Terrell Brandon
All photos are property of University of Oregon Department of Media Services
Steve Prefontaine
The most famous athlete in University of Oregon history, Steve Prefontaine is known as much for his
Born and raised in Coos Bay, Prefontaine starred at Marshfield High School, where he was undefeated in both cross country and track as a junior and senior.
Pre won seven NCAA titles in cross country and track. His success brought the popularity of Duck track to new heights, and he even made the cover of Sports Illustrated (6/15/70). By the time he graduated with a degree in communications, he had set nine collegiate track records.
One of Pre's greatest accomplishments was that he owned all eight American records between 2,000 and 8,000 meters and between two miles and six miles.
Perhaps the biggest criticism of Pre's career is that he never won an Olympic medal. However, he nearly did so in the 5,000 meters (finishing fourth) and at 21 years of age was two years younger than anyone else in the field. If Pre lived to see another Olympics, there is a good chance he would have gotten at least one medal.
But a fatal car accident near Hendricks Park in Eugene cut short Pre's life in 1975, and left people wondering what could have been. He was 24 years old.
Today we can still see signs of Pre near the campus of the University of Oregon. In adjacent Alton Baker Park, there is Pre's Trail, which gave form to Pre's dream of a running trail in Eugene like the ones he loved in Europe. In Hendricks Park, there is a shrine to Pre at the spot where he crashed his car. Earlier this year at Marshfield High School the track was named Steve Prefontaine Track in honor of the school's most famous athlete.
When talking of Duck athletes, there is Pre and then there is everyone else.
Not surprisingly, Pre was a member of the first class of the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Norm Van Brocklin
Known as "the Dutchman," Norm Van Brocklin was the University of Oregon's first All-American quarterback. He led Oregon to a 16-5 record as a starter, including a Pacific Coast Conference title in 1948. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1949 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and went on to have a superb 12-year professional career for the Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. He led the NFL in passing on three occasions and punting twice. After his playing career was over, he got into coaching. He was the first head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and later coached the Atlanta Falcons. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. He died in 1983. Van Brocklin was a member of the first class of the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Bev Smith
Bev Smith is one of the greatest female athletes ever to compete for the University of Oregon. During her basketball career at Oregon (1978-1982), the 6'1" Smith was named an All-American forward twice. After her collegiate eligibility was up, she went on to play for more than a decade in Italy, where she was a perennial participant in the All-Star Game. A Canadian, Smith also played many years for her country's national team, including in 1984, when Canada finished fourth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She is considered one of Canada's greatest basketball players. Smith later was head women's basketball coach at the University of British Columbia and went on to coach the Canadian National Team. Smith was a member of the first class inducted into the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. This year she begins her first year as head coach of Oregon's women's basketball team.
Alberto Salazar and Rudy Chapa
Alberto Salazar (left) and Rudy Chapa were two of the greatest runners in UO history
Alberto Salazar and Rudy Chapa were two of the top long-distance runners in the history of University of Oregon athletics. Both began their University of Oregon track and cross country careers in the fall of 1976, not long after the death of Steve Prefontaine. They combined to accumulate four American records, two NCAA individual championships and two U.S. Olympic team berths in their careers. Salazar won the NCAA cross country title in 1978 and later established American records in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and the marathon. He won the New York City marathon three times and the Boston Marathon. Chapa was a cross country All-American every year of his Duck career. He was the 1978 NCAA champion in the 5,000 meters and set the American record in the 3,000 meters in 1979. The pair led the Ducks to the NCAA cross country team title in 1977. Earlier this year, they were honored with the Leo Harris Award, which is given to former Duck athletes on the basis of 20 years of achievement and service since graduation. Salazar was inducted into the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, and Chapa followed five years later.
Dan Fouts
The University of Oregon football team was not very good in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but it had an outstanding player in Dan Fouts. The star quarterback set 19 school records during his tenure, but the squad was only 15-17-1 during his career. Fouts totaled 5,995 passing yards and 37 touchdown passes as a Duck, and this was a player that no other team wanted out of high school. Fouts was in much higher demand when he came out of college. He was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, a team he would stay with for his entire 15-year NFL career. He became only the third NFL player ever to pass for more than 40,000 yards, finishing with 43,040, and threw 254 touchdown passes. He was the AFC player of the year in both 1979 and 1982, while leading one of the best offenses in NFL history. He was enshrined in the first class of the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame came the following year. He currently works as a commentator for ABC's Monday Night Football.
Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon is one of the best basketball players to ever come out of Oregon. The 5'11" point guard set several school records during his Duck career, including the scoring record for a season, field goals in a season and free throws made in a season, which were all achieved in his fantastic 1990-91 season. He also holds the Oregon record for the highest career scoring average. He left Oregon after his junior season and was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He later played for the Milwaukee Bucks and currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has averaged 13.9 points 6 assists and 3 rebounds per game in his 12-year NBA career. Just 31 years-old, Brandon appears to have several more seasons to go. Brandon is a member of the 2001 class of the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
