1979 Washington State Cougars football team
1979 Washington State Cougars football | |
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Conference | Pacific-10 Conference |
Record | 3–8 (2–6 Pac-10) |
Head coach |
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Home stadium | Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium |
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 USC $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 11 Washington | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stanford | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State † | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UCLA | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington State | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1979 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 3–8 record (2–6 in Pac-10, ninth), and were outscored 366 to 241.[2][3]
The team's statistical leaders included Steve Grant with 1,565 passing yards, Tali Ena with 844 rushing yards, and Jim Whatley with 513 receiving yards.[4]
Martin Stadium's seating capacity was increased over the summer (track removed, field lowered) and hosted its first game of the season in mid-October for homecoming.[5][6] The 17–14 upset of UCLA was the Cougars' first win over the Bruins since 1958.[7][8]
The traditional Battle of the Palouse game with neighbor Idaho went on hiatus beginning with this season (the Vandals had moved down to Division I-AA in 1978);[9] it was played in 1982 and 1989. When Idaho rejoined Division I-A, there was a ten-year resumption (1998–2007).
Schedule
[edit]Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 8 | Arizona | L 7–22 | 26,753 | ||
September 15 | Montana* |
| W 34–14 | 20,157 | |
September 22 | at No. 16 Ohio State* | L 29–45 | 87,495 | ||
September 29 | at Syracuse* | L 25–52 | 10,004 | ||
October 6 | at No. 1 USC | L 21–50 | 55,117 | ||
October 13 | UCLA![]() | W 17–14 | 32,651 | [7][8] | |
October 20 | at Arizona State | W 17–28 (forfeit win) | 70,729 | ||
October 27 | Oregon |
| W 26–37 (forfeit win) | 18,650 | |
November 3 | at Oregon State | W 45–42 | 21,500 | ||
November 10 | California |
| L 13–45 | 22,055 | |
November 17 | at No. 16 Washington | L 7–17 | 57,750 | ||
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Roster
[edit]1979 Washington State Cougars football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Fallen teammate
[edit]During an evening practice on August 22, senior defensive tackle Hayward "Spud" Harris of Tacoma collapsed during a non-contact drill. He could not be revived by the training staff, was rushed by ambulance to Pullman Memorial Hospital, and was pronounced dead an hour after arrival.[14][15][16][17]
Season summary
[edit]UCLA
[edit]On homecoming weekend, Mike Snow blocked two field goals and deflected a pass in the end zone as Washington State upset UCLA 17–14 in front of a record home crowd in the newly-expanded Martin Stadium. Brian Sickler capped an 84-yard fourth quarter drive with a one-yard plunge as the Cougars rallied from a 7–14 halftime deficit.[7][8][18]
Senior safety Don McCall recorded two interceptions, seven tackles, and a fumble recovery.
NFL Draft
[edit]Four Cougars were selected in the 1980 NFL draft.
Player | Position | Round | Overall | Franchise |
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Bob Gregor | S | 4 | 108 | San Diego Chargers |
Tali Ena | RB | 11 | 292 | Seattle Seahawks |
Ray Williams | WR/RB | 12 | 307 | Detroit Lions |
Tyrone Gray | DB | 12 | 309 | St. Louis Cardinals |
References
[edit]- ^ "2017 Media Guide" (PDF). thesundevils.com. ASU Athletics. p. 127. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- ^ "1979 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. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "1979 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (October 12, 1979). "Major questions face WSU in UCLA clash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 25.
- ^ Barrows, Bob (October 13, 1979). "WSU: For both teams, it's a battle for survival". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
- ^ a b c Emerson, Paul (October 14, 1979). "Upset". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 4D.
- ^ a b c Van Sickel, Charlie (October 15, 1979). "Kicking, defense WSU keys". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 23.
- ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (September 18, 1978). "WSU-Idaho rivalry ends none too soon". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 27.
- ^ "Wildcats vs. Cougars: probable offensive starters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 8, 1979. p. 18.
- ^ "Grizzlies vs. Cougars: probable starting lineups". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 15, 1979. p. 21.
- ^ "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 27, 1979. p. 2C.
- ^ Emerson, Paul (November 17, 1979). "Braggin' rights". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 3C.
- ^ "Lineman collapses, dies". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 23, 1979. p. 1.
- ^ "'Spud' Harris, WSU football player, dies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 22, 1979. p. 1C.
- ^ "WSU football team shocked by death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 23, 1979. p. 43.
- ^ "Hayward Harris: 1958–1979". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman). (Washington State University). September 20, 1979. p. 41.
- ^ "Wash St. 17, UCLA 14". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). Associated Press. October 14, 1979. p. 3C.
- ^ Missildine, Harry (April 30, 1980). "Huskies popular in draft". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
- ^ "Tatum, Stanford QB big news in NFL draft". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 1, 1980. p. 25.
- ^ "NFL draft". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 1, 1980. p. 1C.
External links
[edit]- Game program: Arizona vs. WSU at Spokane – September 8, 1979
- Game program: UCLA at WSU – October 13, 1979
- Game program: California at WSU – November 10, 1979