1979 Washington State Cougars football team

1979 Washington State Cougars football
Conference	Pacific-10 Conference
Record	3–8 (2–6 Pac-10)
Head coach	Jim Walden (2nd season)
Home stadium	Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium

1979 Pacific-10 Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 USC $	6	–	0	–	1			11	–	0	–	1
No. 11 Washington	5	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Arizona	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	1
Oregon	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
California	5	–	4	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
Stanford	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Arizona State †	3	–	4	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
UCLA	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Washington State	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Oregon State	1	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion † – Arizona State later forfeited 5 wins (3 in conference) due to NCAA sanctions[1] Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 3–8 record (2–6 in Pac-10, ninth), and were outscored 366 to 241.^[2][3]

The team's statistical leaders included Steve Grant with 1,565 passing yards, Tali Ena with 844 rushing yards, and Jim Whatley with 513 receiving yards.^[4]

Martin Stadium's seating capacity was increased over the summer (track removed, field lowered) and hosted its first game of the season in mid-October for homecoming.^[5][6] The 17–14 upset of UCLA was the Cougars' first win over the Bruins since 1958.^[7][8]

The traditional Battle of the Palouse game with neighbor Idaho went on hiatus beginning with this season (the Vandals had moved down to Division I-AA in 1978);^[9] it was played in 1982 and 1989. When Idaho rejoined Division I-A, there was a ten-year resumption (1998–2007).

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	Arizona	Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA	L 7–22	26,753	[10]
September 15	Montana*	Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA	W 34–14	20,157	[11]
September 22	at No. 16 Ohio State*	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 29–45	87,495	[12]
September 29	at Syracuse*	Rich Stadium Orchard Park, NY	L 25–52	10,004	[13]
October 6	at No. 1 USC	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	L 21–50	55,117	[14]
October 13	UCLA	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	W 17–14	32,651	[7][8]
October 20	at Arizona State	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	W 17–28 (forfeit win)	70,729	[15]
October 27	Oregon	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	W 26–37 (forfeit win)	18,650	[16]
November 3	at Oregon State	Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR	W 45–42	21,500	[17]
November 10	California	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	L 13–45	22,055	[18]
November 17	at No. 16 Washington	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA (Apple Cup)	L 7–17	57,750	[19]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1979 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class TE 89 Pat Beach So RB 39 Tali Ena Sr QB 18 Steve Grant Sr RB 43 Tim Harris Fr OT 75 Steve Johnson Jr OT 72 Allan Kennedy Jr SE 49 Bevan Maxey Sr G 63 Gary Patrick Fr C 52 Scott Rogers Sr QB 11 Samoa Samoa Jr FB 10 Brian Sickler Jr G 58 Greg Sykes Jr RB 31 Ray Williams Sr SE 86 Mike Wilson Jr FL 21 Jim Whatley Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 95 Ken Collins So DT 73 Matt Elisara So CB 41 Jeff Files So MG 61 Brian Flones Jr FS 28 Bob Gregor Sr FS 4 Don McCall Sr LB 39 Don Nevels Sr CB 27 Hugh Parker Jr LB 47 Scott Pelluer Jr DT 91 Dave Schneider Jr CB 13 Mike Snow Sr LB 36 Tom Thompson Sr DE 62 Mike Walker Jr SS 44 John West So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 16 Tim Davey So K 1 Mike DeSanto Jr	Head coach Jim Walden (2nd year) Coordinators/assistant coaches Dave Elliott Gary Gagnon Rich Glover Lindsay Hughes Steve Morton Scott Ricardo Pat Ruel Dave Walker Harold Wheeler Ken Woody Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

^{[20][21][22][23]}

Fallen teammate

During an evening practice on August 22, senior defensive tackle Hayward "Spud" Harris of Tacoma collapsed during a non-contact drill. He could not be revived by the training staff, was rushed by ambulance to Pullman Memorial Hospital, and was pronounced dead an hour after arrival.^{[24][25][26][27]}

Season summary

UCLA

On homecoming weekend, Mike Snow blocked two field goals and deflected a pass in the end zone as Washington State upset UCLA 17–14 in front of a record home crowd in the newly-expanded Martin Stadium. Brian Sickler capped an 84-yard fourth quarter drive with a one-yard plunge as the Cougars rallied from a 7–14 halftime deficit.^[7][8][28]

Senior safety Don McCall recorded two interceptions, seven tackles, and a fumble recovery.

NFL Draft

Four Cougars were selected in the 1980 NFL draft.

Player	Position	Round	Overall	Franchise
Bob Gregor	S	4	108	San Diego Chargers
Tali Ena	RB	11	292	Seattle Seahawks
Ray Williams	WR/RB	12	307	Detroit Lions
Tyrone Gray	DB	12	309	St. Louis Cardinals

^[29][30][31]

References

1. "2017 Media Guide" (PDF). thesundevils.com. ASU Athletics. p. 127. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
2. "1979 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
3. "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
4. "1979 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
5. Van Sickel, Charlie (October 12, 1979). "Major questions face WSU in UCLA clash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 25.
6. Barrows, Bob (October 13, 1979). "WSU: For both teams, it's a battle for survival". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
7. Emerson, Paul (October 14, 1979). "Upset". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 4D.
8. Van Sickel, Charlie (October 15, 1979). "Kicking, defense WSU keys". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 23.
9. Van Sickel, Charlie (September 18, 1978). "WSU-Idaho rivalry ends none too soon". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 27.
10. "Arizona takes 22–7 win". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Cougars roll over Montana, 34–14". The Spokesman-Review. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Easy win for Ohio State". The Pantagraph. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "'Woody' attack gives Orange 52–25 win". The Buffalo News. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "McDonald sparks USC win". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Sun Devils whip WSU in new coach's debut". The Columbian. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Ducks overcome great show by Cougars' Grant". Tri-City Herald. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "For the record: WSU 45, OSU 42". Statesman Journal. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Campbell-led Bears pummel WSU 45–13". The Sunday Oregonian. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Huskies to get either Sun or Roses". The Olympian. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Wildcats vs. Cougars: probable offensive starters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 8, 1979. p. 18.
21. "Grizzlies vs. Cougars: probable starting lineups". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 15, 1979. p. 21.
22. "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 27, 1979. p. 2C.
23. Emerson, Paul (November 17, 1979). "Braggin' rights". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 3C.
24. "Lineman collapses, dies". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 23, 1979. p. 1.
25. "'Spud' Harris, WSU football player, dies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 22, 1979. p. 1C.
26. "WSU football team shocked by death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 23, 1979. p. 43.
27. "Hayward Harris: 1958–1979". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman). (Washington State University). September 20, 1979. p. 41.
28. "Wash St. 17, UCLA 14". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). Associated Press. October 14, 1979. p. 3C.
29. Missildine, Harry (April 30, 1980). "Huskies popular in draft". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
30. "Tatum, Stanford QB big news in NFL draft". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. May 1, 1980. p. 25.
31. "NFL draft". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 1, 1980. p. 1C.

External links

• Game program: Arizona vs. WSU at Spokane – September 8, 1979
• Game program: UCLA at WSU – October 13, 1979
• Game program: California at WSU – November 10, 1979