1959 Washington State Cougars football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1959
| team = Washington State Cougars
| sport = football
| image = Washington State Football Helmet 1956, 1958-1959.png
| image_size = 200
| conference = Independent
| record = 6–4
| head_coach = Jim Sutherland
| hc_year = 4th
| captain =
| stadium = Rogers Field
Memorial Stadium (Spokane)
}}
{{1959 NCAA University Division independents football records}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LbJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zi8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2869%2C4258191 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Washington State officials pleased with results of independent season, still prefer conference |date=November 29, 1959 |page=2}} In their fourth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 6–4 record and outscored their opponents 177 to 121.{{cite web|title=1959 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=October 25, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1959-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=2016 Media Guide|url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf|website=WSUCougars.com|publisher=Washington State Cougars Athletics|access-date=October 25, 2016|page=76|archive-date=October 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004149/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite web|title=1959 Washington State Cougars Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=October 25, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1959.html}} 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, and the first as "Washington State University."{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JP1XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5907%2C481257 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=New name for WSC near O.K. |date=February 4, 1959 |page=2}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1gFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5197%2C1025216 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=New name near for State College |date=August 5, 1959 |page=18 }} After three years as an independent, WSU became the sixth member of the AAWU in 1962.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=czRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5219%2C3522374
|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Cougars admitted to athletic loop |date=June 14, 1962 |page=39}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1959
| poll = AP
| timezone = Pacific
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| opponent = California
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Spokane, WA
| score = 6–20
| attend = 24,850
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DTNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7107%2C1078527 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=WSU, Golden Bears tangle in stadium at 8 p.m. |date=September 19, 1959 |page=10}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DjNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6617%2C1775096|work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Golden Bears manhandle Cougars, 20 to 6 |date=September 20, 1959 |page=1, sports}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = San Jose State
| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
| site_cityst = San Jose, CA
| score = 30–6
| attend = 15,500
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Oregon
| site_stadium = Hayward Field
| site_cityst = Eugene, OR
| score = 6–14
| attend = 16,800
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3RZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8eIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7004%2C312643 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Ducks, Cougars vie here Saturday |date=October 2, 1959 |page=2B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3hZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8eIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6908%2C510639 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Oregon stops Cougars for third win, 14-6 |date=October 4, 1959 |page=1B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eMxeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3581%2C592737 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Oregon's goal-line stands stymie Washington State, 14-6 |date=October 4, 1959 |page=9}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Pacific (CA)
| site_stadium = Pacific Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Stockton, CA
| score = 20–12
| attend = 15,500
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Stanford
| site_stadium = Stanford Stadium
| site_cityst = Stanford, CA
| score = 36–19
| attend = 28,500
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Idaho
| site_stadium = Rogers Field
| site_cityst = Pullman, WA
| gamename = Battle of the Palouse
| score = 27–5
| attend = 19,200
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HG0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7039%2C3106593 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Warm, dry day seen for Washington State - Idaho game |date=October 24, 1959 |page=10}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HW0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6499%2C3644110 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Cougars beat Idaho with big second half |date=October 25, 1959 |page=1, sports}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Oregon State
| site_stadium = Parker Stadium
| site_cityst = Corvallis, OR
| score = 14–0
| attend = 17,601
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I20pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5141%2C5469420 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Cougars must win today |date=October 31, 1959 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9WwpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6297%2C531337 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Talented Cougars win |date=November 1, 1959 |page=1, sports}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Oregon
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Rogers Field
| site_cityst = Pullman, WA
| score = 6–7
| attend = 15,500
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oP9VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6040%2C2109515 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Ducks, Cougars play second game Saturday |date=November 13, 1959 |page=1B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Am0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5586%2C4668148|work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Bowl hopes ride on WSU-Duck duel |date=November 14, 1959 |page=8}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A20pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776%2C5320920 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=WSU loses in final seconds, 7-6 |date=November 15, 1959 |page=1, sports}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ov9VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5955%2C2274500 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Grosz-West 56-yarder sets up 7-6 UO win |date=November 15, 1959 |page=1B}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Washington
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Husky Stadium
| site_cityst = Seattle, WA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 0–20
| attend = 56,000
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cmNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-PEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6661%2C1611750|work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=WSU and UW in traditional battle |date=November 22, 1959 |page=9}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2NWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-PEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6408%2C2161619 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Vandals win, muscular Huskies demolish WSU |date=November 22, 1959 |page=1, sports}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{dow tooltip|November 26, 1959}}
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Houston
| site_stadium = Houston Stadium
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| score = 32–18
| attend = 6,000
}}
}}
NFL draft
Two Cougars were selected in the 1960 NFL draft, which was 20 rounds and 240 selections.
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Washington State Cougars|Player|Position|Round|Overall|Franchise}} |
| Gail Cogdill
|End |6 |63 |
| Don Ellersick
|Back |6 |66 |
{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6545%2C88572 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=WSC, Idaho, Whit stars eyed by pros |date=December 1, 1959 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lv9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5687%2C267503 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=8 PNW gridders chosen by pros |date=December 1, 1959 |page=15}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3156 Game program: California vs. WSU at Spokane] – September 19, 1959
- [https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3188 Game program: Idaho at WSU] – October 24, 1959
- [https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3220 Game program: Oregon at WSU] – November 14, 1959
{{Washington State Cougars football navbox}}
Category:Washington State Cougars football seasons
Washington State Cougars football
{{collegefootball-1959-season-stub}}