1962 Washington State Cougars football team

1962 Washington State Cougars football
ConferenceAthletic Association of Western Universities
Record5–4–1 (1–1 AAWU)
Head coach
Home stadiumRogers Field, Joe Albi Stadium
Seasons
← 1961
1963 →
1962 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 USC $ 4 0 0 11 0 0
Washington 4 1 0 7 1 2
Washington State 1 1 0 5 4 1
Stanford 2 3 0 5 5 0
UCLA 1 3 0 4 6 0
California 0 4 0 1 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1962 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU, Big Six) during the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 5–4–1 record (1–1 in AAWU, third), and outscored their opponents 213 to 167.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included Dave Mathieson with 1,492 passing yards, George Reed with 503 rushing yards, and Hugh Campbell with 848 receiving yards.[3]

Midway through the schedule, WSU was undefeated at 4–0–1, equaling their best start since 1936.[4] They received a vote in that week's UPI Coaches Poll (tied for 23rd),[5][6] but managed only a rally win at neighbor Idaho (in the snow) in the final five games.

After three years as an independent, WSU was admitted to the conference in the summer of 1962;[7][8] due to advanced scheduling, they played few of the southern members (of California) per season until the late 1960s.[7][8] The AAWU expanded to eight in 1964 with the addition of Oregon and Oregon State.

  1. ^ "1962 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. ^ "1962 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 21, 1962). "Palouse Phantom snags pass, win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  5. ^ "UPI poll". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. October 23, 1962. p. 2B.
  6. ^ "Oregon climbs to 13th spot in football poll". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. October 23, 1962. p. 3.
  7. ^ a b Hewins, Jack (June 14, 1962). "Big 5 bid accepted by Washington State". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 16.
  8. ^ a b "Cougars admitted to athletic loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 14, 1962. p. 39.