1922 Washington State Cougars football team explained

Year:1922
Team:Washington State Cougars
Sport:football
Conference:Pacific Coast Conference
Short Conf:PCC
Record:2–5
Conf Record:1–5
Head Coach:Gus Welch
Hc Year:4th
Captain:Ford Dunton
Stadium:Rogers Field

The 1922 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State College (renamed Washington State University in 1959) in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1922 college football season. In its fourth and final season under head coach Gus Welch, the team compiled a 2–5 record (1–5 against PCC opponents), finished in seventh place in the PCC, and was outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 163 to 44.[1] [2]

Washington State opened the season with a 10–7 victory over Gus Dorais' Gonzaga team with the victory being sealed on a last-minute field goal by quarterback Vernard Hickey.[3] The team followed with an 18–9 victory over Idaho in a game played in Moscow. Washington State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including an interception by Hickey returned 20 yards for a touchdown, to secure the victory.[4] After winning its first two games, the team failed to win another game, losing to Washington (13–16),[5] co-national champion California (0–61),[6] Oregon (0–13),[7] Oregon Agricultural (0–16),[8] and USC (3–41).[9]

Ford Dunton, a tackle from Spokane, was unanimously chosen by his teammates as the team captain.[10] At the end of the 1922 season, Dunton was selected by the United Press as a first-team player on the 1922 All-Pacific Coast football team.[11]

On December 23, 1922, Gus Welch resigned his position after four years as the team's head coach. Criticism of the team's record was reported to be a factor for the resignation.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1922 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 20, 2016.
  2. Web site: 2016 Washington State Football Media Guide. Washington State University. 74. October 20, 2016.
  3. News: Washington State Noses Out Gonzaga. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah). October 15, 1922. 11.
  4. News: Washington State Defeats Idaho After Bad Start. The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon). October 21, 1922. 8.
  5. News: Washington Staters Lose to Sun-Dodgers. Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon). October 29, 1922. 6.
  6. News: Washington State Completely Routed By Berkeley Bruins. Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California). November 5, 1922. 9.
  7. News: U. of O. Defeats WSC 13 to 0 in Annual Homecoming Battle. Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon). November 12, 1922. 2.
  8. News: Aggies Beat Cougars: Cougars Are Outplayed by Aggies, 16-0. George Bertz. Oregon Journal (Portland). November 26, 1922. 59.
  9. News: Trojans Beat W.S.C. By Score 41 to Three. Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon). Dec 1, 1922. 6.
  10. News: Dunton, Tackle, To Captain 1922 Cougars. The Pullman Herald. December 9, 1921. 1.
  11. News: Seven Bears Picked For Mythical Coast Football Eleven. M.D. Tracy. Modesto Evening News. December 5, 1922. 10.
  12. News: Gus Welch Leaves Washington State. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 24, 1922. 9.