Steve Preece

Last updated
Steve Preece
No. 33, 23, 20
Position: Defensive back
Personal information
Born: (1947-02-15) February 15, 1947 (age 75)
Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S. [1]
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Borah (Boise, Idaho)
College: Oregon State
Undrafted: 1969
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Steven Packer Preece (born February 15, 1947) is a former professional football player, a defensive back in the NFL for nine seasons, from 1969 to 1977. He played his college football at Oregon State, where he was a successful option quarterback.

Contents

Early life

Born in Idaho Falls, Preece grew up in Boise and played high school football at Borah [2] for coach Ed Troxel, also his coach in track. At the talent-rich program, Preece had to wait his turn to play. Opened in 1958, Borah had won or tied for the conference title and mythical state title (writers' poll) in each of its first six years. [3]

Preece became the Lions' starting quarterback during his senior year in the fall of 1964. [4] The Borah Lions were undefeated entering the final game against rival Boise on Veterans Day, [5] but allowed the Braves to overcome a ten-point deficit in the second half to gain their first win in seven tries over Borah, and the Lions had to settle for second place for the first time in the conference and final state poll. [6] [7]

In March 1965, Preece helped lead the Lions to their first state title in basketball, winning the A-1 (largest schools) state tournament in Pocatello, defeating Twin Falls in the final to finish the season with a 24–1 record. [8] [9]

College career

After graduating in 1965, Preece accepted a scholarship to Oregon State, recruited by linebackers coach Ed Knecht. Knecht had previously been the head coach at rival Boise High, and had connections in southwestern Idaho. Preece had great speed (10.0 in the 100 yard dash), and a good arm, a great fit for the option offense. Knecht had received a phone call warning him that a rival school was attempting to steal Preece away from the Beavers, so he promptly called new head coach Dee Andros with the news, to which Andros responded, "Get the $@%! over there. And if you don't get him, don't bother to come back." [10] (Andros was previously the head coach at the University of Idaho. Knecht was a former assistant coach at Idaho and a future athletic director (1969–74). [11]

As a sophomore in 1966, Preece split time as the starting quarterback with senior Paul Brothers. [12] [13] After Brothers' graduation, Preece was the starter for the 1967 and 1968 seasons, and the Beavers compiled a 14–5–1 (.725) record. Included in this success was a win and a tie against UCLA, and a split with USC and O. J. Simpson. The Beavers won 3–0 in 1967, [14] the Trojans won 17–13 in 1968 in Los Angeles.

The 1967 OSU football team finished with a record of 7–2–1 and a #7 ranking in the AP national poll. OSU defeated previous #1 USC in Corvallis, [14] and #2 Purdue on the road, [15] and tied #2 UCLA in Los Angeles, [16] earning them the title of "The Giant Killers." OSU also beat the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, but a mid-season lapse of consecutive losses to unranked teams severely damaged the Beavers' Rose Bowl chances and national ranking. OSU lost to the Washington Huskies in Seattle, [17] and BYU Cougars in Corvallis. [18] Although OSU defeated USC, the Beavers wound up behind in the Pac-8 conference standings with a loss and a tie. Conference champion USC defeated Indiana 14–3 in the Rose Bowl and was crowned national champion for the 1967 season. Oregon State did not play in a bowl game, due to conference rules; the Pac-8 (and Big Ten) did not allow a second bowl team until the 1975 season. They were seventh in the final AP Poll, released in December. [19]

Oregon State went 7–3 in 1968 and finished #15 in the nation in the final AP Poll, released in January. [20]

Professional career

Undrafted, Preece signed a free agent NFL contract with the New Orleans Saints in 1969, not as a quarterback but as a defensive back. [21] He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1970 season, staying through 1971, and playing one game for them in 1972 before being traded to the Denver Broncos. In 1973, Preece was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he played for four seasons, the last two as a back-up, the only time in his career. He played his last season in 1977 as a starter for the Seattle Seahawks, and had four interceptions. Following off-season surgery on his left knee, Preece announced his retirement in July 1978. [2] As a professional, Preece played a role similar to Nolan Cromwell, a defensive back who held for place kicks and was available to play quarterback in an emergency; both had been option quarterbacks in college.

After football

Preece is in the real estate business in Portland and regularly provides color commentary for the Oregon State football broadcasts.

Related Research Articles

Borah High School Public school in Boise, Idaho, U.S.

Borah High School is a three-year public secondary school in Boise, Idaho, one of four traditional high schools in the Boise School District. It serves students in grades 10–12 in the southwest portion of the district. It is named after William Borah(1865–1940), a prominent U.S. Senator and a presidential candidate in 1936.

Dennis Erickson American football coach (born 1947)

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Craig Fertig was an American football player and coach. He was the head football coach at Oregon State University from 1976 to 1979, compiling a record of 10–34–1 (.233) in four seasons.

Edward Ross Troxel was a high school and college football coach in Colorado, Idaho, and eastern Washington. His most notable coaching stops were at Borah High School in Boise, the University of Idaho in Moscow, and Kennewick High School.

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The 1967 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. The Beavers ended this season with seven wins, two losses, and a tie, and outscored their opponents 187 to 137. Led by third-year head coach Dee Andros, Oregon State finished with 7–2–1 record, 4–1–1 in the Athletic Association of Western Universities tied for runner-up for a second consecutive year.

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The 1968 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Home games were played on campus in Corvallis at Parker Stadium, with one at Civic Stadium in Portland.

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The 1963 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Dee Andros and were an independent in the NCAA's University Division. Three home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

The 1964 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Dee Andros and were an independent in the NCAA's University Division. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

The 1974 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Ed Troxel and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at new Idaho Stadium, an unlit outdoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1956 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1956 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Skip Stahley and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College. Idaho compiled a 4–5 overall record but were 0–4 in the PCC. After four losses to open, the Vandals won three straight, then split the final two games.

The 1965 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Steve Musseau and played in the Big Sky Conference for the first time; they played the previous six seasons as an independent in the NCAA University Division. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

The 1966 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Steve Musseau and played a second season in the Big Sky Conference, but remained in the NCAA University Division. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

The 1967 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1967 NCAA College Division football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Steve Musseau and played a third season in the Big Sky Conference. Two home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with another in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College. The Vandals were 4–6 overall and 2–2 in conference play.

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Preece". NFL.com. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Preece calls it quits". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. July 12, 1978. p. 2B.
  3. ↑ "Borah ends Boise dream; Cady stars". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 11, 1963. p. 14.
  4. ↑ "Gridders to meet Twin". The Senator. (Boise, Idaho). Borah High School. October 9, 1964. p. 4.
  5. ↑ Dumas, Diana (November 10, 1964). "Lions, Braves to clash". The Senator. (Boise, Idaho). Borah High School. p. 2.
  6. ↑ "Boise rally stuns Borah". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 13, 1964. p. 16.
  7. ↑ "Boise grabs Idaho crown in last poll". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 14, 1964. p. 8.
  8. ↑ "Hoop scores". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 15, 1965. p. 16.
  9. ↑ "Lions bring home state trophy". The Senator. (Boise, Idaho). Borah High School. March 19, 1965. p. 4.
  10. ↑ "Season of the Giant Killers". beaverblitz.com. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  11. ↑ Go Vandals.com Archived 2015-03-21 at the Wayback Machine – Ed Knecht – accessed 2012-03-09
  12. ↑ "Beavers win 3rd straight". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 30, 1966. p. 1B.
  13. ↑ Uhrhammer, Jerry (October 21, 1966). "Soph QB's the vogue". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 2B.
  14. 1 2 "Beavers upset Trojans 3-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 12, 1967. p. 1, sports.
  15. ↑ "Beavers rock Purdue, 22-14". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 22, 1967. p. 1B.
  16. ↑ "UCLA tied by Oregon State 16-16". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. November 5, 1967. p. D3.
  17. ↑ "Beaver fumbles aid Husky win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. October 9, 1967. p. 13.
  18. ↑ Cawood, Neil (October 15, 1967). "BYU rips Beavers, 31-13". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  19. ↑ Schuyler, Ed Jr. (November 28, 1967). "Trojans No. 1 in AP final voting of writers". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 18.
  20. ↑ "Ohio State ranked first in AP Poll, USC fourth". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 4, 1969. p. 57.
  21. ↑ "Preece moves to defense". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 21, 1969. p. 13.
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