Steve Preece

{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Steve Preece | number = 33, 23, 20 | position = Defensive back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|02|15}} | birth_place = Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S.<ref name=nflpreece>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/stevepreece/2523490/profile|work=NFL.com|title=Steve Preece|access-date=September 20, 2012}}</ref> | death_date =  | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 195 | high_school = Borah (Boise, Idaho) | college = Oregon State (1965-1968) | undraftedyear = 1969 | pastteams = * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1969}}) * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1970|1972}}) * Denver Broncos (1972) * Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1973|1976}}) * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1977}}) | highlights = * 2× Second-team All-Pac-8 (1967, 1968) | statlabel1 = Interceptions | statvalue1 = 14 | statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue2 = 13 | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = 3 | pfr = PreeSt20 }}

'''Steven Packer Preece''' (born February 15, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 1977. He played college football as an option quarterback for the Oregon State Beavers.

==Early life== Born in Idaho Falls, Preece grew up in Boise and played high school football at Borah<ref name=pciqu>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uL5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2733%2C3322661 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Preece calls it quits |agency=Associated Press |date=July 12, 1978 |page=2B}}</ref> for coach Ed Troxel, also his coach in track. At the talent-rich program, Preece had to wait his turn to play. Opened in 1958, Borah had won or tied for the conference title and mythical state title (writers' poll) in each of its first six years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=odxXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5766%2C3790931 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Borah ends Boise dream; Cady stars |date=November 11, 1963 |page=14}}</ref>

Preece became the Lions' starting quarterback during his senior year in the fall of 1964.<ref name=gtmtwf>{{cite news |url=http://bsn.stparchive.com/Archive/BSN/BSN10091964p04.php |newspaper=The Senator |location=Boise, Idaho |agency=Borah High School |title=Gridders to meet Twin |date=October 9, 1964 |page=4}}</ref> The Borah Lions were undefeated entering the final game against rival Boise on Veterans Day,<ref name=lbtclsh>{{cite news |url=http://bsn.stparchive.com/Archive/BSN/BSN11101964p02.php|newspaper=The Senator |location=Boise, Idaho |agency=Borah High School |last=Dumas |first=Diana |title=Lions, Braves to clash |date=November 10, 1964 |page=2}}</ref> but allowed the Braves to overcome a ten-point deficit in the second half to gain their first win in seven tries over Borah, and the Lions had to settle for second place for the first time in the conference and final state poll.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bRdZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8ugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1877%2C4581886 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Boise rally stuns Borah |date=November 13, 1964 |page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4728%2C3742878 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Boise grabs Idaho crown in last poll |date=November 14, 1964 |page=8}}</ref>

In March 1965, Preece helped lead the Lions to their first state title in basketball, winning the A-1 (largest schools) state tournament in Pocatello, defeating Twin Falls in the final to finish the season with a 24–1 record.<ref name=hoopsc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MbBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6112%2C4045208 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Hoop scores |date=March 15, 1965 |page=16}}</ref><ref name=lbhst>{{cite news |url=http://bsn.stparchive.com/Archive/BSN/BSN03191965p04.php |newspaper=The Senator |location=Boise, Idaho |agency=Borah High School |title=Lions bring home state trophy |date=March 19, 1965 |page=4}}</ref>

==College career== After graduating in 1965, Preece accepted a scholarship to Oregon State, recruited by linebackers coach Ed Knecht. Knecht had previously been the head coach at rival Boise High, 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 new 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."<ref>{{cite web | title=Season of the Giant Killers | publisher=beaverblitz.com | url=http://oregonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=121020 | access-date=2008-01-15}}</ref> (Andros was previously the head coach at the University of Idaho. Knecht was a former assistant coach at Idaho and a future athletic director (1969–74).<ref>[http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1456252 Go Vandals.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321075201/http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1456252 |date=2015-03-21 }} – Ed Knecht – accessed 2012-03-09</ref>

As a sophomore in 1966, Preece split time as the starting quarterback with senior Paul Brothers.<ref name=bs3str>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y-VVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2253%2C6102086 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |title=Beavers win 3rd straight |date=October 30, 1966 |page=1B}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wuVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6979%2C4342135 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon|last=Uhrhammer |first=Jerry |title=Soph QB's the vogue |date=October 21, 1966 |page=2B}}</ref> After Brothers' graduation, Preece was the starter for the 1967 and 1968 seasons, and the Beavers compiled a {{winning percentage|14|5|1|record=y}} record. 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,<ref name=bvuptrj3>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8bZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4440%2C4272736 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Beavers upset Trojans 3-0 |agency=Associated Press |date=November 12, 1967 |page=1, sports}}</ref> the Trojans won 17–13 in 1968 in Los Angeles.

The 1967 OSU 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,<ref name=bvuptrj3/> and #2 Purdue on the road,<ref name=bvrkpr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i_soAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3485%2C4755175 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Beavers rock Purdue, 22-14 |date=October 22, 1967 |page=1B }}</ref> and tied #2 UCLA in Los Angeles,<ref name=uctbos>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eMwpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7310%2C1583910 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=UCLA tied by Oregon State 16-16 |date=November 5, 1967 |page=D3 }}</ref> earning them the title of "The Giant Killers." OSU also beat the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, but a mid-season lapse of consecutive losses to unranked teams severely damaged the Beavers' Rose Bowl chances and national ranking. OSU lost to the Washington Huskies in Seattle,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9mZYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2vcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6895%2C2147574 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Beaver fumbles aid Husky win|date=October 9, 1967 |page=13}}</ref> and BYU Cougars in Corvallis.<ref name=bripsbv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hPsoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3270%2C3307548 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Cawood |first=Neil |title=BYU rips Beavers, 31-13 |date=October 15, 1967 |page=1B}}</ref> Although OSU defeated USC, the Beavers wound up behind in the Pac-8 conference standings with a loss and a tie. Conference champion 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, due to conference rules; the Pac-8 (and Big Ten) did not allow a second bowl team until the 1975 season. They were seventh in the final AP Poll, released in December.<ref name=trjapfn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yxorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M6AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3866%2C7617994 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |last=Schuyler |first=Ed Jr.|title=Trojans No. 1 in AP final voting of writers |date=November 28, 1967 |page=18}}</ref>

Oregon State went 7–3 in 1968 and finished #15 in the nation in the final AP Poll, released in January.<ref name=fnltxp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6bRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7366%2C874209 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Ohio State ranked first in AP Poll, USC fourth |date=January 4, 1969 |page=57}}</ref>

==Professional career== Undrafted, Preece signed a free agent NFL contract with the New Orleans Saints in 1969, not as a quarterback but as a defensive back.<ref name=aprcdefst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ctJRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_zIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5594%2C3754752 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|agency=Associated Press |title=Preece moves to defense |date=September 21, 1969 |page=13}}</ref> 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, Preece was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he played for four seasons, the last two as a back-up, the only time in his career. He played his last season in 1977 as a starter for the Seattle Seahawks, and had four interceptions. Following off-season surgery on his left knee, Preece announced his retirement in July 1978.<ref name=pciqu/> As a professional, Preece played a role similar to Nolan Cromwell, a defensive back who held for place kicks and was available to play quarterback in an emergency; both had been option quarterbacks in college.

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

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Portal|Biography}}  *[http://oregonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=121020 Season of the Giant Killers] – Oregon State – 1967 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061011093537/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/pac10/oregon_state/yearly_results.php?year=1965 CFB Data Warehouse] Oregon State results 1965–69 *[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/steve-preece-1.html Sports-Reference.com: Steve Preece] collegiate statistics *[http://oregonsportshall.org/timeline/steve-preece-football/ Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum] *[https://www.borahlionsfootball.com/hof Borah High School: Football Hall of Fame] *{{Footballstats |nfl=steve-preece |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=PreeSt20 |dbf=PREECSTE01 |rotoworld=}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preece, Steve}} Category:American football cornerbacks Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Los Angeles Rams players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Oregon State Beavers football players Category:Oregon State University alumni Category:Sportspeople from Idaho Falls, Idaho Category:Players of American football from Boise, Idaho Category:Players of American football from Portland, Oregon Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American sportsmen