1966 Washington State Cougars football
ConferenceAthletic Association of Western Universities
Record3–7 (1–3 AAWU)
Head coach
Home stadiumRogers Field
Joe Albi Stadium (Spokane)
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
USC $ 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
No. 5 UCLA 3 – 1 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
Oregon State 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Washington 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
California 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Oregon 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Washington State 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Stanford 1 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Bert Clark, the Cougars compiled a 3–7 record (1–3 in AAWU, tie for sixth), and were outscored 211 to 132.[1][2] Two home games were played on campus at Rogers Field in Pullman, and three at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane.

The team's statistical leaders included Jerry Henderson with 989 passing yards, Ammon McWashington with 298 rushing yards, and Doug Flansburg with 613 receiving yards.[3]

The trip to the Houston Astrodome in September included a jet flight, the first for Cougar football.[4] It was the first college football game played on artificial turf, the majority (baseball outfield) of the AstroTurf was installed two months earlier in July.[5][6]

After consecutive losses in the Battle of the Palouse,[7][8] WSU scored two late touchdowns to defeat Idaho 14–7 in the chilly mud at Neale Stadium on October 22;[9][10][11] the Cougars have not played in neighboring Moscow since.

Washington State defeated Oregon in the final varsity football game at Hayward Field.[12][13][14] In the rivlary game with Washington at Spokane,[15][16] the Cougars lost for the eighth straight year.[17][18][19]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17California
L 6–2123,300[20][21][22]
September 23at Houston*
L 7–2136,104[4][23]
October 1Baylor*
  • Joe Albi Stadium
  • Spokane, WA
L 14–2018,500–19,775
October 8Arizona State*
W 24–1518,700[24]
October 15at Utah*
L 15–2620,051
October 22at Idaho*
W 14–716,500[9][10][11]
October 29Oregon Statedagger
  • Rogers Field
  • Pullman, WA
L 13–4118,500[25][26]
November 5at Oregon
W 14–1317,500[12][13][14][27]
November 12at Arizona*
L 18–2823,000
November 19Washington
L 7-1933,800[17][18][19]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Roster

1966 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
FB 32 Del Carmichael Jr
OT 78 Greg Elliot Jr
SE 80 Doug Flansburg Jr
FB 31 Ted Gerela Jr
QB 12 Hank Grenda So
QB 11 Jerry Henderson So
G 67 Robin Larson Sr
HB 45 Ammon McWashington Sr
G 68 Dave Middendorf Jr
QB 15 Dave Petersen Sr
HB 40 Glen Shaw So
TE 88 Rich Sheron Sr
TE 42 Bob Simpson Jr
OT 55 Dave Thomas Sr
C 52 Ron Vrlicak Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
MG 60 Jerry Anderson Jr
LB 32 Dick Baird Jr
DT 72 Burgess Bauder Sr
LB 66 Steve Boots Jr
S, QB 10 Mike Cadigan Jr
DE 85 Craig Goodwin Jr
LB 61 Larry Griffith Sr
DB 44 Bud Norris Sr
S 15 Dave Petersen Sr
CB 14 Rick Reed So
DE 83 John Thompson Jr
MG 78 Bob Trygstad Sr
DT 77 Steve Van Sinderen So
LB 34 Mark Wicks Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 31 Ted Gerela Jr
P 84 Jim Engstrom Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt
Source:[15][28][29][30][31]

NFL/AFL Draft

Three Cougars were selected in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft.

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Rich Sheron TE 2 37 New York Jets
Bud Norris TE 6 138 Miami Dolphins
Bob Trygstad DT 11 271 Minnesota Vikings

[32][33]

References

  1. ^ "1966 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  2. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "1966 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Spoerhase, Jim (September 23, 1966). "Rugged test seen for Cougars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.
  5. ^ "Phils, Astros plan tonight on artificial grass". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. July 19, 1966. p. 23.
  6. ^ "Phils find Farrell, turf unfriendly". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 20, 1966. p. 3C.
  7. ^ "WSU pins hopes on untried soph". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 21, 1966. p. 15.
  8. ^ Payne, Bob (October 22, 1966). "Name of game is 'Knock': Cougs, Vandals make war". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  9. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (October 23, 1966). "Glen Shaw's sprint defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ a b Wilson, Mike (October 23, 1966). "WSU scores twice in fourth quarter to beat Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 12.
  11. ^ a b Spoerhase, Jim (October 24, 1966). "Rally by Cougars trips Idaho 14-7". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
  12. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (November 6, 1966). "Ducks miscount, Cougars win 14-13". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  13. ^ a b Uhrhammer, Jerry (November 6, 1966). "Ducks lose count, game". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  14. ^ a b Tims, Marvin (November 6, 1966). "Hayward Field ends its days on a sad note". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1A.
  15. ^ a b "Cougar, Husky seniors in final game". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (photos). November 19, 1966. p. 1.
  16. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 19, 1966). "Do cycles end at seven years? Underdog Cougars seek answer". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  17. ^ a b "Fumbling Cougars lose to Huskies". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 20, 1966. p. 1, sports.
  18. ^ a b "Four field goals spark Huskies' win". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 20, 1966. p. 11.
  19. ^ a b Spoerhase, Jim (November 21, 1966). "Huskies kick Cougars 19-7; talented toe does big job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 14.
  20. ^ "WSU team favored to beat California". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). September 16, 1966. p. 17.
  21. ^ Missildine, Harry (September 18, 1966). "Cal whips WSU; Guest scats 108". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  22. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (September 19, 1966). "Clark faces big chore". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
  23. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (September 24, 1966). "WSU eleven downed again; tough Baylor is next foe". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 11.
  24. ^ "Sun Devil mistakes help Cougar victory". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 9, 1966. p. 1, sports.
  25. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 30, 1966). "Beavers rip Cougars, Idaho falls". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  26. ^ Wilson, Mike (October 30, 1966). "Beavers swamp Cougars". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 12.
  27. ^ "4th-down failure assists WSU win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 7, 1966. p. 17.
  28. ^ Uhrhammer, Jerry (November 4, 1966). "Webfoots have score to settle with WSU". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 3B.
  29. ^ "WSU vs. OSU". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 28, 1966. p. 13.
  30. ^ "WSU vs. UW". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (probable starters, rosters). November 19, 1966. p. 10.
  31. ^ "2008 Football media guide" (PDF). Washington State University Athletics. 2008. pp. 172–191. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  32. ^ "Big Ray's happy with draft result". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 15, 1967. p. 15.
  33. ^ "Pro grid teams tab hoop stars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 16, 1967. p. 37.

External links

Washington State Cougars football
Categories