Washington State Cougars
Logo
UniversityWashington State University
ConferencePacific 12 (primary)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field)
NCAADivision I (FBS)
Athletic directorPatrick Chun
LocationPullman, Washington
Varsity teams17 (7 men’s, 10 women’s)
Football stadiumMartin Stadium
Basketball arenaBeasley Coliseum
Baseball stadiumBailey-Brayton Field
MascotButch T. Cougar
NicknameCougars
ColorsCrimson and gray[1]
   
Websitewww.wsucougars.com

The Washington State Cougars (known informally as the Cougs) are the athletic teams that represent Washington State University. Located in Pullman, Washington, WSU is a member of the Pac-12 Conference in NCAA Division I. The athletic program comprises ten women's sports and seven men's intercollegiate sports, and also offers various intramural sports.

Washington State will join the West Coast Conference as an associate member for the conferences sponsored varsity sports, except baseball, beginning in the 2024–25 season. For football, Washington State will remain a member of the Pac-12 conference, though it has a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West Conference.

Varsity athletics

Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross country
Cross countryGolf
FootballRowing
GolfSoccer
Track and field†Swimming
Tennis
Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

WSU formerly had varsity programs in rowing, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and rifle. In 1937, boxers Roy Petragallo and Ed McKinnon won individual titles and the Cougar team, under coach Ike Deeter (1902-2003),[2] won the NCAA boxing championship,[3] WSU's first national championship.[4] (The Inland Northwest was a hotbed of the sport as Idaho and Gonzaga also had top programs and won national titles.)[4] Collegiate boxing fell from favor in the 1950s and the Cougar program was dropped 64 years ago in May 1960;[5][6] the NCAA stopped its sponsorship less than a year later.[7]

The WSU wrestling program was discontinued 38 years ago, after the 1986 season,[8] and women's gymnastics the following year.[9][10] The current WSU wrestling program competes in the NCWA division 1 and is a varsity sport. Men's gymnastics was cut earlier, after the 1980 season,[11] rifle in 1987,[10] and men's tennis in 1994.[12][13][14] Other former programs include men's swimming[15] and skiing.[16] WSU does not have a women's softball program, one of three Pac-12 members (USC, Colorado) without.

The men's track and field team won the NCAA indoor national championship in 1977.[17]

Formerly free of charge, student tickets were introduced for home events in the fall of 1983, approved by a student referendum election.[18]

Football

During the 2001–03 seasons, the Cougar football teams were distinguished by three ten-win seasons,[19] three top ten poll rankings, and appearances in the Sun, Rose, and Holiday Bowls. The Cougars shared the Pac-10 title in 2002.[20] Alumnus Paul Wulff, WSU's 31st head coach, was fired in late November 2011, after compiling a 9–40 (.184) record in four seasons. Mike Leach coached the team from 2012 to 2019, guiding them to six bowl games. Leach left to coach Mississippi State in 2020 and was replaced by Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich. Rolovitch was fired in October 2021 for not complying with the state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert was named the interim head coach.

Basketball

The 1916–17 team had a 25–1 record,[21] and was retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.[22][23] When George Raveling was head coach (1972–1983), the Cougars were among the Pac-10's top teams and went to the NCAA tournament in 1980 and 1983.

Before becoming head coach in 2005, Tony Bennett spent three seasons at WSU as an assistant to his father, Dick Bennett. In the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, his Cougar teams had 26 wins each, tying the WSU record set by the 1940–41 team. In April 2009, Bennett left for Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Baseball

Women's soccer

The Cougars' women's soccer team produced several postseason contenders in the 2010s and 2020s, including a final four appearance in 2019. Head coach Todd Shulenberger's 82 wins through the 2021 season is second-most among coaches of all sports in Cougars history, and the school's players or recruiting commitments produced eight National Women's Soccer League draft picks since 2015, including three consecutive first-round picks in Morgan Weaver (2020), Trinity Rodman (2021), and Elyse Bennett (2022).[24]

Volleyball

The Cougars volleyball team has made the NCAA volleyball tournament 17 times.

Championships

NCAA team championships

Washington State has won 2 NCAA team national championships.[25]

see also:

Other national team championships

Below are 6 national team titles that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

  • Men's Rifle (4): 1909, 1910, 1915, 1933
  • Men's Skiing (1): 1953
  • Men's Bowling (1):1982

see also:

Rivalries

Cougar fans celebrate on the field after an Apple Cup win in 2004.

Washington State's biggest rival is the University of Washington (UW) Huskies. One of the most important athletic contests for both schools is the Apple Cup:[26][27] the annual game between the Cougars and the University of Washington Huskies and is traditionally held on the third Saturday of November.

As the two main public universities in the state, WSU and UW have a geographic rivalry.

Rivalries also exist between WSU and the other Pac-12 teams of the Pacific Northwest: the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers. Competition between the schools in football has been very competitive over the years, as the Cougars hold a 47–44–3 advantage in the series against OSU and trail UO by a tally of 38–42–7.

WSU's closest geographic rival is the University of Idaho, another land-grant school only eight miles (13 km) east in Moscow. The Battle of the Palouse, the annual football game, was revived in 1998 for a 10-year run, and is usually held at Martin Stadium in Pullman.[28] Since 2007, the game has been played only three times, in 2013, 2016, and 2022. WSU has won ten straight meetings and holds a 73–16–3 (.810) advantage in the series.

1915 football season

Washington State won the 1916 Rose Bowl, finished the season at 10–0 and outscored its opponents 204–10. In 1915, WSC was awarded the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl Game and was set to play Brown University, which had lost only one game, to Harvard University (who in turn lost to Cornell 10–0) by a score of 16–7. Washington State beat Brown in the Rose Bowl 14–0.[29] and Cornell was awarded the title twenty years after the 1915 season.[30]

Athletic directors

Individuals who have served as athletic director for the Cougars, according to WSU Sports Information, include:

Spirit and traditions

Cougar mascot

The first mascot was a terrier named "Squirt" as someone brought a pet dog to campus.[63] The mascot became the Indians during the decade spanning 1910–1919, known as "Carlisle Connection".[63] Three football coaches came from the famous Carlisle Indian College in Pennsylvania: Frank Shivley, William "Lone Star" Dietz and Gus Welch.

Following the first football game between WSC and California in 1919,[64][65] an Oakland cartoonist portrayed the Washington State team as fierce Northwest cougars chasing the defeated Golden Bears. A few days later, on October 28, WSC students officially designated "Cougars" as their team mascot, and then shut out Palouse neighbor Idaho 37–0.[66][67][68]

During halftime of the 1927 Homecoming tie against Idaho, Governor Roland Hartley presented a cougar cub to the WSC students.[69][70] The cub was originally to be called "Governor Hartley," in honor of its donor. The governor gracefully declined and suggested the name "Butch," in honor of senior quarterback Herbert "Butch" Meeker of Spokane.[70][71][72][73]

Governor Clarence Martin presented Butch II to the student body in 1938. Butch III and IV were twin cubs presented by Governor Arthur Langlie in January 1942, who also presented Butch V in 1955.[74] Butch VI, the last live mascot on campus, was presented by Governor Albert Rosellini in 1964 from Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.[73] Fourteen years later, in declining health with multiple ailments, "Six" was euthanized in August 1978.[75][76][77][78] That October, university president Glenn Terrell decided to discontinue the live mascot tradition.[78][79][80]

Today, the mascot, named Butch T. Cougar, is an anonymous student wearing a cougar costume. The student's identity is only revealed after the last sporting event of the school year, usually the last home basketball game of the season.

The Cougar logo was developed in July 1936 by art student Randall Johnson (1915–2007), a graduate of Pullman High, while working as a summer sign painter on campus. Fred Rounds, the head of the buildings and grounds department, suggested to Johnson that Washington State College needed a trademark, and both agreed it needed to be pictorial and include the initials of the school, then WSC.[81][82]

After a few nights, Johnson came up with a design using the letters WSC to form a cougar head, and Rounds promptly took it to the administration for official approval. With the president on sabbatical, the acting president gave the nod and its first use was on the door of a campus truck. Johnson graduated in 1938 and went to work in Spokane, where he spent his career in advertising at the local electric utility. When the school became a university in 1959, he modified the mouth of the cougar to incorporate the new "U". Johnson sold the rights to WSU to each of the logos he created for $1 each, adding to the pride alumni, students, faculty, and staff take in their university and its logo(s).[83]

Colors

The first school colors were pink and blue, said to be chosen by the first WSU president's wife when she was so in awe of the blue and pink sunsets of the Palouse.[84] A student election in November 1900 changed the school colors to their current Crimson and Gray.[85]

ZZU CRU

The ZZU CRU is the official student fan club for WSU Basketball. The $10 membership fee gives students an official club T-shirt, discount card that is good for 15% discounts at various local businesses, exclusive access to prime seating at games, contests, and exclusive member opportunities for player autographs. The lower section of the arena, where the ZZU CRU sits, is called The Cage. ZZU CRU members' events throughout the year include a Pre-Season Party, ZZU CRU @ the COUG, and a Post-Season Party. Members earn prizes based on the number of basketball games they attend. The attendance prizes for attending women's games are the best. At the end of the season, those with the best attendance get better prize packages, including clothing and sports equipment. The top 10 members are entered into a drawing to receive two basketball tickets to the Pac-12 Tournament. Currently, ZZU CRU has a count of 2,750 members for the 2008–2009 season. Members can be anyone from students to alumni, to visitors who just would like a shirt. The ZZU CRU was created by a 2005 Alumni during her time as an intern for Cougar Athletic Marketing. Her vision was to bring the deep Cougar Pride of the student body together to create a homecourt advantage in Beasley Coliseum.

Victory Bell

In the late 19th century the bell was mounted on the ground in the center of campus to start and dismiss class. Later, it was placed on top of Old College Hall when automatic bells were used, and then on Bryan Hall. The bell was first rung in victory after WSU beat the Washington Huskies by the women's basketball team in 1902. Later, the members of the Intercollegiate Knights rang the bell following a football win. It was subsequently moved to the present College Hall, and now rests on the west side of the Alumni Centre where it is rung by the Student Alumni Ambassadors after each football win.

Presence on ESPN College GameDay

Before 2018, the popular ESPN College GameDay program had never been broadcast from WSU. An unofficial, but well-organized effort to place the WSU flag in view of the GameDay cameras for every broadcast[86] had been acknowledged by the GameDay crew. The idea began on a WSU athletics message board in 2003 and since then the flag, nicknamed "Ol' Crimson", has been shipped weekly to Cougar alumni and supporters who live near upcoming GameDay broadcast locations. On October 13, 2018, it was announced that GameDay would broadcast from Pullman for the first time on October 20. When it did happen, among the fans in attendance was Tom Pounds, the fan who originally started the bid back in 2003. WSU would go on to defeat 12th-ranked Oregon 34-20 that night.

The Cougar Cannon

After every touchdown and Cougar win, the WSU ROTC Department fires a blank round from a "Pack-75" 75mm Towed Howitzer. The concussion from the celebratory blast is seen, heard and felt by everyone in and around Martin Stadium. The cannon is property of the Washington Army National Guard and on loan to the university in support of WSU Athletics and the WSU ROTC Department. The ROTC "Cannon Crew" is composed exclusively of ROTC Cadets who are also members of the Washington Army National Guard. The cannon was first brought to WSU in 1993 and was fired from a balcony atop the Compton Union Building (CUB) overlooking Martin Stadium until 2006. Following the 2006 season, due to the CUB remodel, the cannon was absent from WSU Football. The cannon returned for the 2010 and 2011 seasons and now fires from atop WSU's Terrell Library, also overlooking Martin Stadium. The Pack-75 Howitzer is of WWII vintage where it saw combat service with units of the Washington Army National Guard in both the Philippines and Guadalcanal.[87] Electronic Arts, a major video game studio, picked up on the tradition and features a blast from the cannon after Cougar touchdowns (home games) in its popular EA Sports NCAA Football series.

References

  1. ↑ Washington State University Athletics Department Brand Identity Guidelines (PDF). April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Fall, illness take boxing coach". Spokesman-Review. December 2, 2003. p. C1.
  3. ↑ "Washington State boxers defeat Big Ten champions on fight card". Spokesman-Review. April 17, 1937. p. 15.
  4. 1 2 Harriman, Peter (January 18, 1998). "When rings were sacred". Spokesman-Review. p. C1.
  5. ↑ "WSU quits college boxing". Spokesman-Review. May 26, 1960. p. 17.
  6. ↑ "Cougars to drop collegiate boxing". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 26, 1960. p. 39.
  7. ↑ "Boxing breakup began eight years ago". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 13, 1961. p. 16.
  8. ↑ Devlin, Vince (May 9, 1985). "Initial Cougar cuts hit wrestling volleyball". Spokane Chronicle. p. D1.
  9. ↑ Condotta, Bob (January 5, 1987). "Gymnastics tumbles". Idahonian. (Moscow). p. 7.
  10. 1 2 "Cougars will cut rifle, women's gym programs". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 7, 1987. p. C2.
  11. ↑ Bjella, Lee. "Washington State University Men". Washington State Gymnastics History. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ Sullivan, Tim (April 1, 1994). "End of an era: WSU men's tennis ending after 88 years". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. p. 1B.
  13. ↑ Barrows, Bob (June 7, 1994). "Coach's coerced farewell". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Tim (October 2, 1990). "A long stay". Idahonian. (Moscow). p. 1C.
  15. ↑ "Pac-10 Men's Swimming and Diving" (PDF). Pacific 10 Conference. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Cougar skiers head for McCall". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 4, 1958. p. 15.
  17. ↑ Pac-10 Conference And The NCAA Championships
  18. ↑ "WSU student tickets will provide $300,000". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff and wire reports. April 16, 1983. p. 15.
  19. ↑ Cougars, Doba face pivotal season Retrieved July 21, 2009
  20. ↑ 2002-03 Pacific-10 Football Season In Review
  21. ↑ "Washington State season-by-season results". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  22. ↑ "NCAA Division I Mens Basketball – NCAA Division I Champions". Rauzulu's Street. 2004. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  23. ↑ ESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. p. 534. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
  24. ↑ Jeff Collier (November 24, 2021). "WSU agrees to contract extension with head soccer coach Todd Shulenberger". cougcenter.com. CougCenter. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Championships summary through Jan. 1, 2022" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  26. ↑ "A day to remember". Spokane Spokesman-Review. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  27. ↑ Kasses, Glen (2006-11-18). "Apple Cup never lacks for meaning". Spokane Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  28. ↑ "90th "Battle of the Palouse" plays out in Pullman". The Associated Press. 2007-09-15. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  29. ↑ 1916 Rose Bowl game
  30. ↑ Tom Benjey Time for WSU to claim 1915 national title, February 17, 2006
  31. ↑ John Frederick Bohler Biography
  32. ↑ "Silence shrouds WSC moves". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 23, 1949. p. 8.
  33. ↑ "Brumblay denies rumors he's quitting at Pullman". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 28, 1950. p. 17.
  34. ↑ "WSC athletic head to meet with regents". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 8, 1950. p. 15.
  35. ↑ "Brumblay quits WSC sport post". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 9, 1950. p. 1.
  36. ↑ "Romney blames letdown in morals for hoop "fix"". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 20, 1951. p. 17.
  37. ↑ "Romney rites held in Provo chapel". Deseret News. August 12, 1963. p. 6A.
  38. ↑ "Rites held for Lewiston stake head". Deseret News. August 24, 1963. p. 3, Church News.
  39. ↑ "Cougar athletic boss once a leading coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 5, 1955. p. 20.
  40. ↑ Weaver, Dan (June 8, 1989). "Trip to Monroe is a trip home for Stan Bates". Spokesman-Review. p. D1.
  41. ↑ "Bates named to WAC post". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 6, 1971. p. 16.
  42. ↑ "A man of influence, Bates dies at age 86". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. November 13, 1996. p. 1B.
  43. ↑ "WSU 'A.D.' position goes to Ray Nagel". Spokesman-Review. May 20, 1971. p. 16.
  44. ↑ Missildine, Harry (June 11, 1976). "Ray Nagel to Hawaii". Spokesman-Review. p. 25.
  45. ↑ Missildine, Harry (August 14, 1976). "Jankovich new A.D. at Washington State". Spokesman-Review. p. 13.
  46. ↑ Ellingsen, Linda (July 26, 1979). "Jury clears air in Jankovich case". Spokesman-Review. p. 8.
  47. ↑ Stewart, Chuck (July 16, 1983). "Jankovich heads for Miami". Spokesman-Review. p. 13.
  48. ↑ Blanchette, John (August 10, 1983). "Love him, hate him, Jankovich got job done". Spokesman-Review. p. C1.
  49. ↑ Devlin, Vince (January 24, 1984). "Jankovich: From copper city to panning for gold in Miami". Spokane Chronicle. p. C1.
  50. ↑ Devlin, Vince (August 18, 1983). "Cougars settle on Young". Spokesman Review. p. 37.
  51. ↑ Blanchette, John (June 2, 1987). "This time WSU's Young really is gone". Spokesman Review. p. B1.
  52. ↑ Bergum, Steve (August 12, 1987). "Livengood ready to 'get to work'". Spokesman-Review. p. D1.
  53. ↑ "Coaches say they'll miss Livengood". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. December 7, 1993. p. 3C.
  54. ↑ The 1987 Appointment of Jim Livengood in WSU History by Decades
  55. ↑ Rockne, Dick (March 3, 1994). "New AD expresses confidence in self,..." Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  56. ↑ "Northwest - Dickson to leave WSU for Tulane". Associated Press. December 14, 1999. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  57. ↑ Rockne, Dick (December 16, 1999). "Dickson cites family first in move". Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  58. ↑ Withers, Bud (December 30, 2002). "Small-town Sterk good fit in Pullman". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  59. ↑ Withers, Bud (September 14, 2011). "Jim Sterk and where the Cougars went wrong". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  60. ↑ Withers, Bud (February 23, 2010). "Washington State will hire Bill Moos to replace Jim Sterk as athletic director". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  61. ↑ Withers, Bud (May 8, 2010). "New Cougars AD Bill Moos, WSU stories intertwined". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  62. ↑ "FAU's Pat Chun named Washington State's AD". January 22, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  63. 1 2 "Squirt". TicketNest. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  64. ↑ Yarnell, George (October 27, 1919). "Hot attack of WSC swamps Californians". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 16.
  65. ↑ "U.C. plays great game but Wash. State is winner". Berkeley Daily Gazette. (California). October 27, 1919. p. 7.
  66. ↑ "WSC runs rough shod over Idaho, scoring at will". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 2, 1919. p. 1, part 2.
  67. ↑ "Welch's proteges humble Idaho". The Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State College). November 5, 1919. p. 1.
  68. ↑ "Washington State grabs annual game". University Argonaut. (Moscow, Idaho). (University of Idaho). November 5, 1919. p. 1.
  69. ↑ Hunter, Kenneth M. (November 12, 1927). "W.S.C. and Idaho battle to 7 to 7 tie in annual grid game at Pullman". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 13.
  70. 1 2 "Five thousand alums return for 12th annual Homecoming". The Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State College). November 14, 1927. p. 1.
  71. ↑ Phillips, Bob (November 12, 1927). "Meeker's dashes hold Idaho team". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 12.
  72. ↑ "Battle to 7-7". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 12, 1927. p. 12.
  73. 1 2 "Traditions". Washington State University Athletics. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  74. ↑ "Cougar mascot now on campus". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 29, 1954. p. 11.
  75. ↑ "Butch VI put to sleep". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 25, 1978. p. 10.
  76. ↑ "WSU mascot 'Butch' dies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 25, 1978. p. 12A.
  77. ↑ Connor, Tim (September 21, 1978). "Butch's death: news bureau 'blew it'". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State University). p. 1.
  78. 1 2 "Butch VI will be last of his line". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 18, 1978. p. 16A.
  79. ↑ "Butch last of line". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 18, 1978. p. 20.
  80. ↑ Connor, Tim (October 18, 1978). "No Butch for WSU". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State University). p. 1.
  81. ↑ "Cougar logo creator dies at age 91". WSU News. February 22, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  82. ↑ Harrell, Sylvia (January 29, 1979). "He left his mark at WSU". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1D.
  83. ↑ "Trademarks: Cougar logo". Washington State University. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  84. ↑ "Colors". Collegeglobe. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  85. ↑ "The Colors Changed". Evergreen. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  86. ↑ Sudermann, Hannelore (2005-09-01). "How Coug Are You?". Washington State University. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  87. ↑ Josh Pflug, The Daily Evergreen, Vol 117, No 15 "The Touchdown Cannon Returns," September 10, 2010
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