1981 Washington State Cougars football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1981 Washington State Cougars football Washington State Football Helmet 1976-1987.png 200 Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 8–3–1 5–2–1 Jim Walden 4th Pat Ruel 2nd Bob Padilla 2nd Martin StadiumJoe Albi Stadium Holiday Bowl L 36–38 vs. BYU The 1981 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled an 8–3–1 record (5–2–1 in Pac-10, tied for fourth), and outscored their opponents 297 to 197.1981 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 24, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1981-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 77 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 team's statistical leaders included Clete Casper with 939 passing yards, Tim Harris with 915 rushing yards, and Jeff Keller with 495 receiving yards.1981 Washington State Cougars Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 24, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1981.html The Cougars entered the Apple Cup with an 8–1–1 record and a win over Washington at Husky Stadium would clinch the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth, their first in 51 years.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4FROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7067%2C2198704 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Gerheim Earl Cougs: Today's the day November 21, 1981 17https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VqpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4197%2C2247982 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob WSU and Washington ready to pull the trigger November 21, 1981 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y7RQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1816%2C5254784 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Withers Bud Cougars-Huskies game: The toughest ticket in town November 21, 1981 1B The Huskies prevailed again at home,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZLRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6290%2C5770148 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Withers Bud Huskies shatter a Cougar dream November 22, 1981 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V6pfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4427%2C2829148 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob WSU's cheers turn to tears in Seattle November 22, 1981 3Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WAhMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6940%2C2402972 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Van Sickel Charlie 'Holiday' next for frustrated Cougars November 23, 1981 33 and then shut out Iowa in the Rose Bowl.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q_RVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4225%2C239900 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Oates Bob (Los Angeles Times) Everything comes up roses for UW, 28-0 January 2, 1982 1B The Cougars went to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=41ROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7188%2C3490991 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Blanchette John It's WSU vs. BYU's aerial circus November 23, 1981 C4 and lost a close, entertaining game to Brigham Young of the WAC, led by consensus All-American quarterback Jim McMahon,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D_VVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5031%2C4819012 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press McMahon makes Holiday happy one for BYU, 38-36 December 19, 1981 2Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G8xeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4004%2C1556050 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob Washington State almost has a curtain call December 19, 1981 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YEJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968%2C1620905 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Van Sickel Charlie BYU survives on strong finish December 19, 1981 13https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eOUnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xIMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6251%2C1898079 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Robinson Doug Y. wins another Holiday heart stopper December 19, 1981 A3 the fifth overall selection of the 1982 NFL draft. Schedule 1981 AP September 12 w y Montana State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 33–21 23,721 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81772770/the-montana-standard/ The Montana Standard Newspapers.com September 13, 1981 Washington State teams Bobcats September 19 w y y Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO 14–10 35,277 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-14-points-in-last-23/158341024/ Omaha World-Herald 14 points in last 2:36 send Buffs to defeat September 20, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w Arizona State 18 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA 24–21 24,481 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-unbeaten-cougars-pop-ar/158341091/ The News Tribune Unbeaten Cougars pop Arizona State September 27, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w y Pacific (CA) Martin Stadium Pullman, WA 31–0 17,923 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-cougars-come-out-roaring/158341149/ The Modesto Bee Cougars come out roaring; Pacific 'self-destructs' October 4, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w y Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 23–0 32,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-contented-cougars-purr-fec/158334697/ The Columbian Contented Cougars purr-fect, 23–0! October 11, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 t 18 UCLA Martin Stadium Pullman, WA ABC 17–17 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-wsu-still-unbeaten-but-uc/158340116/ The Columbian WSU still unbeaten, but UCLA gains tie October 18, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 16 Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 34–19 50,265 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-washington-st/158339579/ The San Francisco Examiner Washington State rolls on with 34–19 win over Arizona October 25, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 l y 14 USC 4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 17–41 60,972 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-allen-southern-cal/158341237/ The Macon Telegraph & News Allen, Southern Cal roll past Cougars 41–17 November 1, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w Oregon Martin Stadium Pullman, WA 39–7 33,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-wsu-topples-oregon-3/158336360/ The Idaho Statesman WSU topples Oregon 39–7 November 8, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 w 17 California Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 19–0 31,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-cougs-can-smell-ros/158337783/ The Spokesman-Review Cougs can smell Roses November 15, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 l y 14 Washington 17 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA Apple Cup 10–23 60,234 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-everything-turns-up-ro/158341298/ Asbury Park Press Everything turns up roses for Huskies November 22, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com December 18 Friday l y y 20 BYU 14 Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA Holiday Bowl 36–38 52,419 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-mcmahon-leads-byu-t/158219599/ The Arizona Republic McMahon leads BYU to victory December 19, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1981 Washington State Cougars y 89 Sr Pat Beach TE y 9 Jr Clete Casper QB 87 Sr Paul Escalera FL 60 Jr Charlie Flager T 43 Jr Tim Harris RB 88 Sr Jeff Keller SE 55 Sr Mark McKay G 2 Sr Cameron Mitchell SE 63 Jr Gary Patrick G 17 Fr Mark Rypien QB y 51 Jr Steve Sebahar C 72 Jr Kevin Sloan T 12 So Ricky Turner QB y 42 Jr Robert Williams RB 96 So Lee Blakeney LB 30 Sr Nate Bradley CB 95 Sr Ken Collins DT 73 Sr Matt Elisara DT 18 Jr Mark Pleis LB 34 Jr Ken Emmil LB 41 Sr Jeff Files CB 6 Sr Bill Gribble CB 93 So Keith Millard DT y 48 Sr Peter Shaw FS 28 Sr Paul Sorensen FS 44 Sr John West SS 57 Jr Brent White LB 89 Sr Pat Beach LS y 16 Sr Tim Davey P 6 Sr Bill Gribble H PR 4 Ward Leland K Jim Walden (4th year) Pat Ruel – (OC) Bob Padilla – (DC) John Daniels Dave Elliott Gary Gagnon Lindsay Hughes Steve Morton Mel Sanders Harold Wheeler Ken Woody https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WLRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4293%2C1585157 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Starting lineups November 7, 1981 5Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4FROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6868%2C2197651 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Probable lineups: WSU November 21, 1981 17https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VqpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4278%2C2257331 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable lineups November 21, 1981 2Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W6gwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6080%2C1790824 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington WSU roster December 18, 1981 22https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d-UnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xIMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4815%2C1663062 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Starting lineups December 18, 1981 12Bhttps://static.wsucougars.com/old_site/pdf/m-footbl/08-wast-footbl-mg-history.pdf?db_oem_id=30400 Washington State University Athletics 2008 Football media guide 2008 172–191 March 3, 2020 NFL draft Four Cougars were selected in the 1982 NFL draft. Washington State Cougars Player Position Round Overall Franchise Paul SorensenDB5138Cincinnati BengalsPat BeachTE6140Baltimore ColtsKen CollinsLB8197New England PatriotsJeff KellerWR11246Atlanta Falcons https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2cteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5394%2C5129866 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob Sorenson, Beach drafted April 28, 1982 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xPhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4526%2C6419724 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press NFL teams take best local talent April 29, 1982 27https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2steAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5375%2C5670022 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Two more Cougars drafted in NFL April 29, 1982 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iQNMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5708%2C3762477 Spokane Chronicle Washington Four Cougars, two Vandals picked April 29, 1982 35 References Washington State Category:Washington State Cougars football seasons Washington State Cougars football