1959 Washington State Cougars football team

American college football season

1959 Washington State Cougars football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–4
Head coach
  • Jim Sutherland (4th season)
Home stadiumRogers Field
Memorial Stadium (Spokane)
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 NCAA University Division independents football records
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 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Syracuse   –   11 – 0 – 0
No. 12 Penn State   –   9 – 2 – 0
Oregon   –   8 – 2 – 0
Detroit   –   6 – 4 – 0
Holy Cross   –   6 – 4 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   6 – 4 – 0
Oklahoma State   –   6 – 4 – 0
No. 20 Pittsburgh   –   6 – 4 – 0
Washington State   –   6 – 4 – 0
Boston College   –   5 – 4 – 0
Pacific (CA)   –   5 – 4 – 0
Air Force   –   5 – 4 – 1
Navy   –   5 – 4 – 1
Army   –   4 – 4 – 1
No. 17 Notre Dame   –   5 – 5 – 0
Boston University   –   4 – 5 – 0
Florida State   –   4 – 6 – 0
San Jose State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Texas Tech   –   4 – 6 – 0
Dayton   –   3 – 7 – 0
Marquette   –   3 – 7 – 0
Oregon State   –   3 – 7 – 0
Colgate   –   2 – 7 – 0
Idaho   –   1 – 9 – 0
Villanova   –   1 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1959 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University as an independent during the 1959 college football season.[1] In their fourth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 6–4 record and outscored their opponents 177 to 121.[2][3]

The team's statistical leaders included Mel Melin with 526 passing yards, Keith Lincoln with 670 rushing yards, and Gail Cogdill with 531 receiving yards.[4] The Cougars had only three home games this season: the season opener in Spokane (at night) and two on campus in Pullman.

This was the first season after the disbandment of the Pacific Coast Conference,[1] and the first as "Washington State University."[5][6] After three years as an independent, WSU became the sixth member of the AAWU in 1962.[7]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 198:00 p.m.CaliforniaL 6–2024,850[8][9]
September 26at San Jose StateW 30–615,500[10]
October 31:30 p.m.at OregonL 6–1416,800[11][12][13]
October 10at Pacific (CA)W 20–1215,500
October 17at StanfordW 36–1928,500
October 242:00 p.m.IdahoW 27–519,200[14][15]
October 31at Oregon StateW 14–017,601[16][17]
November 141:30 p.m.No. 14 Oregondagger
  • Rogers Field
  • Pullman, WA
L 6–715,500[18][19][20][21]
November 21at No. 14 WashingtonL 0–2056,000[22][23]
November 26at Houston
W 32–186,000[24]

NFL Draft

Two Cougars were selected in the 1960 NFL draft, which was twenty rounds (240 selections).

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Gail Cogdill End 6 63 Detroit Lions
Don Ellersick Back 6 66 Los Angeles Rams

[25][26]

References

  1. ^ a b "Washington State officials pleased with results of independent season, still prefer conference". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 29, 1959. p. 2.
  2. ^ "1959 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "1959 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  5. ^ "New name for WSC near O.K." Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 4, 1959. p. 2.
  6. ^ "New name near for State College". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). August 5, 1959. p. 18.
  7. ^ "Cougars admitted to athletic loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 14, 1962. p. 39.
  8. ^ Missildine, Harry (September 19, 1959). "WSU, Golden Bears tangle in stadium at 8 p.m." Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  9. ^ Missildine, Harry (September 20, 1959). "Golden Bears manhandle Cougars, 20 to 6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ "Cougars win, 30-6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 27, 1959. p. 1, sports.
  11. ^ Strite, Dick (October 2, 1959). "Ducks, Cougars vie here Saturday". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 2B.
  12. ^ Strite, Dick (October 4, 1959). "Oregon stops Cougars for third win, 14-6". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  13. ^ "Oregon's goal-line stands stymie Washington State, 14-6". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 4, 1959. p. 9.
  14. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 24, 1959). "Warm, dry day seen for Washington State - Idaho game". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  15. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 25, 1959). "Cougars beat Idaho with big second half". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  16. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 31, 1959). "Cougars must win today". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 9.
  17. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 1, 1959). "Talented Cougars win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  18. ^ Strite, Dick (November 13, 1959). "Ducks, Cougars play second game Saturday". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  19. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 14, 1959). "Bowl hopes ride on WSU-Duck duel". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 8.
  20. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 15, 1959). "WSU loses in final seconds, 7-6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  21. ^ Strite, Dick (November 15, 1959). "Grosz-West 56-yarder sets up 7-6 UO win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  22. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 22, 1959). "WSU and UW in traditional battle". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 9.
  23. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 22, 1959). "Vandals win, muscular Huskies demolish WSU". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  24. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 27, 1959). "Moose of Palouse paces Cougar victory". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 14.
  25. ^ "WSC, Idaho, Whit stars eyed by pros". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 1, 1959. p. 12.
  26. ^ "8 PNW gridders chosen by pros". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 1, 1959. p. 15.
  • Game program: California vs. WSU at Spokane – September 19, 1959
  • Game program: Idaho at WSU – October 24, 1959
  • Game program: Oregon at WSU – November 14, 1959
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