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A Look at the Only Other Time
NU and Oregon Played Against Each Other
Until
this season, the only time Northwestern has ever played Oregon in
football was back in 1974 at Dyche Stadium. Northwestern was in the
early stages of the program's Dark Ages. It was a period when the team
had little depth and even less support from the university's
administration. But the 'Cats did still have some talent and strength
remaining from Coach Agase's tenure, which had ended two season before.
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Oregon,
however, was in a much worse position in 1974. The team had not posted
a winning season since 1970 and had gone just 2-9 in 1973.
Heading into Dyche Stadium, however, the Ducks were 2-1 and hoping to
turn their fortunes around. They opened the season with a miserable,
61-7 defeat at Nebraska, but then edged out Air Force and Utah in tight
games.
Northwestern, unfortunately, began the '74 season by suffering three
straight blowout losses-- to Michigan State, Notre Dame, and...
Nebraska, which stomped the 'Cats 49 to 7. NU had come out slightly
less bruised from their run-in with the 'Huskers.
The 'Cats came into the game as favorites, and NUMB came into the game
in mourning: on Friday of that week, Glenn Bainum, NU's first full-time
director of bands died in Evanston at age 86. Ironically, the school
had put his successor, John Paynter, on the Oregon game's program cover
(shown at left).
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The
game kicked off at 1:30 pm. It wasn't televised (TV coverage for a
Wildcat nonconference game was almost unheard of in the 1970s), but was
broadcast, as usual, on WMAQ in Chicago. The 30,481 fans present got to
watch high school band day at the stadium-- any adult who bought a
seven dollar ticket received up to five free tickets for children 13
and under. The event was huge: 55 marching bands from around the area
participated.
The
Northwestern defense, which had been dismantled in the previous three
games, found its settings against Oregon and stymied the Ducks,
allowing vast rushing yards but only one touchdown for the day.
On offense, Wildcat quarterback Mitch Anderson, who had missed the
prior game because of injury, stormed back and threw two touchdown
passes, including a fourth-down toss to tight end Scott Yelvington for
a score. NU held on for a critical 14-10 win.
Photos from the 1975 NU-Oregon Game
Assoc. Press Images
"No, seriously: we're short four cheerleaders now. You're sure you don't know anything about this?"
Before he was also NU's quarterback, Randy Dean was the team's punter.
Dean punts it away.
Defensive back Doug Baske chases down the receiver.
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