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] and lost a close, entertaining game to Brigham Young of the WAC , led by consensus All-American quarterback Jim McMahon ,[11] [12] [13] [14] the fifth overall selection of the 1982 NFL Draft .
Schedule [ ]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance September 12 Montana State * W 33–21 23,721
September 19 at Colorado * W 14–10 35,277
September 26 No. 18 Arizona State W 24–21 24,481
October 3 Pacific * Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 31–0 17,923
October 10 at Oregon State W 23–0 32,500
October 17 UCLA No. 18 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA T 17–17 40,000
October 24 at Arizona No. 16 W 34–19 50,265
October 31 at No. 4 USC No. 14 L 17–41 60,972
November 7 Oregon Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 39–7 33,500
November 14 California No. 17 Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA W 19–0 31,000
November 21 at No. 17 Washington No. 14 L 10–23 60,234
vs. No. 14 BYU * No. 20 L 36–38 52,419
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings 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
T
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
T
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
Source: [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]
NFL Draft [ ]
Four Cougars were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft .
[21] [22] [23] [24]
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. 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.
^ "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.
^ "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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