1972 Washington State Cougars football
Conference	Pacific-8 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. T–17
AP	No. 19
Record	7–4 (4–3 Pac-8)
Head coach	Jim Sweeney (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Joe Tiller (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Ray Braun (1st season)
Captain	Bill Moos
Home stadium	Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium
Seasons ←  1971 1973 →

The 1972 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 in the Pac-8, tied for 3rd), and outscored their opponents 274 to 241. ^{[1] [2]}

The team's statistical leaders included Ty Payne with 1,349 passing yards, Ken Grandberry with 833 rushing yards, and Brock Aynsley with 344 receiving yards. ^[3]

Martin Stadium made its debut in late September and hosted four games; top-ranked USC was played in Seattle (at Husky Stadium), ^[4] and the Apple Cup was at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane.

Washington State won their first Apple Cup in four years over favored #17 Washington, dealing Husky quarterback Sonny Sixkiller a 27–10 loss in his final collegiate game. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]} The Cougars finished in the top twenty in both major polls; the Pac-8 did not allow a second bowl team until the 1975 season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	at Kansas*		Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	W 18–17	31,370–33,500
September 16	at California		California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	L 23–37	30,794
September 23	at Arizona*		Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	W 28–6	30,000
September 30	Utah*		Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	L 25–44	20,200
October 7	Idaho*		Martin Stadium Pullman, WA ( Battle of the Palouse)	W 35–14	18,500	[9]
October 14	at Oregon		Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR	W 31–14	23,000	[10] [11]
October 21	Oregon State		Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	W 37–7	22,100
October 28	at No. 9 UCLA		Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	L 20–35	29,950
November 4	vs. No. 1 USC		Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	L 3–44	46,500
November 11	No. 20 Stanford		Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	W 27–13	20,500
November 18	No. 17 Washington	No. 20	Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA ( Apple Cup)	W 27–10	34,100
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

Source: ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

All-conference

Two Washington State players, both offensive linemen, were named to the all-conference team: senior tackle Bill Moos and sophomore guard Steve Ostermann. On the second team (honorable mention) was linebacker Clyde Warehime. ^{[16] [17] [18]} Ostermann returned to the first team in 1973 and  1974. ^[19]

NFL Draft

One Cougar was selected in the 1973 NFL Draft

^{[20] [21] [22]}

References

External links

• Game program: Utah at Washington State – September 30, 1972 – Martin Stadium debut
• Game program: Oregon State at Washington State – October 21, 1972
• Game program: #1 USC vs. Washington State at Seattle – November 4, 1972
• Game program: Stanford at Washington State – November 11, 1972
• Game program: Washington vs. Washington State at Spokane – November 18, 1972