1978 Washington State Cougars football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1978 Washington State Cougars football Washington State Football Helmet 1978.png 200 Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 4–6–1 2–6 Jim Walden 1st Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium 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 276.1978 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 24, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1978-schedule.html2016 Media Guide http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf WSUCougars.com Washington State Cougars Athletics October 24, 2016 76 October 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004149/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf dead 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.1978 Washington State Cougars Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 24, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1978.html 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iyUwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7132%2C1037764 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Thompson 3rd in NFL draft May 3, 1979 37 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).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dZZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5948%2C6939048 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John WSU hires Waldens, who plans to stay December 19, 1977 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M1VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4e4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6806%2C1790330 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Walden's players' choice at WSU December 19, 1977 19https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q88vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6780%2C624666 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Brown Bruce WSU makes Walden's dreams come true December 19, 1977 25 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YUpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Cu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2960%2C4025919 Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington Hanson directs stadium drive October 10, 1978 19 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jvYjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6088%2C1057073 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Martin Stadium on schedule April 1, 1979 C3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pfdLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Du4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4554%2C2472526 Construction to start Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington December 21, 1978 27https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IFtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4110%2C1605242 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington New Martin Stadium (photo) September 7, 1979 1 Schedule 1978 AP September 9 w y UNLV Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 34–7 26,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-thompson-leads-wsu/157639713/ The Spokesman-Review Thompson leads WSU win September 10, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 w y Idaho Martin Stadium Pullman, WA rivalry 28–0 16,950 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-error-prone-ui-fall/154982738/ The Spokesman-Review Error-prone UI falls to Cougars September 17, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w Arizona State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 51–26 33,507 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-throwin-samoan-dri/157654218/ The Arizona Republic Throwin' Samoan drills Devils, 51–26 September 24, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 t y Army Michie Stadium West Point, NY 21–21 31,612 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-army-rallies-for-2121-ti/157636248/ The Daily Item Army rallies for 21–21 tie October 1, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 l y UCLA 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 31–45 40,023 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-wsu-falls-in-pac-1/157654310/ The Bellingham Herald WSU falls in Pac-10 game October 15, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 l y Stanford Martin Stadium Pullman, WA 27–43 27,411 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-cougs-bombed-4327/157654431/ The News Tribune Cougs bombed 43–27 October 22, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w y Oregon ^ Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 7–31 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-oregon-upsets-washin/157654518/ The Idaho Statesman Oregon upsets Washington State October 29, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 l Oregon State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA 31–32 20,061 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-walford-fg-upsets-cougars/157654615/ The Olympian Walford FG upsets Cougars, 32–31 November 5, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 l y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 14–22 28,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-jones-runs-spark-b/157654694/ The Sunday Oregonian Jones' runs spark Bears November 12, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 l y Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 24–31 49,557 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-arizona-claims-3124-win/157654815/ The El Paso Times Arizona claims 31–24 win November 19, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 l Washington Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA Apple Cup 8–38 35,187 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-one-for-the-record-book/157654942/ Tri-City Herald One for the record book: Huskies 38–8 November 26, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com ^ Note: The Oregon game was later forfeited to Washington State by order of the Pacific-10 Conference 2009 Washington State football media guide Roster 1978 Washington State Cougars y 88 Sr Ron Bull TE 9 Fr Clete Casper QB 77 Sr Mark Chandless C 29 Jr Tali Ena RB 25 Sr Harold Gillum RB 18 Sr Steve Grant QB y 81 Sr Gus Hobus TE 66 Jr Steve Jackson G 72 So Allan Kennedy T y 65 Sr Tom Larsen G 62 Sr Mike Lemke T 11 Jr Samoa Samoa QB y 10 So Brian Sickler QB RB 14 Sr Jack Thompson QB Jack Thompson (American football) y 26 So Mike Washington TB 21 So Jim Whatley FL 31 Jr Ray Williams RB 86 So Mike Wilson SE Mike Wilson (wide receiver) y 19 Sr Jack Brossman SS 32 Jr Sam Busch LB 40 Sr Tom Everson MG 41 Fr Jeff Files CB 96 Sr Raleigh Fletcher LB 61 So Brian Flones MG 28 Jr Bob Gregor FS 76 Jr Spud Harris DT 58 Sr Mark Hicks DE 35 Jr Jeff Jones LB 39 Jr Don Nevels LB 47 So Scott Pelluer LB y 68 So Greg Porter DT 38 Jr Mel Sanders DE 17 Sr Randall Simmons CB 13 Jr Mike Snow CB 64 Sr Steve Swift DT 36 Sr Tom Thompson DE 50 Sr George Yarno DT y 16 Fr Tim Davey P 22 Sr Paul Watson K Jim Walden (1st year) 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) https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4O0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4357%2C2996522 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Rebels vs. Cougars: probable starters September 9, 1978 17https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vaMSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5740%2C2369865 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Van Sickel Charlie Cougar QBs abound September 11, 1978 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QPZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2505%2C1356182 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Beavers vs. Cougars: probable starters November 4, 1978 19https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oEpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=De4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6481%2C4329806 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Huskies vs. Cougars: probable starters November 25, 1978 21 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: NFL draft One Cougar was selected in the 1979 NFL draft. Washington State Cougars Player Position Round Overall Franchise Jack ThompsonQB13Cincinnati Bengals References External links 1978 Washington State Cougars at College Football @ Sports-Reference.com Game program: UNLV vs. WSU at Spokane – September 9, 1978 Game program: Idaho at WSU – September 16, 1978 Game program: Arizona State vs. WSU at Spokane – September 23, 1978 Game program: Stanford at WSU – October 21, 1978 Game program: Oregon State at WSU – November 4, 1978 Game program: Washington vs. WSU at Spokane – November 25, 1978 Washington State Category:Washington State Cougars football seasons Washington State Cougars football