Football History

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The 1941 college football season unfolded under a dark cloud. While teams across the nation battled for gridiron glory, the world was on the precipice of war. This essay delves into a season marked by exceptional players, thrilling matchups, and an uncertain future.

Dominant Teams and Fierce Rivalries:

Multiple teams rose above the rest in 1941. The best may have been the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota, led by the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bruce Smith, boasted an undefeated record (8-0) and a suffocating defense directed by head coach Bernie Bierman. The Gophers survived competitive games against Washington (14-6), Michigan (7-0), and Northwestern (8-7). Minnesota was ranked Number one in the AP poll and was a unanimous choice for the retroactive selectors to be the nation's Top Team of '41.

Texas, under the guidance of legendary coach Dana X. Bible, also enjoyed a winning season with a potent offense led by All-Americans: Malcolm Kutner (end), Guard Chal Daniel, Halfback Jack Crain, and Pete Layden at fullback. The Longhorns finished with an 8-1-1 campaign, their sole setback a 7-14 loss to TCU just before Thanksgiving.

Many considered these two teams, representing the Big Ten and Southwest Conferences, respectively, top contenders. Still, they were not alone in the ranks of the best in the nation.

Other contenders included the mighty Duke Blue Devils, who finished the regular season undefeated. Legendary head coach Wallace Wade led the team in his 11th season with the program.

Also at the top of the AP poll was the ever-present powerhouse Notre Dame Fighting Irish, under the first-year coach Frank Leahy, who took the Irish to an 8–0–1 record, as they outscored opponents by 189 to 64. They had a rising star in Quarterback Angelo Bertelli, who would eventually take home a significant award a few seasons later. The Irish stalemate with a 5-3-1 Army team at Yankee Stadium prevented ND from taking any claim to the mythical National title.

Grandaddy Flips Coasts

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, thrusting America into World War II depicts this notion. With the threat of a Japanese attack on the West Coast of the US, the Government decided to ask the Rose Bowl not to play in Pasadena. By December 16, Duke University invited the game and Oregon State to Duke's home stadium in Durham, North Carolina; after all, Western sites, such as Oregon, were eliminated as locations for the Rose Bowl Game to be played. Oregon accepted, and for the first time, the "Grand-daddy of them All" would be played in a place other than Pasadena, California.

In the heated contest, the Beavers rallied to score 13 points in the third quarter. Duke responded with another TD and a fourth-quarter safety to round out the final score of Oregon State 20, Duke 16. Those 16 points were the season's first ones the Beavers' opponents scored.

Other Bowl Games

Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.
1942
01/01/43
Alabama
37
Boston College
21

Sugar Bowl New Orleans, La.
1942
01/01/43
Tennessee
14
Tulsa
7

Cotton Bowl Dallas, Tex.
1942
01/01/43
Texas
14
Georgia Tech
7

Sun Bowl El Paso, Tex.
1942
01/01/43
Second Air Force
13
Hardin-Simmons
7

Summary of the Top Player Accolades{/b]

-Heisman Trophy: halfback Bruce Smith Minnesota. ,

-Maxwell Award: halfback Bill Dudley Virginia.

-Leading Rusher: Frank Sinkwich of Georgia with 1,103 rushing yards.

- Passing Leader: Bud Schwenk of Washington University in St. Louis with 1,457 passing yards,

-Leading Receiver: Hank Stanton of Arizona with 820 receiving yards.

-Top Scorer: Bill Dudley with 134 points.

[b]A Season of Change:

The events of December 7, 1941, with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, forever altered the landscape of American life, including college athletics. Many players soon enlisted in the military, putting their football careers on hold. The nation's focus shifted from the gridiron to the battlefields abroad. The 1941 college football season, despite its outstanding talent and thrilling matchups, would be remembered as a season overshadowed by the looming world war.

The legacy of the 1941 college football season lies not just in the exceptional players and undefeated teams but also in the context of a nation on the brink of war. It reminds us of the power of sports to bring people together, even during uncertain times. The 1941 college football season was a brief national pride and athletic excellence moment before the world stage took a dramatic turn.

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In this edition of the Football History Rewind series, part 29, we examine the rules changes and the 1911 season. This was the final season of old-time football before bigger changes.

Football at the end of 1910

The History of Football year-by-year series in the last few editions has just journeyed through one of the most radical rules revision periods of the game's history in 1910. The Game of 1910 was much different because of these rules changes than a few years earlier. From our twentieth-century perspective, the rules more closely resemble what we are familiar with with the football game in 1910, whereas the rules of 1900 would lead one to believe it was a different sport altogether. It was a different game!

Items such as the forward pass, seven men on the line of scrimmage before the snap, and tackling rules took the game from a brutal battering ram of humanity thrust into a wall of flesh to a strategic game where individuals could make a difference. However, the concept of working as a team was still prevalent. The coming years after the year of significant revision would have coaches and players exploring the new rules and ideas. They would open the door for new strategies and philosophies on the gridiron. The rules makers would make their tweaks to the latest regulations as well as experiment to make the game safer for participants while at the same time trying to keep the playing field level for both sides of the ball and keep the fans interested in the spectacle of the sport.
New strategies?
The 1910 rules revisions shocked the coaches that first year, for only one truly new concept was introduced that season. The University of Minnesota and its coach, H.L. Williams ( a Yale product), were the only ones brave enough to tread out into the unknown waters of change. All other teams stayed with what they knew and had performed before, but many had to adapt these old standards to conform to the legality of the rules.

Minnesota's Williams tried a new concept where he would not show the look of his formation until just before the snap. Under this strategy, Minnesota's offense would gather around the line of scrimmage but not be in certain positions or formations. Then, just before the snap, the players would leap into their proper positions, creating a legal formation, and snap the ball. Defenses never knew what they would get coming at them until the ball was snapped! The defenders never had a chance to shift to match the offensive formations due to this masking of the offensive formation. The new concept was fondly called the Minnesota Shift.
Results of change
What was important to those inside and outside of football's inner ring was whether the safety of the players increased due to the rule changes or if it was still the same bloody game it was prior. Statistics from the 1910 season proved that injuries in the game of football were drastically reduced, and the new rules were the factor that caused this decrease! The public outcry against the game's brutality had been quieted.
At the same time, the critics of football who did not want change because they felt the game would become dull and uninteresting to spectators were silenced as well because the games were still exciting and entertaining to the masses. The rules makers could not have hoped for better results! They and their innovations had probably saved the game!
1911, the tweaking begins
The men who met and made the rules did not sit on their hands, though, in the next year. On the contrary, they kept at the drawing board to revise the rules further and enhance the game to new levels. The biggest change to the rules in 1911 had to do with the forward pass aspect of the sport.

The forward pass was still only a few years old at this point in history, and it was used less due to the risk versus rewards factor. The risk was that a pass not caught was treated the same as a fumble and almost invariably was a turnover. Coaches were afraid to use the pass in their game plans as a regular play because of the risk of losing possession of the ball. The forward pass held the status of what today we call a gadget play. It was used mainly by offenses as a surprise tactic or one of desperation.
The rules makers decided to change this characteristic of the forward pass because most wanted to see it become a standard weapon in an offensive's arsenal. The "fumble" aspect of the dropped passes also provided roughness, which the rules committee wanted removed from the game. In the spring meetings of 1911, the rule committee changed the rules of a dropped or incomplete forward pass that hit the ground to be a dead ball. The incomplete pass was born!
The Season of 1911
This season was the last era of old rules, as we will see in the major reforms of the 1912 rules body. With that, a big group of teams went undefeated. Navy finished with a record of 6–0–3. An excellent record indeed as two of the Midshipmen ties were scoreless games with the other top unbeaten teams, Penn State, who sported an 8–0–1 ledger, and Princeton, who recorded an 8–0–2 mark themselves. Other unbeaten teams that finished the season were Florida at 5–0–1 and Minnesota at 6–0–1. The Helms Athletic Foundation, established years later in 1936, declared retroactively that Princeton had been the best team of 1911, and the Tigers were recognized as the National Champions.
On the professional circuit, the Shelby Blues once again captured the Ohio State title in football by knocking off the Akron Indians twice. They won the title in their season-ending victory against the up-and-coming Canton Professionals. You can learn more about the Blues in a post and podcast we did a few months back titled The Shelby Blues.
The forward passing rules still had some ways to go through, and more progress would be made in 1912 in that respect. Please look back to the next edition of Football History Rewind, part 30, in which we will examine how the 1912 revisions would make their mark on the game we love.
Photo Credits
The photograph in the banner above is courtesy of the Wikimedia Commons collection of public domain pictures. It is a cropped version of the Pomona College football team, 1911. First published in the 1911 Metate yearbook of Pomona College and taken by an Unknown.

Imagine, if you will, a time before television broadcasts brought the gridiron into living rooms. A time when news of college football battles traveled by crackling radio waves and grainy newspaper headlines. This was the 1931 college football season, an era etched in leather helmets and sepia-toned memories, where legends were forged and dynasties born.

Epic Battles and Unforgettable Rivalries:

From the muddy trenches of the Midwest to the sun-drenched fields of the South, rivalries crackled with electric intensity. Michigan and Ohio State waged their annual war for Big Ten supremacy, while Alabama and Tennessee clashed in a battle for Dixie bragging rights. Each game was a microcosm of human drama, unfolding in mud, sweat, and tears, etched forever in the annals of gridiron history.

A Season of Firsts and Controversies:

The 1931 season also saw its share of firsts and controversies. The inaugural Rose Bowl game between California and Texas Christian University marked the beginning of a tradition that would become synonymous with college football. Meanwhile, debates raged over conference affiliations and the legitimacy of national champions, as Notre Dame and Southern California both laid claim to the crown.

So, join us on this nostalgic journey through the 1931 college football season. We'll relive the iconic plays, celebrate the heroes, and savor the raw emotion of a golden age in American sports.

Join us in our salute to the history of the 1935 College Football Season in our series titled Football History Rewind Part 76. We cover the big games, top players, and some of the most exciting games of the 1936 CFB season.

The 1937 college football season unfolded like a classic gridiron thriller, each play a nail-biter, each game a potential upset. Picture this: leather helmets gleaming under stadium lights, the rhythmic thud of boots on grass, and the roar of the crowd as a halfback dives across the goal line.

It was a year of contrasting styles. West Coast marvels like California wowed with their aerial attack, led by Heisman Trophy winner Clint Frank, while powerhouse teams like Pittsburgh relied on a punishing ground game and granite-hard defense.

The season saw historic moments:

Unbeaten Battles: Both California and Pittsburgh finished the season undefeated, each claiming a mythical national championship (the AP Poll was still new!).
Rose Bowl Heartbreak: Despite going 9-0-1, Pittsburgh missed the coveted Rose Bowl due to a scheduling quirk, leaving fans and experts scratching their heads.
Lonesome LSU: The Tigers, led by the legendary Doc Fenton, dominated the South but remained largely ignored by national media, a testament to the regional focus of the time.
But beyond the stats and scores, 1937 marked a turning point. It showcased the growing popularity of the sport, the evolution of offensive strategies, and the fierce competition that would define college football for generations to come. It was a season etched in gridiron lore, a reminder that even without a definitive champion, the memories made on the field are what truly crown the victors.

So, join us as we delve deeper into this forgotten chapter of college football history, reliving the triumphs, the heartaches, and the enduring legacy of the 1937 season.

The year is 1939. America stands on the precipice of a tumultuous decade, but on the gridiron, a different kind of storm is brewing. This is the season where legends were forged, records shattered, and national champions crowned in a tale as thrilling as any Hollywood blockbuster.

Ironclad Defenses Clash with Offensive Explosions

Imagine, if you will, leather helmets cracking under bone-jarring tackles, the snap of the pigskin echoing through packed stadiums, and the roar of the crowd as a halfback streaks down the sideline, untouched, towards the end zone. This was the 1939 college football season, a collision of brute force and strategic finesse where defenses boasted an ironclad wall and offenses orchestrated aerial ballet with dizzying efficiency.

From Humble Beginnings to Unthinkable Heights

Meet Nile Kinnick, the unassuming Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback whose underdog spirit and pinpoint accuracy would etch his name in the Heisman Trophy's hallowed halls. Witness the unstoppable juggernaut of the Texas A&M Aggies, their suffocating defense and ground-and-pound offense leaving opponents dazed and defeated. And feel the electric energy as Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers weaves through defenders like a phantom, igniting the hearts of Southern Methodist University fans.

A Tapestry of Triumphs and Heartbreaks

But this wasn't just a story of individual heroes. It was a tapestry woven with threads of triumph and heartbreak, of nail-biting comebacks and last-minute gut punches. From the sun-drenched fields of the South to the frost-kissed battlegrounds of the Midwest, every game was a microcosm of human drama, unfolding in grand spectacles of mud, sweat, and tears.

So join us, sports fans, as we rewind the clock, dust off the vintage leather helmets, and step back into the electrifying arena of the 1939 college football season. We'll relive the gridiron battles, celebrate the heroes, and feel the nostalgia of a golden age in American sports. Are you ready for the kickoff?

The 1912 college football season marked a turning point in the sport's history. This year saw the introduction of several key rule changes designed to increase scoring and make the game more exciting for fans. The number of downs to gain ten yards was increased from three to four, the value of a touchdown was upped from five to six points, and the playing field dimensions were reduced to create a more condensed playing area. These changes laid the groundwork for the high-scoring, fast-paced game we know today.

While there wasn't a contemporaneous system for determining a national champion, the 1912 season saw several strong contenders emerge. Harvard, known for their stifling defense, was widely recognized as the top team. However, schools like Penn State, with their dominant shutouts, and Vanderbilt, boasting a high-powered offense, also made strong cases for the title. This season showcased the growing national reach of college football, with regional powerhouses vying for national recognition and exciting fans across the country.

The 1940 college football season was a rollercoaster ride with multiple contenders and a touch of controversy.

Tennessee Volunteers football team was a dominant force in college football, finishing the 1940 season with a 10-1 record and claiming the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship. Led by the legendary coach Robert Neyland, the Vols boasted a potent offense and a stingy defense, earning them recognition as one of the top teams in the nation.

The Vols marched through their regular season schedule without a single blemish, outscoring their opponents by a staggering margin of 332 to 45. This included victories over rivals Alabama (27-7) and Georgia (14-0).

The Vols' offense was well-oiled, averaging over 30 points per game and featuring several talented playmakers. Notable players included:

-Bob Suffridge: A unanimous All-America selection at guard, Suffridge anchored the offensive line and paved the way for the Vols' running attack.

-Johnny Majors: A sophomore quarterback who would become a college football legend, Majors led the Vols' passing game and contributed to their offensive success.

-Dizzy Dean Hobbs: A versatile back who could run, pass, and catch, Hobbs was a threat to opposing defenses every time he touched the ball.

Defensive Stalwarts: The Vols' defense was equally impressive, allowing only 4.1 points per game and shutting out four opponents. Key players included:

Bill Brennan: A hard-hitting linebacker, Brennan led the team in tackles and was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the defense.
John Micheloson: A talented defensive end, Micheloson was a disruptive force on the pass rush and contributed to the Vols' overall defensive dominance.

The 1940 Boston College Eagles football team was one of the surprise teams in college football that season. They finished the regular season undefeated (11-0) and were widely considered the national champion, although the final Associated Press poll ranked them fifth. The Eagles were led by head coach Frank Leahy, who was in his second year at the helm and played their home games at Fenway Park in Boston and Alumni Field in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

The team's star player was fullback Mike Holovak, who won the Heisman Trophy and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Other key players included quarterback Paul Doherty, halfback Jack Moir, and end Al Coup.

The Eagles' most famous victory came in the 1941 Sugar Bowl when they defeated the previously unbeaten Tennessee Volunteers 19-13. This victory cemented the Eagles' claim to the national championship. However, some sportswriters argue that Minnesota, which finished the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, should be considered the true champion.

Big Ten Battle

The Big Ten conference had two dominant teams: Michigan and Minnesota.

The 1940 Michigan Wolverines football team dominated college football, finishing the season with a 7-1 record and ranking No. 3 in the final AP Poll.

Here are some of the highlights of their season:
Led by third-year head coach Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines boasted a potent offense that outscored opponents 196 to 34.

The team's offensive attack was led by quarterback Tom Harmon, who won the Heisman Trophy after throwing 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

Heisman Trophy:

The "Golden Boy" of the year was Tom Harmon of Michigan. He won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award, dazzling fans with his running and passing skills. Harmon formed a potent trio with quarterback Forest Evashevski and fullback Bob Westfall, making Michigan a feared offensive force.

1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was a dominant force, going undefeated (8-0) and capturing the national championship title. Led by the legendary coach Bernie Bierman, who was in his ninth year at the helm, the Gophers were well-oiled machines, outscoring their opponents by a convincing margin of 154 to 71.

One of the team's key strengths was its potent running attack, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of George Franck and Bruce Smith. Together, they accounted for over 60% of the Gophers' touchdowns, showcasing their exceptional speed and agility on the gridiron. Franck even finished third in Heisman Trophy voting, a testament to his brilliance.

The Gophers' defense was equally impressive, holding their opponents to a mere 8.9 points per game. All-American tackle Urban Odson anchored the defensive line, while quarterback Bob Paffrath orchestrated the offense with precision and efficiency, earning him the team MVP award.

Ah, the 1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers' victory over the Michigan Wolverines was a game etched in college football history as a thrilling nail-biter and a turning point in the season. Here's the story:
Setting the Stage:
Date: November 9, 1940
Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Weather: A muddy, rain-soaked field

Teams:

-Minnesota Golden Gophers: Undefeated powerhouse, ranked #2 in the AP Poll, coached by legendary Bernie Bierman.

Michigan Wolverines: Also undefeated, ranked #3 in the AP Poll, boasting the "point-a-minute" offense led by Tom Harmon.

The Game:

It was a brutal defensive battle in the mud, with both offenses needing help finding a rhythm. Michigan scored a touchdown, but the extra point attempt was missed, leaving the Wolverines leading 6-0.
Minnesota's Bruce Smith (nicknamed "Biggie") broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run in the second half, electrifying the home crowd.

Joe Mernik calmly converted the extra point, giving Minnesota the narrow lead of 7-6.

The game remained tense until the final whistle, with Minnesota holding on for the dramatic victory.

The Gophers then faced a tough Nebraska Cornhusker team. Despite missed opportunities, Minnesota edged out Nebraska with a final score of 13-7. Here's a rewrite of the provided text incorporating some key details:

Minnesota established early control, marching down the field on their opening drive. However, after reaching the Nebraska 15-yard line, they unfortunately missed a field goal, leaving points on the board. Despite this setback, the Golden Gophers' defense held firm, keeping Nebraska scoreless in the first half.

The second half saw a shift in momentum. Nebraska came out firing, tossing a 48-yard pass and a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. This sudden surge put pressure on Minnesota to respond.

Minnesota quarterback Bruce Smith stepped up in the crucial fourth quarter. He launched a spectacular 41-yard touchdown pass to receiver William Johnson, putting the Golden Gophers back in the lead at 13-7.

The third game in a row for Minnesota's gauntlet of a schedule was against rival Ohio State. Minnesota owed everything to Bruce Smith, who carved up the Buckeyes for 139 yards and both touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 10-yard jaunt after a fake pass, but his missed extra point kept it a nervous 6-0. Ohio State threatened, reaching the 1-yard line, only to be turned away.

A classic gridiron duel unfolded as Bruce Smith's 139-yard, two-touchdown show traded blows with Ohio State's grit. His 10-yard fake-pass TD, however, was marred by a missed PAT, leaving the Gophers clinging to a 6-0 lead. The Buckeyes stormed back, reaching the 1-yard line before Minnesota's defense stood firm. A fumble soon after gave Ohio State a golden opportunity, which they converted with a fourth-down lateral and touchdown pass to grab a 7-6 lead. But Smith wasn't done, ripping off two electrifying 23-yard runs to set up his second touchdown and ultimately secure a 13-7 victory.

Another team that had some strong contention for being the top team in 1940 was Stanford. The 1940 Stanford Indians football team, also known as the "Wow Boys," is a true gem in college football history. Let's dive into their remarkable season:

Dominating with the "T" Formation:

Led by innovative first-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy, the Indians revolutionized the game using the T formation. This offensive scheme, considered outdated then, emphasized speed, deception, and ball distribution, leaving defenses needing clarification.

The season was packed with thrilling moments. Stanford's narrow escape against USC, dubbed the "Thrilling Thursday" game, stands out. With seconds remaining, they pulled off a last-minute field goal to secure a 13-10 victory.

Another highlight was the Indians dismantling rival California in the Big Game. Stanford's 41-0 shutout cemented their dominance and sent shockwaves through college football.

Champions:

Officially: The Associated Press (AP) crowned Minnesota national champions after their undefeated season (8-0-1). They were ranked #1 in the final AP poll.

Unofficially, The Dunkel System, another popular ranking system at the time, awarded the title to Tennessee. The Volunteers finished the regular season 10-0, but a Sugar Bowl loss to Boston College tarnished their record.

Minnesota: AP Poll, National Championship Foundation, CFB Researchers
Stanford: Helms

The 1912 Harvard Crimson football team etched its name in history as one of the most dominant squads of the early NFL era. Led by the innovative coach Percy Haughton, the Crimson entered the season riding a winning streak that had begun in November 1911.

Their dominance was undeniable. Harvard steamrolled through their nine-game schedule, outscoring their opponents by a staggering 176 points to 22. They shut out a whopping five teams, showcasing a stifling defense and a potent offense. This undefeated season was part of a remarkable three-year stretch where Harvard wouldn't lose a single game, solidifying their place as a gridiron powerhouse. It's important to remember that there was no formal playoff system in place at the time, but by all accounts, Harvard was the clear national champion in 1912.

1936 college football crackled with newfound excitement. It was the birth of the AP Poll, crowning Minnesota with the inaugural title as writers traded telegrams and ranked America's gridiron titans. Santa Clara, a West Coast Cinderella, danced on the national stage, upsetting giants and claiming their own championship crown. Meanwhile, legends like Larry Kelley at Yale carved their names in Heisman history with dazzling displays of athleticism. But the season wasn't all sunshine and confetti. Controversies swirled as rival polls disagreed, champions debated, and the fight for legitimacy in a fragmented football landscape continued. It was a year of firsts, upsets, and fierce competition, forever etching itself in the college football tapestry as the dawn of a new era.