What Is 1987 Oregon State Beavers football

Overview

The 1987 Oregon State Beavers football team competed in the NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference. Representing Oregon State University, the team struggled throughout the year, finishing with one of its worst records in program history.

Under head coach Dave Kragthorpe, the Beavers showed limited offensive production and defensive consistency. The season reflected ongoing rebuilding efforts after years of declining performance, and the team failed to secure a winning record for the third consecutive year.

• Record: The Beavers finished the season with a 2–9 overall record, their worst since 1979, highlighting deep-rooted program challenges.
• Conference performance: They went 0–7 in Pac-10 play, losing every conference matchup and finishing in last place in the standings.
• Head coach:Dave Kragthorpe was in his second season, inheriting a struggling program and failing to improve beyond two wins in 1987.
• Home stadium: The team played home games at Parker Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, which had a capacity of approximately 40,000 at the time.
• Scoring: Oregon State scored only 161 total points (14.6 per game), ranking among the lowest in the nation for offensive output.

Season Performance

The 1987 season was marked by offensive inefficiency and defensive breakdowns, with the Beavers failing to win a single conference game. Despite efforts to stabilize the program, the team struggled against both ranked and unranked opponents.

• Opening game: The Beavers lost their season opener 35–3 to Brigham Young, a top-10 team led by quarterback Ty Detmer.
• Non-conference wins: Oregon State secured both wins against non-conference opponents, defeating Portland State (24–21) and Utah (20–19).
• Close losses: Four of their nine losses were by seven points or fewer, indicating competitive but ultimately unsuccessful efforts.
• Defensive struggles: The team allowed 34.5 points per game, among the worst defensive averages in Division I-A that season.
• Offensive leaders: Quarterback Joe Silva threw for 1,211 yards and 6 touchdowns, leading the team in passing.
• Season finale: The Beavers lost their final game 28–10 to Oregon in the Civil War, extending Oregon's winning streak in the rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1987 season compared poorly to both conference peers and past Oregon State teams. The table below highlights key statistical differences:

While Oregon State’s record mirrored earlier losing seasons, the complete lack of conference wins in 1987 marked a new low. In contrast, Washington won the Pac-10 and reached the Aloha Bowl, underscoring the conference’s competitive imbalance.

Why It Matters

The 1987 season is remembered as a low point in Oregon State football history, symbolizing the depth of the program’s struggles before eventual rebuilding. It highlighted the need for coaching changes, recruiting improvements, and long-term investment.

• Program trajectory: The 1987 season contributed to Dave Kragthorpe’s resignation after the 1988 season, ending a three-year tenure with a 7–26 record.
• Recruiting impact: Poor performance made it harder to attract top-tier talent, especially in California and the Pacific Northwest.
• Stadium legacy: Parker Stadium, later renamed Reser Stadium, remained a symbol of tradition despite declining attendance during this era.
• Rivalry trends: Losing the Civil War extended Oregon’s dominance, with the Ducks winning five straight from 1986 to 1990.
• Conference parity: The season illustrated the growing gap between top and bottom teams in the Pac-10 during the late 1980s.
• Historical context: It took over a decade for Oregon State to return to consistent competitiveness, culminating in a 10-win season in 2000.

The 1987 season serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by college football programs in rebuilding phases, and how sustained leadership and investment are essential for long-term success.