1954 Washington State Cougars football team
American college football season
The 1954 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1954 college football season . Led by third-year head coach Al Kircher , the team was 4–6 overall and 3–4 in the Pacific Coast Conference .[ 1] Three home games were played on campus in Pullman at Rogers Field , with one in Spokane in late September.
The Cougars defeated rival Washington for the second straight year,[ 2] but were shut out at home by neighbor Idaho in the Battle of the Palouse , which was the Vandals' first win in the series in 29 years.
The Washington rivalry game (now the Apple Cup ) was held in Pullman for the first time since 1948 and was the last until 1982 ; all three were Cougar victories. Of the fifteen games played in Spokane from 1950 through 1980 , Washington State won only three (1958 , 1968 , 1972 ), while winning five times in Seattle .
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source at No. 17 USC L 0–3937,645
September 25 Pacific (CA) * W 18–012,000
October 2 at No. 12 Texas * L 14–4027,000 [ 3]
October 9 Oregon State W 34–615,000
October 16 at California L 7–1727,000
October 23 Idaho L 0–1017,000 [ 4] [ 5]
October 30 at Stanford W 30–2613,000
November 6 at Michigan State * L 6–5445,849
November 13 at Oregon L 14–2616,000
November 20 Washington W 26–718,000
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Roster
[ 6] [ 7]
NFL Draft
Four Cougars were selected in the 1955 NFL draft , which was thirty rounds (360 selections).
[ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
References
^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF) . WSUCougars.com . Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 74. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ Boni, Bill (November 21, 1954). "Cougars crumple Huskies 26 to 7" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ "Texans wilt Cougars, 40–14" . The Spokesman-Review . October 3, 1954. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Boni, Bill (October 24, 1954). "Idaho thumps WSC, 10 to 0" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ " "Win made us ball club", says Skip Stahley" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). October 25, 1954. p. 17.
^ "W.S.C. vs. U. of Idaho" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). October 22, 1954. p. 15.
^ "Cougars vs. Vandals" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). October 23, 1954. p. 9.
^ "Washington is happy with draft by Eagles" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). January 28, 1955. p. 14.
^ "Cougars vs. Vandals" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). (rosters). October 23, 1954. p. 9.
^ "Cougars vs. Huskies" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). (rosters). November 20, 1954. p. 10.
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