American college football season
The 1940 Utah Redskins football team , also commonly known as the Utah Utes , was an American football team that represented the University of Utah as a member of the Mountain States Conference (MSC) during the 1940 college football season . In their 16th season under head coach Ike Armstrong , the Redskins compiled an overall record of 7–2 record with mark of 5–1 in conference play, won the MSC title, and outscored all opponents by a total of 169 to 87.[1] [2]
Rex Geary was the team captain.[3] Four Utah players received recognition on the 1940 All-Mountain States football team: end Carlos Soffe; tackle Floyd Spendlove; guard Rex Geary; and halfback Izzy Spector.[4]
Utah's season opener against Santa Clara was part of the first-ever major college football doubleheader. The event at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco also featured the future Rose Bowl champions, the Stanford "Wow Boys" , defeating San Francisco , 27—0.[5]
Utah was ranked at No. 66 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[6]
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 28 at Santa Clara * L 13–3440,000 [7]
October 5 BYU W 12–6
October 12 Arizona * Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT W 24–0
October 19 at Utah State L 0–76,000 [8]
October 26 Denver Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT W 25–14[9]
November 2 at Colorado W 21–13
November 9 at Wyoming W 34–7
November 16 Colorado A&M Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT W 27–0[10]
November 21 Idaho * Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT W 13–64,113 [11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming
References
^ "1940 Utah Utes Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
^ "2019 Utah Football Media Guide" (PDF) . University of Utah. 2019. p. 182.
^ 2019 Utah Football Media Guide, p. 119.
^ 2019 Utah Football Media Guide, p. 162.
^ Ron Fimrite, A Melding Of Men All Suited To A T; Clark Shaughnessy was a dour theoretician, Frankie Albert an unrestrained quarterback and Stanford a team of losers, but combined they forever changed the game of football , Sports Illustrated , September 5, 1977.
^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings" . The Boston Globe . p. 22 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Santa Clara Wallops Utes, 34-13" . The Ogden Standard-Examiner . September 29, 1940. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Durrell Nielsen (October 20, 1940). "Utah Aggies Triumph Over Utes, 7 to 0: 'A' Stops Vaunted Redskin Power" . The Salt Lake Tribune . pp. 1C, 2C – via Newspapers.com .
^ Orval Hopkins (October 27, 1940). "Utes Trounce D.U.: Injuns Rout Foes, 25-14" . The Salt Lake Tribune . pp. 1C, 3C – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Utah Wallops Colorado Farmers, 27 to 0: Utes Sure To Share Honors in Big Seven" . The Ogden Standard-Examiner . November 17, 1940. p. 7A – via Newspapers.com .
^ Marlowe Branagan (November 22, 1940). "Utes Win, Cop Title: Injuns Cop 13-6 Duel With Idaho" . The Salt Lake Tribune . p. 22 – via Newspapers.com .
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