1966 Washington State Cougars football team

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]

  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. ^ 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. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 23, 1966). "Glen Shaw's sprint defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ Wilson, Mike (October 23, 1966). "WSU scores twice in fourth quarter to beat Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 12.
  11. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (October 24, 1966). "Rally by Cougars trips Idaho 14-7". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
  12. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 6, 1966). "Ducks miscount, Cougars win 14-13". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  13. ^ Uhrhammer, Jerry (November 6, 1966). "Ducks lose count, game". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  14. ^ Tims, Marvin (November 6, 1966). "Hayward Field ends its days on a sad note". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1A.
  15. ^ "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. ^ "Fumbling Cougars lose to Huskies". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 20, 1966. p. 1, sports.
  18. ^ "Four field goals spark Huskies' win". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 20, 1966. p. 11.
  19. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (November 21, 1966). "Huskies kick Cougars 19-7; talented toe does big job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 14.