1939 Catholic University Cardinals football team

1939 Catholic University Cardinals football
Sun Bowl, T 0–0 vs. Arizona State
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–1–1
Head coach
Home stadiumBrookland Stadium
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
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 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]

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.

  1. ^ a b "Football History" (PDF). Catholic University of America. p. 6. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sun was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.