1941 Santa Barbara State Gauchos football team

1941 Santa Barbara State Gauchos football
ConferenceCalifornia Collegiate Athletic Association
Record3–5–1 (1–2 CCAA)
Head coach
Home stadiumLa Playa Stadium
Seasons
← 1940
1946 →
1941 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
San Jose State + 2 0 1 5 3 3
Fresno State + 2 0 1 4 3 2
Santa Barbara State 1 2 0 3 5 1
San Diego State 0 3 0 6 4 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1941 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos football team was an American football team that represented Santa Barbara State College (now known as the University of California, Santa Barbara) as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1941 college football season. In their first year under head coach Stan Williamson, the Gauchos compiled a 3–5–1 record (1–2 against CCAA opponents). The team played home games at La Playa Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.

Halfback/fullback Ernie Saenz was the team captain. Other key players included halfbacks Owen Van Buskirk and Hovis Bess, quarterback George James, fullback/guard Paul Siano, and centers Walt Ahlgren and Frankie Jones.[1]

A tenth game, scheduled for October 18 against the University of California Ramblers, was cancelled after the team physician found that nine of Santa Barbara's 24 players were unfit to play.[2]

Santa Barabara was ranked at No. 273 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.[3]

Due to World War II, this was the last year of competition for Santa Barbara until 1946.

  1. ^ "Williamson Shifts Backs". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1941. p. I-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "9 Gauchos Are Unfit; Rambler Game Cancelled". The Fresno Bee. October 16, 1941. p. 11B – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 26, 1941). "Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published". The Courier-Journal. p. Sports 4 – via Newspapers.com.