1994 Oregon Ducks football team

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Template other Template:1994 Pacific-10 Conference football standings The 1994 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the Pacific-10 Conference during the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Ducks were led by head coach Rich Brooks, who was in his 18th and final season as head coach, and played their home games at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

Oregon was 9–3 in the regular season and won their first ever outright conference championship (7–1); they appeared in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 37 years. After the season, Rich Brooks would accept the coaching job for the recently relocated St. Louis Rams.

Two consecutive non-conference losses in September had many calling for Brooks' resignation.

Game summaries

Iowa

Iowa at Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 12 0 6 0 18 • Ducks 7 20 13 0 40 Date: September 24 Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon Game attendance: 29,287

Scoring summary 1 Oregon Whittle 6-yard run (Belden kick) Oregon 7–0 1 Iowa Sedrick Shaw 1-yard run (kick blocked) Oregon 7–6 1 Iowa Harold Jasper 68-yard punt return (kick blocked) Iowa 12–7 2 Oregon Spence 5-yard pass from O'Neil (run failed) Oregon 13–12 2 Oregon Whittle 2-yard run (Belden kick) Oregon 20–12 2 Oregon Whittle 9-yard run (Belden kick) Oregon 27–12 3 Oregon Philyaw 6-yard pass from O'Neil (Belden kick) Oregon 34–12 3 Iowa Kahl 1-yard run (pass failed) Oregon 34–18 3 Oregon Philyaw 1-yard run (pass failed) Oregon 40–18

Washington

Washington at Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total No. 9 Huskies 0 13 0 7 20 • Ducks 0 14 3 14 31 Date: October 22 Location: Autzen Stadium Game attendance: 44,134 Game weather: Sunny

Scoring summary Q2 WASH Wales 38 yard field goal WASH 3–0 Q2 ORE Philylaw 8 yard run (Belden kick) ORE 7–3 Q2 ORE Whittle 5 yard run (Belden kick) ORE 14–3 Q2 WASH Bjornson 51 yard pass from Huard (Wales kick) ORE 14–10 Q2 WASH Wales 29 yard field goal ORE 14–13 Q3 ORE Belden 45 yard field goal ORE 17–13 Q4 WASH Thomas 10 yard run (Wales kick) WASH 20–17 Q4 ORE Jones 12 yard run (Belden kick) ORE 24–20 Q4 ORE Wheaton 97 yard interception return (Belden kick) ORE 31–20

In previous matchups, Oregon had their share of disappointment: Mark Lee returned a punt 59 yards for touchdown to win the game in 1979. The defense held the #9-ranked Huskies to 109 yards and 3 first downs in 1984, but still fell 17–10. This, combined with Washington's 17–4 record against the Ducks, including a five-game win streak, had many Oregon fans fearing the worst.

In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5–1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58-game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with the Ducks clinging to a 24–20 lead late in the game. Washington quarterback Damon Huard guided the Huskies to a first down on the 9 yard line with plenty of time remaining. Huard dropped back and whipped the ball towards wide receiver Dave Janoski. Ducks freshman cornerback Kenny Wheaton stepped in front of the pass, intercepted it and headed up the sideline for a clinching touchdown, putting Oregon ahead for good 31–20. A replay of the interception—now referred to as "The Pick"—is played at every Ducks home game before the team runs onto the field.

Rose Bowl

Penn State vs. Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total • No. 2 Nittany Lions 7 7 14 10 38 No. 12 Ducks 7 0 7 6 20 Date: January 2 Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA Game attendance: 102,247 Referee: Courtney Mauzy TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese

References

Bibliography

• McCann, Michael C. (1995). Oregon Ducks Football: 100 Years of Glory. Eugene, Oregon: McCann Communications Corp. Template:ISBN.