1939 Texas A&M Aggies football team
American college football season
The 1939 Texas A&M Aggies football team was an American football team that represented Texas A&M University in the Southwest Conference during the 1939 college football season . In their sixth year under head coach Homer Norton , the Aggies compiled a perfect 11-0 record, shut out six of eleven opponents, won the Southwest Conference championship, and outscored all opponents by a total of 212 to 31.[ 1]
In the final AP Poll released on December 12, the Aggies were ranked No 1 with 1,091 points, edging out Tennessee (970 points), USC (891 points), and Cornell (889 points).[ 2] They went on to defeat No. 5 Tulane , 14–13, in the 1940 Sugar Bowl .[ 3]
Fullback John Kimbrough was a consensus pick on the 1939 All-America college football team .[ 4] Kimbrough was inducted in 1954 into the College Football Hall of Fame .[ 5]
Tackle Joe Boyd was the team captain. He was also chosen as a first-team All-American by, among others, Grantland Rice for Collier's Weekly and the Sporting News .[ 6] [ 7]
Four Texas A&M players were selected by the United Press as first-team players on the 1939 All-Southwest Conference football team : Kimbrough; Boyd; end Herbert Smith; and guard Marshall Robnett .[ 8]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 23 at Oklahoma A&M * W 32–06,000 [ 9]
September 30 Centenary * W 14–010,000 [ 10]
October 6 at Santa Clara * W 7–316,000 [ 11] [ 12]
October 14 Villanova * Tyler High School Tyler, TX (Rose Festival Classic)W 33–714,000 [ 13]
October 21 at TCU No. 9 W 20–625,000 [ 14]
October 28 Baylor No. 5 W 20–020,000 [ 15]
November 4 at Arkansas No. 5 W 27–011,000 [ 16]
November 11 No. 13 SMU No. 2 Kyle Field College Station, TX W 6–230,000 [ 17]
November 18 at Rice No. 2 W 19–025,000 [ 18]
November 30 Texas No. 1 Kyle Field College Station, TX (rivalry ) W 20–040,000 [ 19]
January 1 vs. No. 5 Tulane * No. 1 W 14–1373,000 [ 3]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Starting lineup
Name
Number
Position
Sterling, James
67
REL
Boyd, Joe
64
RTL
Henke, Charles
38
RGL
Vaughn, Tommie
60
C
Robnett, Marshal Foch "Foxey"
43
LGR
Pannell, Ernest
54
LTR
Smith, Herbert
29
LER
Moser, Derace "Mose"
42
LHR
Thomason, James
47
RHL
Price, Walemon
45
Q
Kimbrough, John "Jarrin"
39
F
[ 20]
References
^ "1939 Texas A&M Aggies Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2022 .
^ "Aggies Finish on Top in Final U.S. Grid Poll" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . December 13, 1939. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Felix R. M'Knight (January 2, 1940). "Kimbrough Powers Aggies To 14-13 Victory Over Tulane: Haskell All-American Leads Fine Comeback" . Wichita Falls Record News . p. 7 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 7. Retrieved October 21, 2017 .
^ "John Kimbrough" . National Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 2, 2022 .
^ "All America Is Picked By Colliers". Wisconsin State Journal . December 9, 1939.
^ ESPN College Football Encyclopedia . ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1178. ISBN 1401337031 .
^ "United Press All-Southwest Team" . The Corpus Christi Times . December 6, 1939. p. 9B.
^ "Texas Aggies Trample Oklahoma A.& M. By 32-0 as Soph Derace Moser Excels; Arkansas' Passes Earn 32-6 Triumph" . Austin American-Statesman . September 24, 1939. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aggies crush Gents, 14–0" . Austin American-Statesman . October 1, 1939. Retrieved July 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aggies Whip Broncos on Pugh Pass, 7-3" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . October 8, 1939. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Texas Aggies Hand Broncs 7-3 Defeat" . Oakland Tribune . October 7, 1939. pp. 12–13 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "A. & M. Beats Villanova: Farmers Blast Wildcats, 33-7" . Austin American-Statesman . October 15, 1939. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Flem Hall (October 22, 1939). "Aggies Hand Frogs 20-6 Lacing, Remain Unbeaten! Conatser Intercepts Pass, Dashes 95 Yards for Score" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . p. 11 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Flem Hall (October 29, 1939). "Aggie Power Cracks Baylor in Last Half, 20-0: 'Freak' Play Gives Cadets Early Lead" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . p. 9 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aggies' Timely Drives Sink Arkansas, 27-0" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . November 5, 1939. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Gayle Talbot (November 12, 1939). "Undefeated Aggies Squeeze By SMU Barrier, 6-2: Ponies Menace Cadets, Lead In Final Play" . San Angelo Standard-Times . p. 13 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aggies Tramp On Rice, 19-0: Owls Gain Eight Yards; While Visitors Pass, Smash To Scores" . El Paso Times . November 19, 1939. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Wilbur Evans (December 1, 1939). "Tradition Upheld as Aggies Crush Steers, 20-0: Steers Gallantly Hold Ground For First 2 Periods" . The Austin American . pp. 1, 19 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1939 Texas A&M Aggies National Championship" .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s
1960 : Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA)
1961 : Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA)
1962 : USC
1963 : Texas
1964 : Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF)
1965 : Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
1966 : Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF)
1967 : USC
1968 : Ohio State
1969 : Texas
1970s 1980–1991
National championships in bold