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 .
Schedule [ edit ] 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 September 30 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] NFL Draft [ edit ] 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]
References [ edit ] ^ "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. External links [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons