1941 Sugar Bowl

1941 Sugar Bowl
Boston College Eagles Tennessee Volunteers
(10–0) (10–0)
Independent SEC
19 13
Head coach: 
Frank Leahy		 Head coach: 
Robert Neyland
AP
5
AP
4
1234 Total
Boston College 00136 19
Tennessee 7060 13
DateJanuary 1, 1941
Season1940
StadiumTulane Stadium
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
FavoriteTennessee
RefereeJames Cheves (SEC;
split crew: SEC, EAIFO)
Attendance73,181[1]
Sugar Bowl
 < 1940  1942 > 

The 1941 Sugar Bowl featured the fourth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers and the fifth-ranked Boston College Eagles, both with records of 10–0 and high-scoring offenses.[2][3] It was played on Wednesday, January 1, 1941, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.[4][5][6]

In the seventh Sugar Bowl, Tennessee scored the only points of the first half with a four-yard touchdown run by Van Thompson in the first quarter. After a scoreless second quarter, Boston College scored on a 13-yard touchdown run from Harry Connolly to tie the score at seven each. Tennessee answered with a two-yard touchdown run from Warren Buist for a 13–7 lead. Boston College scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown from Mike Holovak to tie the game at thirteen each.[4][5][6]

In the fourth quarter, Tennessee's Bob Foxx missed a short field goal attempt with three minutes remaining, and BC took over on its own twenty. Quarterback Charlie O'Rourke led the Eagles on an eighty-yard drive, capped with his 24-yard touchdown run to give them a 19–13 win.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Bowl/All-Star Game Records" (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 33. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  2. ^ "Football curtain drops today as games are played in many stadiums". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1941. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Tennessee is favored today". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 1, 1941. p. 4B.
  4. ^ a b c "O'Rourke sparks rally that beats Tennessee". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. January 2, 1941. p. 11.
  5. ^ a b c Martin, Whitney (January 2, 1941). "73,000 see O'Rourke lead Boston College to 19-13 victory". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 12.
  6. ^ a b c "Boston College in wild victory". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1941. p. 11.