The 1977 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their only season under head coach Warren Powers, the Cougars compiled a 6–5 record (3–4 in Pac-8, tied for fourth), and outscored their opponents 263 to 236.[1][2]
The team's statistical leaders included Jack Thompson with 2,372 passing yards, Dan Doornink with 591 rushing yards, and Mike Levenseller with 736 receiving yards.[3]
The Cougars opened the season with an upset win at fifteenth-ranked Nebraska.[4][5]
Previously an assistant with the Huskers,[6][7][8] Powers left after just twelve months in Pullman for Missouri of the Big Eight Conference.[9][10][11] His predecessor in 1976, Jackie Sherrill, also lasted just one season with the Cougars. Offensive backfield coach Jim Walden was promoted to head coach less than a week later,[12][13][14] and led the WSU program for nine years.
Schedule[]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|
| September 10 | at No. 15 Nebraska* | | | W 19–10 | 75,922 |
| September 17 | at Michigan State* | | | W 23–21 | 50,263 |
| September 24 | at Kansas* | No. 15 | | L 12–14 | 44,540 |
| September 30 | at No. 2 USC | | | L 7–41 | 61,809 |
| October 8 | No. 14 California | | | W 17–10 | 27,500 |
| October 15 | UCLA | | | L 16–20[1] | 37,750 |
| October 22 | at Stanford | | | L 29–31 | 47,500 |
| October 29 | Oregon | | - Martin Stadium
- Pullman, Washington
| W 56–20 | 27,200 |
| November 5 | at Oregon State | | | W 24–10 | 22,657 |
| November 12 | Idaho* | | | W 45–17 | 18,500 |
| November 19 | at No. 19 Washington | | | L 15–35 | 60,964 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
- ^1 UCLA later forfeited the game due to fielding an ineligible player.
Roster[]
| 1977 Washington State Cougars football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
| Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| K
|
22
|
Watson, PaulPaul Watson
|
| P
|
46
|
Hedrick, GavinGavin Hedrick
|
7.0 !Sr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
 Injured Redshirt
|
- Source:[15]
NFL Draft[]
Eight Cougars were selected in the 1978 NFL Draft; Ken Greene was the first player from WSU taken in the first round in thirteen years.[16]
- Source:[16][17]
References[]
- ↑ "1977 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1977-schedule.html. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ "2016 Media Guide". Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ "1977 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1977.html. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ Missildine, Harry (September 11, 1977). "Confident Cougars upset Cornhuskers". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. D1. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F_VLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1e0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6193%2C4451795.
- ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (September 11, 1977). "Cougs upset Huskers". Lewiston Morning Tribune ((Idaho)): p. 1B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Na9fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6349%2C3922147.
- ↑ Barrows, Bob (December 14, 1976). "WSU fills football job with Nebraska assistant". Lewiston Morning Tribune ((Idaho)): p. 1B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JqhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5194%2C5240268.
- ↑ Missildine, Harry (December 14, 1976). "Warren Powers new Coug coach". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 19. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kyFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6872%2C6005239.
- ↑ Brown, Bruce (December 14, 1976). "New challenge faces Powers". Spokane Daily Chronicle ((Washington)): p. 19. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uE9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6119%2C3502104.
- ↑ Brown, Bruce (December 13, 1977). "Powers takes Missouri job". Spokane Daily Chronicle ((Washington)): p. 23. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h_tLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=APkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6863%2C3148052.
- ↑ Missildine, Harry (December 14, 1977). "Line forms at Pullman". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 25. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-DxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ge4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6691%2C5796266.
- ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (December 14, 1977). "Powers is gone - the search is on". Lewiston Morning Tribune ((Idaho)): p. 1B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cJZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3964%2C4979093.
- ↑ Killen, John (December 19, 1977). "WSU hires Waldens, who plans to stay". Lewiston Morning Tribune ((Idaho)): p. 1B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dZZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5948%2C6939048.
- ↑ Missildine, Harry (December 19, 1977). "Walden's players' choice at WSU". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 19. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M1VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4e4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6806%2C1790330.
- ↑ Brown, Bruce (December 19, 1977). "WSU makes Walden's dreams come true". Spokane Daily Chronicle ((Washington)): p. 25. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q88vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6780%2C624666.
- ↑ "Bears vs. Cougars: probable starters". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 13. October 8, 1977. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q_NLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0e0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322%2C3110235.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Missildine, Harry (May 3, 1978). "Coug Greene first-round draftee". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 20. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bvZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6924%2C742982.
- ↑ Missildine, Harry (May 4, 1978). "Five more Cougs selected". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 33. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b_ZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6877%2C1008907.
