1959 Washington State Cougars football team

1959 Washington State Cougars football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–4
Head coach
Home stadiumRogers Field
Memorial Stadium (Spokane)
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Syracuse     11 0 0
No. 12 Penn State     9 2 0
Oregon     8 2 0
Detroit     6 4 0
Holy Cross     6 4 0
Miami (FL)     6 4 0
Oklahoma State     6 4 0
No. 20 Pittsburgh     6 4 0
Washington State     6 4 0
Boston College     5 4 0
Pacific (CA)     5 4 0
Air Force     5 4 1
Navy     5 4 1
Army     4 4 1
No. 17 Notre Dame     5 5 0
Boston University     4 5 0
Florida State     4 6 0
San Jose State     4 6 0
Texas Tech     4 6 0
Dayton     3 7 0
Marquette     3 7 0
Oregon State     3 7 0
Colgate     2 7 0
Idaho     1 9 0
Villanova     1 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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.[1] In their fourth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 6–4 record and outscored their opponents 177 to 121.[2][3]

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.[4] 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,[1] and the first as "Washington State University."[5][6] After three years as an independent, WSU became the sixth member of the AAWU in 1962.[7]

  1. ^ a b "Washington State officials pleased with results of independent season, still prefer conference". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 29, 1959. p. 2.
  2. ^ "1959 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "1959 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  5. ^ "New name for WSC near O.K." Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 4, 1959. p. 2.
  6. ^ "New name near for State College". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). August 5, 1959. p. 18.
  7. ^ "Cougars admitted to athletic loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 14, 1962. p. 39.