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American college football season
The 1978 Washington State Cougars football team was an
American football team that represented
Washington State University in the
Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the
1978 NCAA Division I-A football season . Under new head coach
Jim Walden , the Cougars compiled a 4–6–1 record (2–6 in Pac-10, last), and were outscored 296 to 276.
[1]
[2] The six home games were split evenly between
Martin Stadium on campus in
Pullman and
Joe Albi Stadium in
Spokane .
The team's statistical leaders included
Jack Thompson with 2,333 passing yards, Tali Ena with 728 rushing yards, and
Mike Wilson with 451 receiving yards.
[3]
This was the first football season in the newly expanded Pac-10; the Cougars met the two new members,
Arizona and
Arizona State , but did not play the
USC Trojans .
Senior quarterback Thompson was ninth in the
balloting for the
Heisman Trophy , and was the third overall selection of the
1979 NFL draft , taken by the
Cincinnati Bengals .
[4]
The offensive backs coach in
1977 under
Warren Powers , Walden was promoted that December and became the Cougars' fourth head coach in four seasons (
Jim Sweeney (
1975 ),
Jackie Sherrill (
1976 ), and Powers).
[5]
[6]
[7] He led the WSU program for
nine years .
After this season, the running track in Martin Stadium was removed, the playing field was lowered, and the capacity was expanded with new lower seating.
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance September 9
UNLV * W 34–726,250
September 16
Idaho * W 28–016,950
September 23
Arizona State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA W 51–2633,507
September 30
Army * T 21–2131,612
October 14 at No. 14
UCLA L 31–4540,023
October 21
Stanford Martin Stadium Pullman, WA L 27–4327,411
October 28 at
Oregon ^ W 7–3125,000
November 4
Oregon State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA L 31–3220,061
November 11 at
California L 14–2228,750
November 18 at
Arizona L 24–3149,557
November 25
Washington L 8–3835,187
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from
AP Poll released prior to the game
^ Note: The Oregon game was later forfeited to Washington State by order of the
Pacific-10 Conference
[12]
Roster
1978 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
TE
88
Ron Bull
Sr
QB
9
Clete Casper
Fr
C
77
Mark Chandless
Sr
RB
29
Tali Ena
Jr
RB
25
Harold Gillum
Sr
QB
18
Steve Grant
Sr
TE
81
Gus Hobus
Sr
G
66
Steve Jackson
Jr
OT
72
Allan Kennedy
So
G
65
Tom Larsen
Sr
OT
62
Mike Lemke
Sr
QB
11
Samoa Samoa
Jr
QB ,
RB
10
Brian Sickler
So
QB
14
Jack Thompson
Sr
TB
26
Mike Washington
So
FL
21
Jim Whatley
So
RB
31
Ray Williams
Jr
SE
86
Mike Wilson
So
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
SS
19
Jack Brossman
Sr
LB
32
Sam Busch
Jr
MG
40
Tom Everson
Sr
CB
41
Jeff Files
Fr
LB
96
Raleigh Fletcher
Sr
MG
61
Brian Flones
So
FS
28
Bob Gregor
Jr
DT
76
Spud Harris
Jr
DE
58
Mark Hicks
Sr
LB
35
Jeff Jones
Jr
LB
39
Don Nevels
Jr
LB
47
Scott Pelluer
So
DT
68
Greg Porter
So
DE
38
Mel Sanders
Jr
CB
17
Randall Simmons
Sr
CB
13
Mike Snow
Jr
DT
64
Steve Swift
Sr
DE
36
Tom Thompson
Sr
DT
50
George Yarno
Sr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
P
16
Tim Davey
Fr
K
22
Paul Watson
Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Mike Church – (LB)
Gary Gagnon – (RB)
Rich Glover – (DL)
Lindsay Hughes – (DE)
Steve Morton – (TE)
Pat Ruel – (OL)
Al Sandahl – (QB)
Dave Walker – (DL)
Jerry Wamsley – (DB)
Ken Woody – (WR)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
Awards
All-American: QB
Jack Thompson (Playboy, Preseason, Sporting News, 1st)
All-Pac-10: QB Jack Thompson (1st), C Mark Chandless
All-West Coast: Jack Thompson (UPI, 2nd)
Frank Butler Award: Jack Thompson
J. Fred Bohler Award: Tom Larsen
Laurie Niemi Award: Mark Chandless
Source:
[12]
NFL Draft
One Cougar was selected in the
1979 NFL Draft .
[4]
References
^
"1978 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 .
^
"1978 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^
a
b
"Thompson 3rd in NFL draft" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). May 3, 1979. p. 37.
^ 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.
^
"Hanson directs stadium drive" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington. October 10, 1978. p. 19.
^
"Martin Stadium on schedule" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). April 1, 1979. p. C3.
^
"Construction to start" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). December 21, 1978. p. 27.
^
"New Martin Stadium" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). (photo). September 7, 1979. p. 1.
^
a
b 2009 Washington State football media guide
^
"Rebels vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). September 9, 1978. p. 17.
^ Van Sickel, Charlie (September 11, 1978).
"Cougar QBs abound" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 21.
^
"Beavers vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). November 4, 1978. p. 19.
^
"Huskies vs. Cougars: probable starters" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). November 25, 1978. p. 21.
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