The 1939 Catholic University Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented the Catholic University of America as an independent during the 1939 college football season. Led by 10th-year head coach Dutch Bergman, the Cardinals compiled an 8–1–1 record, shut out five opponents (including four in their first five contests), and outscored all opponents by a total of 229 to 73.[1]
| 1939 Catholic University Cardinals football | |
|---|---|
Sun Bowl, T 0–0 vs. Arizona State | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 8–1–1 |
| Head coach |
|
| Home stadium | Brookland Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgetown | – | 7 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catholic University | – | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hardin–Simmons | – | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Washington | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | – | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Teachers | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma City | – | 4 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roanoke | – | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware State | – | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William & Mary Norfolk | – | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oglethorpe | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | – | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Maryland | – | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | – | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | – | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The team's victories included games against the Detroit Titans, Miami Hurricanes, and Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Its only loss was to Saint Anselm in a game played at Fenway Park.[1]
The Cardinals were invited to play in the 1940 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on New Year's Day 1940. In the first and only meeting between the two programs, Catholic University played Arizona State to a scoreless tie.[2]
Catholic University was not ranked in the final AP poll, but it was ranked at No. 39 in the 1939 Williamson System ratings,[3] and at No. 54 in the Litkenhous Ratings.[4]
Key players included brothers Rocco Pirro, a fullback, and Carmen Pirro, a tackle.
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29 | at South Carolina | W 12–0 | 7,000 | [5] | |
| October 7 | Elon | W 34–0 | [6] | ||
| October 14 | Detroit |
| W 14–13 | 10,000 | [7] |
| October 21 | West Virginia Wesleyan |
| W 60–0 | [8] | |
| October 27 | at Miami (FL) | W 14–0 | 17,046 | [9] | |
| November 4 | Tulsa |
| W 13–7 | ||
| November 11 | vs. Saint Anselm | L 13–39 | [10] | ||
| November 18 | Loyola (LA) |
| W 34–0 | [11] | |
| November 23 | at Long Island | W 35–14 | [12] | ||
| January 1, 1940 | vs. Arizona State | T 0–0 | 12,000–13,000 | [2] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Football History" (PDF). Catholic University of America. p. 6. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "Tempe Hails Tie As Triumph For Border Loop Football". El Paso Herald-Post. January 2, 1940 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Paul Williamson (December 8, 1941). "Texas Aggies Ranked Nation's Top". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Catholics Roll Over Gamecocks". The Charlotte Observer. September 30, 1939. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Catholic U. Defeats Little Elon, 34 To 0". The Baltimore Sun. October 8, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Titans Upset by Catholic 'U', 14-13". Detroit Free Press. October 15, 1939 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Catholic U. Defeats West Va. Wesleyan". Cumberland Sunday Times. October 22, 1939. p. 15. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Catholic U. Turns Back Hurricanes, 14 to 0". The Miami Herald. October 28, 1939. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Catholic U. Defeated By St. Anselm, 39-13". The Baltimore Sun. November 12, 1939. p. 28. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Catholic U. Back In Stride, Defeats Loyola South, 34-0". The Baltimore Sun. November 19, 1939. p. 25. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Catholic U. Winner". The Morning Herald. November 24, 1939. p. 17. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
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