The 1978 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season . Under new head coach Jim Walden , the Cougars compiled a 4–6–1 record (2–6 in Pac-10, last), and were outscored 296 to 276.[1] [2]
The team's statistical leaders included Jack Thompson with 2,333 passing yards, Tali Ena with 728 rushing yards, and Mike Wilson with 451 receiving yards.[3]
This was the first football season in the newly expanded Pac-10; the Cougars met the two new members, Arizona and Arizona State , but did not play the USC Trojans .
Schedule [ ] Date Opponent Site Result Attendance September 9 UNLV * W 34–726,250 September 16 Idaho * W 28–016,950 September 23 Arizona State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA W 51–2633,507 September 30 Army * T 21–2131,612 October 14 at No. 14 UCLA L 31–4540,023 October 21 Stanford Martin Stadium Pullman, WA L 27–4327,411 October 28 at Oregon W 7–3125,000 November 4 Oregon State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA L 31–3220,061 November 11 at California L 14–2228,750 November 18 at Arizona L 24–3149,557 November 25 Washington L 8–3835,187 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Note: The Oregon game was later forfeited to Washington State by order of the Pacific-10 Conference Source: [4]
Roster [ ]
1978 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
QB
14
Thompson, Jack Jack Thompson 7.0 ! Sr
RB
29
Ena, Tali Tali Ena 5.0 ! Jr
RB
31
Williams, Ray Ray Williams 5.0 ! Jr
FL
21
Whatley, Jim Jim Whatley 3.0 ! So
SE
86
Wilson, Mike Mike Wilson 5.0 ! Jr
Defense
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Mike Church
Gary Gagnon
Rich Glover Lindsay Hughes
Steve Morton
Pat Ruel Al Sandahl
Dave Walker
Jerry Wamsley
Ken Woody Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
Source: [5] [6] [7] Awards [ ] All-American: QB Jack Thompson (Playboy, Preseason, Sporting News, 1st)
All-Pac-10: QB Jack Thompson (1st), C Mark Chandless
All-West Coast: Jack Thompson (UPI, 2nd)
Frank Butler Award: Jack Thompson
J. Fred Bohler Award: Tom Larsen
Laurie Niemi Award: Mark Chandless Source: [4]
NFL Draft [ ] One Cougar was selected in the 1979 NFL Draft .
Source: [8] References [ ]
↑ "1978 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1978-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 .↑ "1978 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1978.html . Retrieved October 24, 2016 .↑ 4.0 4.1 2009 Washington State football media guide
↑ "Rebels vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 17. September 9, 1978. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4O0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4357%2C2996522 .↑ "Beavers vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 19. November 4, 1978. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QPZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2505%2C1356182 .↑ "Huskies vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 21. November 25, 1978. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oEpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=De4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6481%2C4329806 .↑ "Thompson 3rd in NFL draft" . Spokane Daily Chronicle ((Washington)): p. 37. May 3, 1979. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iyUwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7132%2C1037764 .
External links [ ] 
