1939 Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers football team

The 1939 Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State Teachers College (now known as Western Kentucky University) as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1939 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Gander Terry, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 7–1–1 with a mark of 5–1–1 in conference play. Sam Panepinto was the team's captain and Waddell Murphy was the alternate captain.[1]

1939 Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record7–1–1 (5–1–1 SIAA)
Head coach
CaptainSam Panepinto, Waddell Murphy (alternative)
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Louisiana Normal $ 7 0 0 11 0 0
Tennessee Tech 4 0 0 6 3 1
Mississippi College 3 0 0 6 1 1
Miami (FL) 2 0 0 5 5 0
Rollins 5 1 0 8 1 0
Western Kentucky State Teachers 5 1 1 7 1 1
Mississippi State Teachers 4 1 0 4 2 3
Murray State 4 1 1 4 4 1
Newberry 3 1 1 4 1 4
Presbyterian 3 1 2 4 3 2
Georgetown (KY) 2 1 1 4 4 1
Eastern Kentucky State Teachers 3 2 0 6 3 0
Union (TN) 3 2 0 7 2 0
Morehead State 2 2 0 6 2 0
Louisville 1 1 1 5 2 1
Union (KY) 1 1 1 3 3 1
Oglethorpe 3 3 1 3 4 1
Centre 1 1 1 1 5 2
Centenary 1 1 0 2 9 1
Louisiana Tech 3 4 0 5 6 0
West Tennessee State Teachers 3 4 0 3 8 0
Troy State 2 3 0 7 4 0
SW Louisiana 2 3 0 3 5 1
Stetson 2 4 2 3 5 2
Louisiana College 2 5 0 4 6 1
Middle Tennessee State Teachers 1 5 1 1 6 1
Erskine 1 5 0 1 9 0
Delta State 1 6 0 1 9 0
Wofford 0 2 3 1 5 3
Tampa 0 3 1 2 7 1
Jacksonville State 0 3 1 0 8 2
Transylvania 0 7 0 1 8 0
Emory and Henry 0 0 0 7 2 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Western Kentucky was ranked at No. 150 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[2]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at Ohio*W 14–7[3]
September 30at Morehead State
W 2–0
October 7Louisiana Tech 
  • Western Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 30–74,500[4]
October 13at Tennessee Tech
L 0–10
October 21at West Tennessee StateW 12–0[5]
October 28Middle Tennessee State Teachers
  • Western Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)
W 26–2
November 4at Western State Teachers (MI)*W 20–14[6]
November 11Eastern Kentucky
  • Western Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)
W 26–0
November 25Murray State
  • Western Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)
T 12–12
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

References

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  1. ^ "WKU Football 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). Bowling Green, Kentucky: Western Kentucky University. p. 174. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Ohio Bobcats Beaten, 14-7, By Western Kentucky State". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 24, 1939. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Hilltoppers unleash bolt of power in final period to run over Louisiana Tech by 20–7". The Park City Daily News. October 8, 1939. Retrieved September 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Fast-stepping Western backfield defeats West Tennessee 12–0". The Park City Daily News. October 22, 1939. Retrieved September 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Hilltoppers Nip Michigan Team By Score 20-14". The Messenger. November 5, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.