1959 Washington State Cougars football team

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]

1959 Washington State Cougars football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–4
Head coach
Home stadiumRogers Field
Memorial Stadium (Spokane)
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 NCAA University Division independents football records
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 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

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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 Oregon 
  • Rogers Field
  • Pullman, WA
L 6–715,500[18][19][20][21]
November 21at No. 14 WashingtonL 0–2056,000[22][23]
November 26at HoustonW 32–186,000[24]

NFL Draft

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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

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  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.
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