Bowl History Washington State University

Jan. 1, 1916 - Pasadena, Calif. Rose Bowl

Washington St. 14, Brown 0

WSU coach: William “Lone Star” Deitz

The unbeaten Cougars (6-0-0) used short second-half touchdown runs by Ralph Boone and Carl Dietz against Brown (5-3-1) to supplement their sixth shutout in seven games. WSU’s defense, which has allowed only one TD and a field goal during the regular season, held Fritz Pollard, Brown’s All-American running back, to 47 yards on 13 carries. The game, which was known at the time as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses East-West Game, was played at Tournament Park on a field that quickly turned into a quagmire after having been pelted the previous three days by rain and snow. It was the first of the continuous Rose Bowls, which became officially known as such in 1923 when the Rose Bowl was built.

Jan 1, 1931 - Pasadena, Calif. Rose Bowl

Alabama 24, Washington St. 0

WSU coach: O.E. “Babe” Hollingbery

Alabama quarterback Monk Campbell ran for two second- quarter touchdowns and converted all three of his conversion kicks as the Crimson Tide (9-0) dominated the Cougars from coin toss to final gun. Alabama scored its other points on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Moore to “Flash” Suther and a 40- yard field goal by “Ear” Whitworth. The Cougars were outgained 359-216 and blew their only good scoring chance late in the game when, after driving 76 yards to Alabama’s 1-yard line, captain Elmer Schwartz fumbled the ball and Crimson Tide All-American lineman Freddie Sington recovered. According to newspaper accounts of the game, WSC came out dressed in all crimson, including crimson shoes, but did not seem to intimidate a much bigger Alabama team.

Dec. 18, 1981 - San Diego, Calif. Holiday Bowl

BYU 38, Washington St. 36

WSU coach: Jim Walden

In one of the most thrilling bowl games in recent memory, Washington State battled back from a 31-7 third-quarter deficit and had the ball late in the game with a chance to win. BYU’s defense came up with a huge stand, however, and forced a punt with about 3 minutes left to play. Quarterback Jim McMahon, playing his final collegiate game, then led the Provo-based Cougars on a long march that ran out the clock and preserved the win. McMahon threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. WSU quarterback Ricky Turner, who shared snaps with Clete Casper, ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns, but completed just two of nine passes for 27 yards. Casper completed six of 16 throws and was intercepted twice. BYU’s Ron Holmoe returned one of those interceptions 35 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.

Dec. 25, 1988 - Honolulu, Hawaii Aloha Bowl

Washington St. 24, Houston 22

WSU coach: Dennis Erickson

WSU quarterback Timm Rosenbach threw for 306 yards and one touchdown and ran for another score, but the game wasn’t decided until the final minutes when defensive back Artie Holmes recovered a Houston fumble on his own 5-yard line to snuff out what looked like a game-winning scoring drive. WSU also intercepted two passes and benefited from one of its own fumbles when wideout Victor Woods picked up a loose ball and raced 5 yards for a touchdown. Woods also caught a touchdown pass as WSU scored all of its points in the second quarter. Steve Broussard rushed for 139 yards for WSU, which controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes and ran 92 plays to Houston’s 61. Houston used two quarterbacks, including sophomore Andre Ware, who completed just eight of 28 passes and threw both interceptions.

Dec. 29, 1992 - Tucson, Ariz. Copper Bowl

Washington St. 31, Utah 28

WSU coach: Mike Price

Drew Bledsoe, destined to become a No. 1 NFL draft pick, closed his collegiate career by completing 30 of 46 passes for a school-record 476 yards and two touchdowns as WSU scored 21 first-quarter points and survived a huge Utah comeback to pick up its second consecutive bowl victory. Bledsoe threw touchdowns passes of 87 and 48 yards to Phillip Bobo and Shaumbe Wright-Fair ran for 123 yards and two more touchdowns. But the game was decided by Aaron Price’s 22-yard fourth-quarter field goal that turned out to be the final score of the game. Utah had a chance to tie the game with just over 3 minutes remaining, but a 20-yard, chip-shot field goal attempt by the Utes’ Chris Yergensen, sailed low and well left of the uprights.

Dec. 31, 1994 - San Antonio, Texas Alamo Bowl

Washington St. 10, Baylor 3

WSU coach: Mike Price

Washington State (7-4) scored on the opening drive of the game when Kevin Hicks plunged 1 yard for a touchdown and then added a 37-yard Tony Truant field goal on the last play of the first half. The 10 points were all the Cougars’ stingy defense needed to win its third consecutive bowl game against an explosive Baylor team that came in averaging 33 points and 382.4 yards per game. Cougar quarterback Chad Davis completed 27 of 35 passes for 286 yards and was named the most valuable offensive player of the game. But the day belonged to defensive MVP Ron Childs, Chad Eaton, Mark Fields, DeWayne Patterson and the rest of a veteran defensive unit that limited the Bears (7-4) to 151 yards of total offense and a field goal. Still, it took an interception by WSU backup safety Todd Jensen late in the game and deep in Cougar territory to snuff out Baylor’s final scoring threat and secure the win.