1981 Washington State Cougars football team
American college football season
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.[ 1] [ 2]
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.[ 3]
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 .[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] The Huskies prevailed again at home,[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] and then shut out Iowa in the Rose Bowl.[ 10]
The Cougars went to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego ,[ 9] [ 11] and lost a close, entertaining game to Brigham Young of the WAC , led by consensus All-American quarterback Jim McMahon ,[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] the fifth overall selection of the 1982 NFL draft .
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 12 Montana State * W 33–2123,721 [ 16]
September 19 at Colorado * W 14–1035,277 [ 17]
September 26 No. 18 Arizona State W 24–2124,481 [ 18]
October 3 Pacific (CA) * Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 31–017,923 [ 19]
October 10 at Oregon State W 23–032,500 [ 20]
October 17 UCLA No. 18 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA ABC T 17–1740,000 [ 21]
October 24 at Arizona No. 16 W 34–1950,265 [ 22]
October 31 at No. 4 USC No. 14 L 17–4160,972 [ 23]
November 7 Oregon Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 39–733,500 [ 24]
November 14 California No. 17 Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA W 19–031,000 [ 25]
November 21 at No. 17 Washington No. 14 L 10–2360,234 [ 26]
vs. No. 14 BYU * No. 20 L 36–3852,419 [ 27]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Roster
1981 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
TE
89
Pat Beach
Sr
QB
9
Clete Casper
Jr
FL
87
Paul Escalera
Sr
OT
60
Charlie Flager
Jr
RB
43
Tim Harris
Jr
SE
88
Jeff Keller
Sr
G
55
Mark McKay
Sr
SE
2
Cameron Mitchell
Sr
G
63
Gary Patrick
Jr
QB
17
Mark Rypien
Fr
C
51
Steve Sebahar
Jr
OT
72
Kevin Sloan
Jr
QB
12
Ricky Turner
So
RB
42
Robert Williams
Jr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
LB
96
Lee Blakeney
So
CB
30
Nate Bradley
Sr
DT
95
Ken Collins
Sr
DT
73
Matt Elisara
Sr
LB
18
Mark Pleis
Jr
LB
34
Ken Emmil
Jr
CB
41
Jeff Files
Sr
CB
6
Bill Gribble
Sr
DT
93
Keith Millard
So
FS
48
Peter Shaw
Sr
FS
28
Paul Sorensen
Sr
SS
44
John West
Sr
LB
57
Brent White
Jr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
LS
89
Pat Beach
Sr
P
16
Tim Davey
Sr
H
6
Bill Gribble
Sr
K
4
Ward Leland
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Pat Ruel – (OC)
Bob Padilla – (DC)
John Daniels
Dave Elliott
Gary Gagnon
Lindsay Hughes
Steve Morton
Mel Sanders
Harold Wheeler
Ken Woody
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
[ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33]
NFL Draft
Four Cougars were selected in the 1982 NFL draft .
[ 34] [ 35] [ 36] [ 37]
References
^ "1981 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. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "1981 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ Gerheim, Earl (November 21, 1981). "Cougs: Today's the day" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 17.
^ Barrows, Bob (November 21, 1981). "WSU and Washington ready to pull the trigger" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1C.
^ Withers, Bud (November 21, 1981). "Cougars-Huskies game: The toughest ticket in town" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). p. 1B.
^ Withers, Bud (November 22, 1981). "Huskies shatter a Cougar dream" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). p. 1D.
^ Barrows, Bob (November 22, 1981). "WSU's cheers turn to tears in Seattle" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 3D.
^ a b Van Sickel, Charlie (November 23, 1981). " 'Holiday' next for frustrated Cougars" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 33.
^ Oates, Bob (January 2, 1982). "Everything comes up roses for UW, 28-0" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times) . p. 1B.
^ Blanchette, John (November 23, 1981). "It's WSU vs. BYU's aerial circus" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. C4.
^ "McMahon makes Holiday happy one for BYU, 38-36" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. December 19, 1981. p. 2B.
^ Barrows, Bob (December 19, 1981). "Washington State almost has a curtain call" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1C.
^ Van Sickel, Charlie (December 19, 1981). "BYU survives on strong finish" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 13.
^ Robinson, Doug (December 19, 1981). "Y. wins another Holiday heart stopper" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. A3.
^ "Washington State teams Bobcats" . The Montana Standard . September 13, 1981 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "14 points in last 2:36 send Buffs to defeat" . Omaha World-Herald . September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Unbeaten Cougars pop Arizona State" . The News Tribune . September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Cougars come out roaring; Pacific 'self-destructs' " . The Modesto Bee . October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Contented Cougars purr-fect, 23–0!" . The Columbian . October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "WSU still unbeaten, but UCLA gains tie" . The Columbian . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Washington State rolls on with 34–19 win over Arizona" . The San Francisco Examiner . October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Allen, Southern Cal roll past Cougars 41–17" . The Macon Telegraph & News . November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "WSU topples Oregon 39–7" . The Idaho Statesman . November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Cougs can smell Roses" . The Spokesman-Review . November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Everything turns up roses for Huskies" . Asbury Park Press . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "McMahon leads BYU to victory" . The Arizona Republic . December 19, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Starting lineups" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). November 7, 1981. p. 5B.
^ "Probable lineups: WSU" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). November 21, 1981. p. 17.
^ "Probable lineups" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). November 21, 1981. p. 2C.
^ "WSU roster" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). December 18, 1981. p. 22.
^ "Starting lineups" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). December 18, 1981. p. 12B.
^ "2008 Football media guide" (PDF) . Washington State University Athletics. 2008. pp. 172– 191. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ Barrows, Bob (April 28, 1982). "Sorenson, Beach drafted" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1C.
^ "NFL teams take best local talent" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 29, 1982. p. 27.
^ "Two more Cougars drafted in NFL" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). April 29, 1982. p. 1C.
^ "Four Cougars, two Vandals picked" . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington). April 29, 1982. p. 35.
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