Steve Preece

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steven Packer Preece (born February 15, 1947 in Boise, Idaho) is a former NFL cornerback who played for 9 seasons, from 1969-1977.

Steve Preece grew up in Boise, and played football at Borah High School for legendary coach Ed Troxel. After graduating in 1965, Preece accepted an athletic scholarship to Oregon State. He was recruited by linebackers coach Ed Knecht, who had previously been the head coach at Boise High, Borah's rival, 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 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."

After the graduation of Paul Brothers following the 1966 season, Preece became the starting quarterback for OSU. As a two-year starter from 1967-68, he compiled a 14-5-1 record (.725). 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, the Trojans won 17-13 in 1968 in Los Angeles.

The 1967 Oregon State 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 and #2 Purdue on the road, and tied #2 UCLA in Los Angeles. They also beat the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road. But a mid-season lapse of back-to-back losses to unranked teams; the Washington Huskies in Seattle and BYU Cougars in Corvallis severely damaged the Beavers' Rose Bowl chances and national ranking. Although OSU defeated USC, the Beavers wound up behind in the conference standings with a loss and a tie, 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, as there were limited opportunities in this era.

The 1968 Oregon State team would go 7-3, and finish #15 in the nation.

Steve Preece signed an NFL contract with the New Orleans Saints in 1969, not as a quarterback but as a defensive back. 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 he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he would play for four seasons. He played his last season in 1977 for the Seattle Seahawks before retiring.

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