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 19–10 | 75,922 | |
September 17 | at Michigan State* | | | W 23–21 | 50,263 | |
September 24 | at Kansas* | No. 15 | | L 12–14 | 40,763–44,540 | |
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, CA
| W 56–20 | 27,200 | |
November 5 | at Oregon State | | | W 24–10 | 22,657 | |
November 12 | Idaho* | | | W 45–17 | 18,500 | [15][16] |
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.
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
|
- Source:[17][18][19]
- ^ "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.