon senior was named to the All-Pac-8 team; safety Steve Donnelly was a repeat selection.[13][14]

NFL draft

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Two Oregon seniors were selected in the 1975 NFL draft: tight end Russ Francis (16th) and defensive end George Martin (262nd); Francis sat out the 1974 season.[15][16]

References

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  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. ^ "Oregon rallies past Utah". The Arizona Republic. September 29, 1974. Retrieved October 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1974 Oregon Ducks Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "1974 Football Schedule". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 Oregon Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Oregon Athletics. p. 47. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 21, 1974. p. 1B.
  12. ^ "The lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). November 23, 1974. p. 1B.
  13. ^ "Donnelley on Pac-8 squad". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 5, 1974. p. 1C.
  14. ^ "3 Cougars on Pac-8 all-stars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1974. p. 49.
  15. ^ Cawood, Neil (December 4, 1974). "Russ resurfaces". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  16. ^ "Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 26, 1975. p. 12B.
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