American college football season
The 1972 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season . In their fifth season under head coach Jim Sweeney , the Cougars compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 in the Pac-8, tied for 3rd), and outscored their opponents 274 to 241.[ 1] [ 2]
The team's statistical leaders included Ty Payne with 1,349 passing yards, Ken Grandberry with 833 rushing yards, and Brock Aynsley with 344 receiving yards.[ 3]
Martin Stadium made its debut in late September and hosted four games; top-ranked USC was played in Seattle (at Husky Stadium ),[ 4] and the Apple Cup was at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane .
Washington State won their first Apple Cup in four years over favored #17 Washington , dealing Husky quarterback Sonny Sixkiller a 27–10 loss in his final collegiate game.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] The Cougars finished in the top twenty in both major polls ; the Pac-8 did not allow a second bowl team until the 1975 season.
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 9 at Kansas * W 18–1731,370 September 16 at California L 23–3730,794 September 23 at Arizona * W 28–630,000 [ 9] September 30 Utah * L 25–4420,200 [ 10] October 7 Idaho * W 35–1418,500 [ 11] October 14 at Oregon W 31–1423,000 [ 12] [ 13] October 21 Oregon State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 37–722,100 October 28 at No. 9 UCLA L 20–3529,950 November 4 vs. No. 1 USC L 3–4446,500 [ 4] November 11 No. 20 Stanford Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 27–1320,500 November 18 No. 17 Washington No. 20 W 27–1034,100 [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1972 Washington State Cougars football team roster Players Coaches Offense Pos. # Name Class SE 45 Brock Aynsley Sr SE 49 Fritz Brayton Jr TE 80 Bob Engel Jr RB 44 Ken Grandberry Jr G 51 Mike Hill Jr SE 40 Greg Johnson Jr FB 39 Andrew Jones So TE 86 Tim Krause Jr OT 61 Bill Moos (C) Sr G 62 Steve Ostermann So QB 14 Ty Paine Sr QB 13 Chuck Peck So C 65 Geoff Reece So OT 75 Tom Wickert Jr
Defense Pos. # Name Class SS 36 Mike Carter So DT 71 Greg Craighead Jr CB 29 Tyrone Daisy Sr DE 79 Joe Daniels So FS 37 Eric Johnson Jr DE 85 Mike Johnson So LB 66 Gary Larsen So DT 88 Dennis Mitchell Sr CB 21 Morris Noble Jr LB 58 Tom Poe Jr SE 47 Bobby Redmond Jr DE 82 Jim Robinson Sr
Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
Source: [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] Two Washington State players, both offensive linemen, were named to the all-conference team : senior tackle Bill Moos and sophomore guard Steve Ostermann. On the second team (honorable mention) was linebacker Clyde Warehime.[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] Ostermann returned to the first team in 1973 and 1974 .[ 21]
One Cougar was selected in the 1973 NFL draft
[ 22] [ 23] [ 24]
^ "1972 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. 76. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016 . ^ "1972 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 . ^ a b Emerson, Paul (November 5, 1972). "Top-ranked Trojans bomb Cougars 44-3" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 19. ^ a b Emerson, Paul (November 19, 1972). "Inspired Cougars upset Washington 27-10" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 15. ^ a b "Cougars bounce Huskies" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. November 19, 1972. p. 5B. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (November 19, 1972). "Cougar defense unyielding in 27-10 win over Huskies" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports. ^ a b Brown, Bruce (November 20, 1972). "Cougar title hopes run high" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 14. ^ "Cougars KO Arizona, 28–6" . The Sunday Oregonian . September 24, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Utah beats Cougars 44–25" . The Spokesman-Review . October 1, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Missildine, Harry (October 8, 1972). "Paine paces Cougars' win" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports. ^ Conrad, John (October 15, 1972). "WSU ranked on pass rush -- and it paid big dividends" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). p. 2C. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 15, 1972). "Hard-running Cougars beat Ducks after quick scare in third quarter" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports. ^ "WSU vs. Washington (rosters)" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). November 17, 1972. p. 23. ^ "Cougars vs. Huskies (rosters)" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). November 18, 1972. p. 14. ^ "Cougars (20) face Huskies (17) for top grid ranking in Washington" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). November 18, 1972. p. 13. ^ "2008 Football media guide" (PDF) . Washington State University Athletics. 2008. pp. 172–191. Retrieved March 2, 2020 . ^ "Trojans top Pac-8 team" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1972. p. 13. ^ "Two Cougars tabbed Pac-8 all-stars" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). November 25, 1972. p. 12. ^ "Fouts, Specht gain berths" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). November 25, 1972. p. 1B. ^ "3 Cougars on Pac-8 all-stars" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1974. p. 49. ^ "Giants tab Paine as draft resumes" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). January 31, 1973. p. 10. ^ "Giants tab Coug QB Ty Paine" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). February 1, 1973. p. 18. ^ "Paine still likes QB position" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. February 1, 1973. p. 21.
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