1939 Arizona State Bulldogs football team

The 1939 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College (later renamed Arizona State University) in the Border Conference during the 1939 college football season. In their second season under head coach Dixie Howell, the Bulldogs compiled an 8–2–1 record (4–0 against Border opponents), won the conference championship, played to a scoreless tie against Catholic University in the 1940 Sun Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 212 to 56.[1][2] The team captains were Wiley Aker and Noble Riggs.[3] The Bulldogs finished 6–0 at home, 2–2 on the road, and 0–0–1 on a neutral site. Hilman Walker was an assistant coach.[citation needed]

1939 Arizona State Bulldogs football
Border champion
ConferenceBorder Conference
Record8–2–1 (4–0 Border)
Head coach
CaptainWiley Aker, Noble Riggs
Home stadiumGoodwin Stadium
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Border Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Arizona State $ 4 0 0 8 2 1
New Mexico 4 2 0 8 2 0
Texas Tech 2 1 0 5 5 1
Texas Mines 3 2 0 5 4 0
Arizona 1 2 0 6 4 0
New Mexico A&M 1 4 0 3 6 0
Arizona State–Flagstaff 0 4 0 1 6 1
  • $ – Conference champion

Arizona State was ranked at No. 65 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[4]

All home games were played at Goodwin Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at San Diego State*W 20–03,500
September 30West Texas State*W 19–0
October 7Cal Poly*
  • Goodwin Stadium
  • Tempe, AZ
W 35–0
October 14Whittier*
  • Goodwin Stadium
  • Tempe, AZ
W 28–0
October 20at New Mexico A&M
W 7–0
October 28Texas Mines
  • Goodwin Stadium
  • Tempe, AZ
W 27–7
November 4at Hardin–Simmons*
L 7–19
November 11Arizona State–Flagstaff
  • Goodwin Stadium
  • Tempe, AZ
W 41–6
November 18New Mexico
  • Goodwin Stadium
  • Tempe, AZ
W 28–610,000[5]
November 25at San Diego Marines*San Diego, CAL 0–186,000[6][7]
January 1, 1940vs. Catholic University*T 0–012,000–13,000[8]
  • *Non-conference game

Game summaries

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Regular season

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In the season opener, Arizona State delivered a 20–0 road shutout victory over San Diego State. The Bulldogs produced another shutout in their home opener, as they beat West Texas State 19–0 in Tempe. Arizona State shut out Cal Poly 35–0 at Goodwin Stadium, as halfback Hascall Henshaw scored a touchdown on a 91-yard kickoff return. The Bulldogs prevailed for a 28–0 home win against Whittier. Arizona State earned a 7–0 road win at New Mexico State, marking their fifth consecutive shutout victory to begin the season. The Bulldogs outlasted Texas-El Paso, 27–7, in Tempe. Arizona State's six-game winning streak was snapped in a 19–7 road loss at Hardin-Simmons. The Bulldogs responded with a convincing 41–6 home victory over NAU. Arizona State delivered a 28–6 win against New Mexico at Goodwin Stadium. In the regular season finale, the Bulldogs suffered an 18–0 road loss to the San Diego Marines.

1940 Sun Bowl

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On January 1, 1940, Arizona State played to a 0–0 tie against Catholic University in the 1940 Sun Bowl. The game was played at Kidd Field in El Paso, Texas with a crowd of 13,000 persons in attendance. It marked the only meeting between the teams in school history. The Bulldogs held Catholic University to only four first downs, but Arizona State lost four fumbles and threw several interceptions. Fullback Wayne Pitts had 15 carries for 89 rushing yards for Arizona State. It was the first bowl game in Arizona State school history.[9]

Roster

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The usual Arizona State lineup included left end Bob Lackey, left tackle Mark Kalastro, left guard Albert Sanserino, center Bob Walberg, right guard Louis Rappaport, right tackle Ted Anderson, right end Sam Andrews, quarterback Walt Ruth, halfbacks Wiley Aker and Hascall Henshaw, and fullback Bill Davis.[citation needed]

Ted Anderson, John Balshor, Leo Burns, Dominic Campolo, and Frank Consentino were also on roster.[citation needed]

Awards and honors

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Halfback Joe Hernandez, fullback Wayne Pitts, and guards Noble Riggs and Albert Sanserino each earned All-Border Conference honors for the 1939 football season.[citation needed]

Fullback Wayne Pitts earned Little All-America second-team honors.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "1939 Arizona State Sun Devils Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  2. ^ "2016 ASU Football Media Guide". Arizona State University. 2016. p. 119. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "2016 ASU Football Media Guide". Arizona State University. 2016. p. 105. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  4. ^ E. E. Litkenhous (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tempe Beats Lobos, 28-6, Wins Border Championship: Hard-Driving Dog Eleven Shackles New Mexico Team". The Arizona Republic. November 19, 1939. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "U.S. Marines Overpower Bulldogs, 18-0: Sea Soldiers Cash In On Experience To Down Tempe". Arizona Republic. November 24, 1939. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "San Diego Marines Upset Tempe Teachers, 18-0". The San Bernardino Daily Sun. November 24, 1939. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Tempe Hails Tie As Triumph For Border Loop Football". El Paso Herald-Post. January 2, 1940 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ 1940 Sun Bowl Recap: http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/6