1941 Stanford Indians football team
Encyclopedia
The 1941 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) intercollegiate competition
during the 1941 season
. Second-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy
led the team to a 6–3 record. Before the season, Stanford, which the year prior had finished 10–0, was considered a favorite for the national championship, but three conference losses put it out of contention for a return to the Rose Bowl
. After the season, Shaughnessy left Stanford to take over as head coach at the University of Maryland
.
, right halfback Hugh Gallarneau
and fullback Norm Standlee
, to graduation, but returned quarterback Frankie Albert
. Shaughnessy made the "pessimistic" projection that the team would drop at least two games. Before and early in the season, expectations were high for Stanford, and alongside Minnesota, the Indians were considered among the frontrunners for the national championship. Throughout the course of the season, however, injuries hindered the team.
reported that Stanford "was not the polished, meticulous outfit it was when it trimmed Nebraska
" in the previous season's Rose Bowl. Stanford then routed , 33–0. The following week, Oregon State
snapped Stanford's 13-game winning streak. The Associated Press
credited Beavers center Quentin Greenough
with leading Oregon State's defensive effort, which blanked Stanford's potent T-formation, 10–0. Greenough was injured in the fourth quarter and had to be carried out by stretcher.
Against Washington, Stanford scored two second quarter touchdowns and turned back multiple Huskies' drives. The Indians had two additional touchdowns negated by penalties, but won, 13–7. On a mud-logged field, Stanford back Pete Kmetovic
scored five minutes into the game against . Later in the first quarter, Buck Fawcett broke free for an 84-yard touchdown run
, and before halftime, Kmetovic returned an interception
40 yards to put the Indians back in position for a third score. Stanford's defense held Santa Clara at bay for the remainder of the game, and turned back two Bronco drives on the four-yard line for a final result of 27–7.
After defeating USC
, 13–0, the Indians fell in their penultimate game against . The result tied Stanford, Washington, and Oregon State for first-place in the Pacific Coast Conference
with two losses each, and all still vying for a berth in the Rose Bowl
. Stanford's loss to underdogs California, 16–0, in the finale put them out of contention for the postseason game invitation. The Indians finished with a 6–3 record.
, but said he was considering the same job at another Eastern
school with little football tradition. A short time later, he resigned to accept the job at Maryland
. According to Sports Illustrated
in 1977, Shaughnessy's decision was based on his belief that Stanford would discontinue its football program during World War II
.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) intercollegiate competition
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
during the 1941 season
1941 college football season
The 1941 college football regular season ended with the Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota repeating as the AP Poll national champion. This was Minnesota's fifth national championship in eight years...
. Second-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy
Clark Shaughnessy
Clark Daniel Shaughnessy was an American football coach and innovator. He is sometimes called the "father of the T formation", although that system had previously been used as early as the 1880s. Shaughnessy did, however, modernize the obsolescent T formation to make it once again relevant in the...
led the team to a 6–3 record. Before the season, Stanford, which the year prior had finished 10–0, was considered a favorite for the national championship, but three conference losses put it out of contention for a return to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. After the season, Shaughnessy left Stanford to take over as head coach at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Before the season
The Indians lost two stars from the previous season1940 Stanford Indians football team
The 1940 Stanford Indians football team, nicknamed the "Wow Boys", represented Stanford University in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition during the 1940 season. First-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy inherited a team that finished with a 1–7–1 record the previous...
, right halfback Hugh Gallarneau
Hugh Gallarneau
Hugh H. "Duke" Gallarneau was an NFL halfback from 1941–1942 and 1945–1947 for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Stanford, where he was an All-American.-College career:...
and fullback Norm Standlee
Norm Standlee
Norman S. "Norm" Standlee was an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. He was drafted out of Stanford University by the Chicago Bears in 1941...
, to graduation, but returned quarterback Frankie Albert
Frankie Albert
Frank Cullen "Frankie" Albert was an American football player. He played as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League...
. Shaughnessy made the "pessimistic" projection that the team would drop at least two games. Before and early in the season, expectations were high for Stanford, and alongside Minnesota, the Indians were considered among the frontrunners for the national championship. Throughout the course of the season, however, injuries hindered the team.
Season
Neither Stanford nor Minnesota were considered overly impressive in narrow victories in their season openers. The Indians edged , 19–15. The International News ServiceInternational News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
reported that Stanford "was not the polished, meticulous outfit it was when it trimmed Nebraska
1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska in the 1940 college football season. The team was coached by Biff Jones and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Before the season:...
" in the previous season's Rose Bowl. Stanford then routed , 33–0. The following week, Oregon State
1941 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 1941 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State College in the 1941 college football season. The Beavers ended this season with eight wins and two losses. They were the Pacific Coast Conference champions and won the 1942 Rose Bowl over Duke. Because of the Japanese attack on...
snapped Stanford's 13-game winning streak. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
credited Beavers center Quentin Greenough
Quentin Greenough
Quentin Carl Greenough is a former American football player.-Football career:Greenough was born in Porterville, California and later moved to San Gabriel, California. He attended Alhambra High School, then enrolled at Oregon State College where he became the starting center...
with leading Oregon State's defensive effort, which blanked Stanford's potent T-formation, 10–0. Greenough was injured in the fourth quarter and had to be carried out by stretcher.
Against Washington, Stanford scored two second quarter touchdowns and turned back multiple Huskies' drives. The Indians had two additional touchdowns negated by penalties, but won, 13–7. On a mud-logged field, Stanford back Pete Kmetovic
Pete Kmetovic
Peter George Kmetovic was an American football player.A halfback, Kmetovic played college football for Stanford University, helping the team reach the 1941 Rose Bowl. In the game, Kmetovic rushed for 141 yards and returned a punt for a touchdown to lead the Indians to a 21-13 victory over Nebraska...
scored five minutes into the game against . Later in the first quarter, Buck Fawcett broke free for an 84-yard touchdown run
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
, and before halftime, Kmetovic returned an interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
40 yards to put the Indians back in position for a third score. Stanford's defense held Santa Clara at bay for the remainder of the game, and turned back two Bronco drives on the four-yard line for a final result of 27–7.
After defeating USC
1941 USC Trojans football team
The 1941 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 1941 college football season. The season was the only one coached by Sam Barry who took over for Howard Jones, who died during the previous off-season. Barry also coached USC's basketball and baseball...
, 13–0, the Indians fell in their penultimate game against . The result tied Stanford, Washington, and Oregon State for first-place in the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
with two losses each, and all still vying for a berth in the Rose Bowl
1942 Rose Bowl
The 1942 Rose Bowl was the 28th Rose Bowl game. Originally scheduled to be played in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, it was moved to Durham, North Carolina, due to fears about an attack by the Japanese on the West Coast of the United States following the attack on Pearl Harbor...
. Stanford's loss to underdogs California, 16–0, in the finale put them out of contention for the postseason game invitation. The Indians finished with a 6–3 record.
After the season
In March 1942, Shaughnessy turned down a head coaching offer from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, but said he was considering the same job at another Eastern
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
school with little football tradition. A short time later, he resigned to accept the job at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. According to Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1977, Shaughnessy's decision was based on his belief that Stanford would discontinue its football program during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.