Rick Donegan (1986) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Rick Donegan

Induction:
1986

Quarterback Rick Donegan was the leading passer for Southern Miss for three straight seasons beginning with 1969 and was one of those responsible for the team’s success in throwing the ball in the early 1970s.
   Although remembered for many outstanding accomplishments Donegan is best remembered for completing 12 consecutive passes against Auburn during the 1971 season, a mark that remained a record until 1996.
   Donegan was known as an outstanding ball handler, with a quick passing delivery and one of the stronger arms in Southern Miss history.
   Donegan was a home town guy who came to the Golden Eagles after a successful career at Hattiesburg High School where he was an all-Big Eight Conference, all-state and all-South selection. Then after a good year of playing regularly with the Southern Miss freshman team he was ready to challenge for a starting job with the varsity.
   As a sophomore Donegan moved in as the starter at midseason and helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 5-5 record, by winning 4 of the last five games. Donegan connected on 94 of 177 passes for 1,039 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing 17 interceptions. The offense averaged 305.5 yards per game, including nearly 200 yards per game through the air. That team was ranked 29th in the country in passing that season.
   In 1970 Donegan led the team to a 5-6 record as he threw for 1,593 yards while completing 165 of 311 passes. He threw for eight touchdowns that season and was picked off 15 times. The team averaged 173.5 yards passing that season and ranked 37th in the nation. Donegan’s 165 completions and 311 pass attempts that season remained school records until Brett Favre would break them in the late 1980s. One of his best games that season occurred in a 53-31 win over Trinity when he completed 23 of 38 passes for 277 yards.
His average of 15 completions a game ranked 16th in the country.
   As a senior in 1971 Donegan and the Golden Eagles finished the year at 6-5 as he completed 99 of 204 for 1,121 yards and one touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times. That year they averaged 174.4 yards a game and ranked 21st in the nation. Not only did he set the consecutive completions record against Auburn that season but he also in a 24-20 win over Louisiana Tech he completed 18 of 31 passes for 258 yards, with Steve Broussard catching eight of his passes that day for 136 yards.
   Donegan finished his career at Southern Miss as one of the school’s most prolific passers completing 358 of 692 passes for 3,753 yards and 15 touchdowns. Only fellow Hall of Famer Brett Favre has ever completed or thrown more passes at Southern Miss and only two players have ever thrown for more yardage.