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American college football season
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 .
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 10 at No. 15 Nebraska * W 19–1075,922
September 17 at Michigan State * W 23–2150,263
September 24 at Kansas * No. 15 L 12–1440,763–44,540
at No. 2 USC L 7–4161,809
October 8 No. 14 California W 17–1027,500
October 15 UCLA L 16–20[1] 37,750
October 22 at Stanford L 29–3147,500
October 29 Oregon Martin Stadium Pullman, CA W 56–2027,200
November 5 at Oregon State W 24–1022,657
November 12 Idaho * W 45–1718,500 [ 15] [ 16]
November 19 at No. 19 Washington L 15–3560,964
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
^1 UCLA later forfeited the game due to fielding an ineligible player.
1977 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DT
91
Terry Anderson
Sr
LB
96
Raleigh Fletcher
Jr
DT
63
Mike Galovich
Jr
LB
98
Terry Gilmore
Jr
CB
37
Ken Greene
Sr
FS
28
Bob Gregor
So
DT
76
Spud Harris
So
LB
57
Don Hover
Sr
LB
97
Jeff Jones
Jr
CB
15
Mark Patterson
Sr
LB
67
Dean Pedigo
Sr
LB
47
Scott Pelluer
Fr
DE
38
Mel Sanders
So
SS
48
Don Schwartz
Sr
DE
36
Tom Thompson
Jr
FS
16
John Troppman
Sr
NG
50
George Yarno
Jr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
22
Paul Watson
Jr
P
46
Gavin Hedrick
Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Source: [ 17] [ 18] [ 19]
Eight Cougars were selected in the 1978 NFL draft ; Ken Greene was the first player from Washington State taken in the first round in 13 years .[ 20]
[ 20] [ 21]
^ "1977 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF) . WSUCougars.com . Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "1977 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ Missildine, Harry (September 11, 1977). "Confident Cougars upset Cornhuskers" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
^ Drosendahl, Glenn (September 11, 1977). "Cougs upset Huskers" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ Barrows, Bob (December 14, 1976). "WSU fills football job with Nebraska assistant" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ Missildine, Harry (December 14, 1976). "Warren Powers new Coug coach" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 19.
^ Brown, Bruce (December 14, 1976). "New challenge faces Powers" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 19.
^ Brown, Bruce (December 13, 1977). "Powers takes Missouri job" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 23.
^ Missildine, Harry (December 14, 1977). "Line forms at Pullman" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 25.
^ Drosendahl, Glenn (December 14, 1977). "Powers is gone - the search is on" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ Killen, John (December 19, 1977). "WSU hires Waldens, who plans to stay" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ Missildine, Harry (December 19, 1977). "Walden's players' choice at WSU" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 19.
^ Brown, Bruce (December 19, 1977). "WSU makes Walden's dreams come true" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 25.
^ Missildine, Harry (November 13, 1977). "Cougars bury Idaho 45-17" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
^ "Cougars get winning year with victory" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). UPI. November 13, 1977. p. 6C.
^ "Bears vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). October 8, 1977. p. 13.
^ "Vandals vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). November 12, 1977. p. 17.
^ "2008 Football media guide" (PDF) . Washington State University Athletics. 2008. pp. 172–191. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ a b Missildine, Harry (May 3, 1978). "Coug Greene first-round draftee" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 20.
^ Missildine, Harry (May 4, 1978). "Five more Cougs selected" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 33.
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