1939 Catholic University Cardinals football team

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
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–1–1
Head coach
Home stadiumBrookland Stadium
1939 Southern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW 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
William & Mary Norfolk   –  4 –5 –0
Delaware State   –  2 –2 –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
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 29at South Carolina
W 12–07,000[5]
October 7Elon
W 34–0[6]
October 14Detroit
  • Brookland Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 14–1310,000[7]
October 21West Virginia Wesleyan
  • Brookland Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 60–0[8]
October 27at Miami (FL)
W 14–0[9]
November 4Tulsa
  • Brookland Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 13–7
November 11vs. Saint Anselm
L 13–39[10]
November 18Loyola (LA)
  • Brookland Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 34–0[11]
November 23at Long Island
W 35–14[12]
January 1, 1940vs. Arizona State
T 0–012,000–13,000[2]

References
  1. "Football History" (PDF). Catholic University of America. p. 6. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. "Tempe Hails Tie As Triumph For Border Loop Football". El Paso Herald-Post. January 2, 1940 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Paul Williamson (December 8, 1941). "Texas Aggies Ranked Nation's Top". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  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. "Catholics Roll Over Gamecocks". The Charlotte Observer. September 30, 1939. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Catholic U. Defeats Little Elon, 34 To 0". The Baltimore Sun. October 8, 1939. p. 27. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. "Titans Upset by Catholic 'U', 14-13". Detroit Free Press. October 15, 1939 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Catholic U. Defeats West Va. Wesleyan". Cumberland Sunday Times. October 22, 1939. p. 15. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  9. "Catholic U. Turns Back Hurricanes, 14 to 0". The Miami Herald. October 28, 1939. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Catholic U. Defeated By St. Anselm, 39-13". The Baltimore Sun. November 12, 1939. p. 28. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. "Catholic U. Back In Stride, Defeats Loyola South, 34-0". The Baltimore Sun. November 19, 1939. p. 25. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  12. "Catholic U. Winner". The Morning Herald. November 24, 1939. p. 17. Retrieved July 30, 2020.


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