The Ducks had high hopes coming off of a 12–1 (8–1) season a victory in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl; many considered them a contender for the BCS national championship game the following year.[1] However, these hopes were thrown into question shortly after their Fiesta Bowl victory, on January 16, 2013. Head coach Chip Kelly announced that he had agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles to become their new head coach after several disappointing seasons under Andy Reid; Kelly brought Oregon defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro along with him to Philadelphia.[2][3]
As they have done in every case of hiring a new head coach since 1995, the Ducks hired from within and promoted fourth-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Helfrich to the head coach position. Along with the head coach change, wide receivers coach Scott Frost was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and Duke wide receivers coach Matt Lubick and Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Ron Aiken were hired to fill their respective positions on Oregon's staff.[4][5][6]
Oregon started the season ranked[7] third behind Ohio State and Alabama, and rose to second after their first game, a 66–3 win over Nicholls State in Week 1. They continued their winning ways, posting double-digit wins over Virginia, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Washington, Washington State and UCLA, and eventually found themselves in a duel with Florida State over the number 2 spot in the BCS poll, with Alabama at number 1. The wheels came off though,[clarification needed] as they did the year previously, against Stanford, losing 26–20 on the road. The Ducks would rebound with a home win over Utah, but lose again at home to Arizona, the Ducks’ first loss to an unranked foe since 2009.
Sitting at 9–2 (7–2) and out of the BCS bowl picture for the first time in four years, Oregon had the Civil War left to play. Both Oregon and Oregon State were coming off of losses and had no major spoils to play for. Oregon came from behind in a back-and-forth fourth quarter and scored a touchdown (and failed to convert the two-point attempt) with 29 seconds left to win, 36–35.
Finishing the regular season at 10–2 (7–2) Oregon had extended winning streaks in two major rivalries, making it 10 years in a row against Washington, and six years in a row against Oregon State, as well as achieving a sixth consecutive 10-win season and an undefeated season at home for the first time in three years.
On December 8, 2013, the Ducks were invited to play in the Alamo Bowl against Texas in what would be Texas head coach Mack Brown and Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti's last games before retiring. Oregon won the Alamo bowl 30–7, tying a school record set from 1999 to 2001 for consecutive bowl wins at three, with rookie head coach Mark Helfrich becoming the first Oregon head coach to go to and win a bowl game in his rookie year (Rich Brooks won his first bowl game, after 12 years as head coach at Oregon, Mike Belloti and Chip Kelly each went to and lost a bowl game in their first years). Oregon finished the season at 11–2, only their fifth season with 11 or more wins in 118 years of football.[8][9][10][11]
Marcus Mariota prepares to take a snap in the 2013 Oregon Spring Game
On April 27, 2013 the Oregon Ducks capped off their spring football practices with the traditional Spring Football Game, open to the public held at Autzen Stadium. As has been the practice for many years, in order to gain admission to the game each fan must donate at least three non-perishable food items to Food for Lane County on their way in the stadium. Following a record donation year in 2012, Oregon fans again donated over 70,000 pounds of food to the charity.[29][30]
Donating food is not the only non-football activity for a good cause that is associated with the Oregon Spring Game, the game is played in honor of the United States Armed Forces and specifically the several reserve and guard units stationed close to Eugene. The football players will wear special made Nike uniforms that have "Support Our Troops" on the back where the player's last name is usually found, along with American Flags on the sleeves. During half-time a group of Marine Corps enlistees took the oath of enlistment on the field. Following the game the players line up on the north sideline, with an equal number of service-members from each branch of the military lining up on the south sideline. The two groups meet in the middle of the field where the players then remove their jersey and give it to a service-member, the service-member in turns presents the football player with a challenge coin.[31] The tradition of the Spring Game being dedicated to supporting the military is part of the legacy of former head coach Chip Kelly, following the funeral of a local soldier in 2010, which he attended.[32]
The 2013 iteration of the game was the first under new head coach Mark Helfrich and it also implemented a new scoring system for the first time in several years. Traditionally the offensive and defensive coordinators act as head coaches of two different teams, which are selected via a draft, the two teams then face off in a normally scored exhibition game. Due to a rash of injuries on both sides of the ball the format was tweaked so that it was simply the offense versus the defense, with a modified points system. The offense would score normally, with six points for touchdowns with the opportunity for point after attempts, and three points for field goals. The defense would follow normal rules for touchdowns as well, but would also gain three points for turnovers and one point every time that they kept the offense from scoring.[33] The points system led to a lopsided victory by the offense, 65–0.
Referee: Jack Wood • Umpire: Ro Meisenheimer • Linesman: Mark Duddy • Line judge: Jeff Robinson • Back judge: John Jenkins • Field judge: John Morton • Side judge: Shane Anderson
Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind S 6 mph (9.7 km/h) • Weather: Mostly sunny
Game attendance: 58,502
Referee: Shawn Hochuli • Umpire: Tim Schroeder • Linesman: Jim Wharrie • Line judge: Darryl Johnson • Back judge: James Settle • Field judge: Mike McCabe • Side judge: Brad Judge
Referee: Land Clark • Umpire: Matt Jordan • Linesman: Bart Longson • Line judge: Rich Troyer • Back judge: Chris Coyte • Field judge: Mich Mothershed • Side judge: Bernie Hulscher
Game weather: Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind S 25 mph (40 km/h) • Weather: Rain
Game attendance: 56,987
Referee: Jack Folliard • Umpire: Douglas Wilson • Linesman: Dan Antonietti • Line judge: Steven Kovac • Back judge: Steve Steichen • Field judge: Kevin Kieser • Side judge: Mearl Robinson
ORE – Bralon Addision 75-yard punt return (Wogan kick)
CAL – Vincenzo D'Amato 46-yard field goal
Third quarter
ORE – Addison 67-yard punt return (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Thomas Tyner 21-yard run (Wogan kick)
CAL – Jeffrey Coprich 1-yard run (D'Amato kick)
Fourth quarter
CAL – James Grisom 7-yard pass from Zach Kline (PAT failed)
California leads the series with Oregon 39–34–2 (.533). The series began in 1899 at California, California 12, Oregon 0. The last meeting was the 2012 game at California, Oregon 59, California 17.
Referee: Michael Batlan • Umpire: Rick DiBernardo • Linesman: Edwin Walker • Line judge: Tim Messuri • Back judge: Joe Johnston • Field judge: Jeffrey Yock • Side judge: Mike Weselch
ORE – Marcus Mariota 2-yard run (Pharoah Brown run for two-point conversion)
COLO – D.D. Goodson 75-yard pass from Paul Richardson (Oliver kick)
ORE – Thomas Tyner 2-yard run (Alejandro Maldonado kick)
ORE – Bralon Addison 75-yard pass from Mariota (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Keanon Lowe 17-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Second quarter
COLO – Oliver 22-yard field goal
COL – Oliver 31-yard field goal
ORE – Mariota 1-yard run (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Josh Huff 4-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Third quarter
ORE – Addison 44-yard pass from Mariota (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Huff 26-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Oregon leads the series with Colorado 9–8 (.529). The series began in 1949 at Oregon, Oregon 42, Colorado 14. The last meeting was the 2012 game at Oregon, Oregon 70, Colorado 14.
Game weather: Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind N 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 71,833
Referee: Jack Wood • Umpire: Ro Meisenheimer • Linesman: Mark Duddy • Line judge: Jeff Robinson • Back judge: John Jenkins • Field judge: John Morton • Side judge: Shane Anderson
ORE – Byron Marshall 1-yard run (Alejandro Maldonado kick)
WASH – Austin Seferian-Jenkins 8-yard pass from Keith Price (Travis Coons kick)
Second quarter
ORE – Bralon Addison 4-yard pass from Marcus Mariota (Matt Wogan kick)
ORE – Marshall 15-yard run (Maldonado kick)
Third quarter
WASH – Bishop Sankey 60-yard run (Coons kick)
ORE – Josh Huff 65-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
WASH – Coons 30-yard field goal
ORE – Maldonado 34-yard field goal
WASH – Sankey 25-yard run (Coons kick)
Fourth quarter
ORE – Mariota 5-yard run (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Addison 3-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Washington leads the series with Oregon 58–43–5 (.571). The series began in 1900 at Oregon, Oregon 43, Washington 0; the last meeting was the 2012 game at Washington, Oregon 52, Washington 21.
Winning this game continued the Duck's streak of wins over their Northwest Rivals to 10 consecutive years, winning in each of those years by at least 17 points. It is the longest win streak by either team in the rivalry.
Game weather: Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind N 3 mph (4.8 km/h) • Weather: Clear
Game attendance: 56,949
Referee: Jay Stricherz • Umpire: Matt Richards • Linesman: Cappy Anderson• Line judge: Randy Campbell • Back judge: Brad Robinson • Field judge: Mike McCabe • Side judge: Clay Reynard
WSU – Gabe Marks 8-yard pass from Halliday (Furney kick)
WSU – Bobby Ratliff 3-yard pass from Halliday (Furney kick)
Oregon leads the series with Washington State 47–36–7 (.561). The series began in 1901 at Washington State, Washington State 16, Oregon 0; the last meeting was the 2012 game at Washington State, Oregon 51, Washington State 26.
Game weather: Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind N 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 59,206
Referee: Land Clark • Umpire: Matt Jordan • Linesman: Bart Longson • Line judge: Rich Troyer • Back judge: Chris Coyte • Field judge: Mich Mothershed • Side judge: Bernie Hulscher
UCLA – Brett Hundley 4-yard run (Ka'imi Fairbairn kick)
ORE – De'Anthony Thomas 1-yard run (Alejandro Maldonado kick)
Second quarter
ORE – Byron Marshall 40-yard run (Matt Wogan kick)
UCLA – Thomas Duarte 11-yard pass from Brett Hundley (Fairbairn kick)
Third quarter
ORE – Marshall 11-yard run (Maldonado kick)
Fourth quarter
ORE – Bralon Addison 8-yard pass from Marcus Mariota (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Marshall 3-yard run (Maldonado kick)
ORE – Thomas Tyner 2-yard run (Wogan kick)
UCLA leads the series with Oregon 39–26 (.600). The series began in 1928 at UCLA, Oregon 26, UCLA 6; the last meeting was the 2011 Pac-12 Championship game at Oregon, Oregon 49, UCLA 31.
Referee: Jay Stricherz • Umpire: Matt Richards • Linesman: Cappy Anderson• Line judge: Randy Campbell • Back judge: Brad Robinson • Field judge: Mike McCabe • Side judge: Clay Reynard
ORE – Pharaoh Brown 12-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Stanford leads the series with Oregon 45–30–1 (.599). The series began in 1900 at Stanford, Stanford 34, Oregon 0; the last meeting was the 2012 game at Oregon, Stanford 17, Oregon 14 (OT).
Game weather: Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind W 10 mph (16 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 56,481
Referee: Shawn Hochuli • Umpire: Tim Schroeder • Linesman: Jim Wharrie • Line judge: Darryl Johnson • Back judge: James Settle • Field judge: Mike McCabe • Side judge: Brad Judge
ORE – De'Anthony Thomas 8-yard pass from Marcus Mariota (Matt Wogan kick)
ORE – Wogan 31-yard field goal
Second quarter
UTAH – Jake Murphy 34-yard pass from Adam Schulz (Andy Phillips kick)
ORE – Josh Huff 5-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
Third quarter
UTAH – Schulz 4-yard run (Phillips kick)
ORE – Thomas 86-yard kick return (Wogan kick missed)
ORE – John Mundt 14-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
ORE – Byron Marshall 17-yard run (Wogan kick)
Fourth quarter
ORE – Marshall 16-yard run (Wogan kick)
UTAH – Bubba Poole 10-yard run (Phillips kick)
Oregon leads the series with Utah 18–8 (.692). The series began in 1933 at Oregon, Oregon 23, Utah 7. The last meeting was the 2009 game at Oregon, Oregon 31, Utah 24.
Following Oregon's win against Utah, in other Pac-12 play, the USC Trojans beat the Stanford Cardinal in Los Angeles, thereby putting Oregon back into first place in the Pac-12 North Division.
Game weather: Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind ENE 12 mph (19 km/h) • Weather: Overcast, rain
Game attendance: 45,777
Referee: Land Clark • Umpire: Matt Jordan • Linesman: Bart Longson • Line judge: Rich Troyer • Back judge: Chris Coyte • Field judge: Mich Mothershed • Side judge: Bernie Hulscher
ARI – Nate Phillips 9-yard pass from B.J. Denker (Smith kick)
ORE – Matt Wogan 33-yard field goal
Second quarter
ARI – Terrence Miller 5-yard pass from Denker (Smith kick)
ORE – Pharoah Brown 1-yard pass from Marcus Mariota (2-point conversion attempt failed)
ARI – Carey 1-yard run (Smith kick)
Third quarter
ARI – Carey 9-yard run (Smith kick)
Fourth quarter
ORE – Josh Huff 2-yard pass from Mariota (Wogan kick)
ARI – Carey 1-yard run
Oregon leads the series with Arizona 24–14 (.632). The series began in 1937 at Arizona, Arizona 20, Oregon 6. The last meeting was the 2012 game at Oregon, Oregon 49, Arizona 0.
In this game, Oregon starting quarterback Marcus Mariota ended his streak of consecutive passes thrown without an interception at 353 consecutive passes, dating back to the 2012 Stanford game. In total he threw two interceptions against Arizona, the first on the first offensive play of the game and the second late in the fourth quarter.
Top passers
ORE – Marcus Mariota, 27–41, 308 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
ARI – B.J. Denker, 19–22, 178 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
ORE – De'Anthony Thomas, 16 attempts, 83 yards
ARI – Ka'Deem Carey, 48 attempts, 206 yards, 4 TD
Top receiving
ORE – De'Anthony Thomas 6 receptions, 74 yards
ARI – Terrence Miller, 9 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Game weather: Temperature: 47 °F (8 °C) • Wind NE 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 58,330
Referee: Jack Folliard • Umpire: Douglas Wilson • Linesman: Dan Antonietti • Line judge: Steven Kovac • Back judge: Steve Steichen • Field judge: Kevin Kieser • Side judge: Mearl Robinson
Oregon leads the Civil War series with Oregon State 60–46–10 (.560). The series began in 1894 at Oregon Agricultural College,[50] OAC 16, Oregon 0. The last meeting was the 2012 game at Oregon State, Oregon 48, Oregon State 24.[51]
Prior to this game, Oregon has won the Civil War for 5 consecutive years, the streak of 5 wins is tied with the 1949–1953 Beavers for 2nd longest win streak by either team in the series. The longest win streak in the series by either team is also a tie, at 8 years, between the 1975–1982 Ducks and the 1964–1971 Beavers, respectively. The longest streak without a loss by either team is 13 years by Oregon from 1975 to 1987, with 1983 being a 0–0 tie.
With this win Oregon has achieved at least 10 wins for six consecutive years.
Top passers
OSU – Sean Mannion, 29–47, 314 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
ORE – Marcus Mariota, 17–34, 285 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Referee: Dennis Hennigan (ACC) • Umpire: Jim Hyson • Linesman: Matt Fitzgerald • Line judge: Deon Lawerence • Back judge: Barry Hendon • Field judge: Bill Dolbow • Side judge: Mike Safrit
Texas leads the series with Oregon 4–1 (.800). The series began in 1941 at Texas, Texas 71, Oregon 7. The last meeting was the 2000 Holiday Bowl, Oregon 35, Texas 30.[52]
October 6, 2013 – Colt Lyerla, the starting tight end at the beginning of the season, quits the team "for his own benefit".[54]
October 19, 2013 – Following a 62–38 win over Washington State, in which Washington State attempted an NCAA record 89 passes, Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti, during his post-game talk with the press, said the following:
"That's total (B.S.) that he threw the ball at the end of the game like he did, and you can print that and you can send it to him, and he can comment, too. I think it's low class and it's (B.S.) to throw the ball when the game is completely over against our kids that are basically our scout team."[55]
October 20, 2013 – Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti publicly apologizes for his comments regarding Washington State made the previous evening.[56]
October 21, 2013 – The Pac-12 Conference reprimands Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti and fines him $5,000 for comments made about Washington State on October 19.[56]
October 23, 2013 – Colt Lyerla is arrested for possession of cocaine and interfering with a police officer.[57]
December 3, 2013 – Starting quarterback Marcus Mariota (RSo.) and starting center Hroniss Grasu (Jr.) announce that they will bypass the NFL draft and return for the 2014 season.[58]
December 7, 2013 – Starting defensive end Tony Washington (Jr.) and starting linebacker Derrick Malone (Jr.) announce that they will bypass the NFL Draft and return for the 2014 season.
December 10, 2013 – Starting tight end Pharoah Brown is suspended for the Alamo Bowl due to his role in a campus snowball fight on December 6 that got out of hand.[59]
December 13, 2013 – Defensive back Troy Hill is suspended from all football-related activities after being arrested for fourth-degree assault, menacing and strangulation.[60]
December 16, 2013 – Troy Hill is arraigned on lesser charges of menacing and criminal mischief; he enters a plea of not guilty.[61]
December 27, 2013 – Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti announces that he will retire following the Alamo Bowl. Aliotti played the running back position at UC Davis from 1972 to 1976; in 1978 he got his first coaching job as a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon under coach Rich Brooks. From 1980 to 1983, he was the running backs coach at Oregon State under coach Joe Avezzano. He then took a coaching job under future Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Chico State from 1984 to 1987. He followed Bellotti to Oregon in 1988, coaching outside linebackers from 1988 to 1992 and rising to the defensive coordinator's job from 1993 to 1994. Following the 1994 Rose Bowl Season, he followed Oregon head coach Rich Brooks to the NFL, coaching special teams for him with the St. Louis Rams from 1995 to 1997. After Brooks left the Rams, Aliotti returned to college coaching, as the defensive coordinator for UCLA in 1998. In 1999, Bellotti lured Aliotti back to Oregon, where he has coached as the defensive coordinator ever since.[62]
January 3, 2014 – Starting cornerback Terrance Mitchell (Jr.) announces that he is forgoing his senior year and declaring early eligibility for the NFL Draft.[63]
January 5, 2014 – Starting running back De'Anthony Thomas (Jr.) announces that he will forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft.[64]
January 6, 2014 – Starting cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Jr.) announces that he will bypass the NFL Draft and return to Oregon for his senior season.[65]
^Oregon State University began as Oregon Agricultural College, it was renamed in 1927 to Oregon State Agricultural College and again in 1937 to Oregon State College. It was finally renamed in 1961 to Oregon State University
