R. B. Rutherford

Richard Burr Rutherford (April 11, 1891 – February 16, 1976) was an American college football and college basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington University in St. Louis from 1917 to 1919 and at Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, from 1920 to 1923, compiling a career football coaching record of 28–19–6. Rutherford was also the head basketball coach at Washington University from 1917 to 1920 and at Oregon Agricultural from 1920 to 1922, tallying a career basketball coaching mark of 58–41.

R. B. Rutherford
Rutherford from The Beaver, 1922
Biographical details
Born(1891-04-11)April 11, 1891
Beatrice, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 1976(1976-02-16) (aged 84)
Paradise, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Nebraska (1916)
Playing career
Football
1913–1915Nebraska
Basketball
1913–1916Nebraska
Wrestling
1915–1916Nebraska
Position(s)Halfback (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1917–1919Washington University
1920–1923Oregon Agricultural
Basketball
1917–1920Washington University
1920–1922Oregon Agricultural
Head coaching record
Overall28–19–6 (football)
58–41 (basketball)

Coaching career

Football

Rutherford was the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers football team from 1920 to 1923. During his tenure there, he compiled a 13–14–6 record.[1]

1923 Civil War

This Civil War was played at Hayward Field before 12,000 fans on November 25, 1923. It had been 15 years since Oregon State had beaten the University of Oregon in Eugene. In fact, in the 29 years the rivalry had been contested, Oregon Agricultural College had only beaten Oregon on the road on two other occasions, making this an era when most Beaver fans took it as a given that a trip "south to Lane County" was as good as a loss. OAC coach R.B. Rutherford and team captain Percy Locey felt otherwise. So did quarterback Roy Price. In the second quarter, Price took a Webfoot punt on his own 23-yard line and didn't stop until he had reached the Oregon end zone for the game's only score. Rutherford and the Beavers team won, 6–0. This game is still known as one of the greatest "Civil War" games.

Basketball

From 1920 to 1922, Rutherford also coached the Oregon State Beavers basketball team. In his two seasons as the head basketball coach, he posted a 27–19 record.[2] He is one of three people to have coached both teams.

Later life and death

Rutherford moved to Stirling City, California in 1959 and then to Paradise, California in 1969. He died on February 16, 1976, at a hospital in Paradise.[3]

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Washington University Pikers (Missouri Valley Conference) (1917–1919)
1917 Washington University 4–31–26th
1918 Washington University 6–0
1919 Washington University 5–22–2T–4th
Washington University: 15–53–4
Oregon Agricultural Aggies (Pacific Coast Conference) (1920–1923)
1920 Oregon Agricultural 2–2–21–2–15th
1921 Oregon Agricultural 4–3–21–2–14th
1922 Oregon Agricultural 3–41–3T–5th
1923 Oregon Agricultural 4–5–21–3–1T–6th
Oregon Agricultural: 13–14–64–10–3
Total:28–19–6

References
  1. "2006 Football Media Guide - Year-By-Year Results" (PDF). Oregon State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
  2. "2005-06 Men's Basketball Media Guide - OSU Team History" (PDF). Oregon State University. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
  3. "Rutherford". Paradise Post. Paradise, California. February 20, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com open access.
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