1956 Washington State Cougars football
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Record3–6–1 (2–5–1 PCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRogers Field, Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1955
1957 →
1956 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Oregon State $ 6 – 1 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
No. 18 USC 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
UCLA 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Washington 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Oregon 3 – 3 – 2 4 – 4 – 2
Stanford 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Washington State 2 – 5 – 1 3 – 6 – 1
California 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Idaho 0 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1956 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1956 NCAA University Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Sutherland, the team posted a 3–6–1 overall record, and were 2–5–1 in the Pacific Coast Conference.[1][2]

Hired in January, Sutherland was previously an assistant at rival Washington for a season under head coach John Cherberg, preceded by two years at California under Pappy Waldorf. His initial contract with the Cougars was for three years, estimated at $12,000 per year,[3][4] and he led the program for eight seasons, through 1963.[5][6][7]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22No. 14 Stanford
L 26–4023,500
September 29San Jose State*
W 33–189,000
October 6at Idaho
W 33–1916,300[8][9][10]
October 13at UCLA
L 0–2827,192
October 20Oregon Statedagger
  • Rogers Field
  • Pullman, WA
L 0–2114,500
October 27at Pacific (CA)*
L 12–3323,500
November 3No. 20 USC
  • Rogers Field
  • Pullman, WA
L 12–2813,000
November 10at Oregon
T 7–713,200
November 17at California
W 14–1332,000
November 24Washington
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Spokane, WA (rivalry)
L 26–4020,700
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

NFL Draft

One Cougar was selected in the 1957 NFL Draft, which was thirty rounds (360 selections).

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Don Gest End 30 360 New York Giants

[11]

References

  1. ^ Boni, Bill (November 25, 1956). "Hammering Huskies, 40 to 26". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  2. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 74. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  3. ^ "Sutherland named WSC coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). January 18, 1956. p. 21.
  4. ^ "WSC hires Sutherland". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 18, 1956. p. 2B.
  5. ^ Johnson, Bob (December 6, 1963). "WSU in market for new coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 16.
  6. ^ "Sutherland out as grid coach". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 6, 1963. p. 2B.
  7. ^ "Sutherland out as football coach at Washington State". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 6, 1963. p. 14.
  8. ^ "Idaho, WSC set for tilt". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 5, 1956. p. 13.
  9. ^ Boni, Bill (October 7, 1956). "Police by gas, WSC by 33-19". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ "WSC gridders beat Vandals 33-19; students battle to draw". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 7, 1956. p. 11.
  11. ^ "Pickings and pickets at NFL draft meet". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. February 1, 1957. p. 15.

External links


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