1939 Southern California Conference football season

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Southern California Conference
SportFootball
Number of teams5
ChampionWhittier
Football seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Southern California Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Whittier $ 3 – 0 – 1 8 – 2 – 1
Pomona 2 – 1 – 1 4 – 3 – 1
Occidental 2 – 2 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Redlands 2 – 2 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Caltech 0 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1939 Southern California Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Southern California Conference (SCC) as part of the 1939 college football season.

The Whittier Poets, led by head coach Wallace Newman, won the SCC championship with an 8–2–1 record (3–0–1 against SCC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 214 to 97. Halfback Gene Wineinger and tackle Myron Claxton were unanimous picks as first-team players on the 1939 SCC all-star team. The 1939 Occidental–Whittier football rivalry game gave birth to Myron Claxton's Shoes, a traveling trophy that has been awarded to the winner of the game since 1945.

The Pomona Sagehens, led by head coach Earl J. Merritt, finished in second place with a 4–3–1 record. Tackle Stan Jolivette and halfback Normal Nagel were first-team picks on the SCC all-star team.

Conference overview[edit]

Conf. rank Team Head coach Conf. record Overall record Points scored Points against
1 Whittier Wallace Newman 3–0–1 8–2–1 214 97
2 Pomona Earl J. Merritt 2–1–1 4–3–1 89 98
3 Occidental Bill Anderson 2–2 3–5 82 138
4 Redlands Cecil A. Cushman 2–2 3–7
5 Caltech Fox Stanton 0–4 2–6 89 98

[1]

Teams[edit]

Whittier[edit]

1939 Whittier Poets football
SCC champion
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record8–2–1 (3–0–1 SCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumHadley Field
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →

The 1939 Whittier Poets football team represented Whittier College of Whittier, California. In their 11th season under head coach Wallace Newman, the team compiled an 8–2–1 record (3–0–1 against SCC opponents) and won the SCC championship.

Whittier players received six of eleven first-team spots on the 1939 SCC all-star team selected by the conference coaches. Whittier players receiving first-team honors were: halfback Gene Wineinger; ends Leroy Hughes and Don Craggs; tackle Myron Claxton; guard Bert Nichols; and center Alex Mecikoff.[2]

Prior to the Occidental–Whittier football rivalry game on November 11, 1939, Occidental stole Myron Claxton's Shoes in an attempt to hinder his performance. Claxton reportedly played in work boots, leading Whittier to a 36–0 victory. Following the game, Claxton reclaimed his shoes from the Occidental sideline. Claxton's shoes were later bronzed and became a traveling trophy held each year by the winner of the rivalry game.[3][4] The shoes were featured on a 2013 episode of ESPN's College Gameday.[5][6]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20USS Maryland*
W 12–04,000[7]
September 27at Loyola (Los Angeles)*
W 19–139,000[8][9]
October 7at Pomona
T 0–04,000[10][11]
October 14at Arizona State*
L 0–199,000[12][13]
October 21at Arizona State–Flagstaff*
  • Skidmore Field
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 27–131,000[14][15]
October 27Caltech
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 47–63,000[16]
November 4at San Diego State*
W 23–128,000[17][18]
November 11Occidentaldagger
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 36–07,000[19][20]
November 17Fresno State*
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
L 13–275,000[21][22]
November 22at RedlandsRedlands, CAW 27–7> 3,000[23]
December 1Santa Barbara State*
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 10–04,000[24][25]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Pomona[edit]

1939 Pomona Sagehens football
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record4–3–1 (2–1–1 SCC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →

The 1939 Pomona Sagehens football team represented Pomona College of Pomona, California. In their fifth season under head coach Earl J. Merritt, the Sagehens compiled a 4–3–1 record (2–1–1 against SCC opponents) and finished in second place in the SCC.

Two Pomona players received first-team honors on the 1939 SCC all-star team: halfback Norman Nagel and tackle Stan Jolivette.[2]

Pomona was ranked at No. 247 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[26]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at Arizona*
L 0–21[27]
October 7Whittier
T 0–04,000[10][11]
October 14at RedlandsRedlands, CAL 9–19[28]
October 21La Verne*Claremont, CAW 16–0[29]
October 28at San Diego State*
W 12–64,500[30][31]
November 3San Diego Marines*
  • Balboa Bowl
  • San Diego, CA
L 12–33[32]
November 11at Caltech
  • Rose Bowl
  • Pasadena, CA
W 20–13[33]
November 18OccidentaldaggerClaremont, CAW 20–68,000[34]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Occidental[edit]

1939 Occidental Tigers football
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record3–5 (2–2 SCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumPatterson Field
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →

The 1939 Occidental Tigers football team represented Occidental College of Los Angeles, California. In their eighth and final year under head coach Bill Anderson, the Tigers compiled a 3–5 record (2–2 against SCC opponents) and finished in third place in the SCC.

Two Occidental players received first-team honors on the 1939 SCC all-star team: fullback James Moradian and guard Jack Thatcher.[2]

Occidental was ranked at No. 309 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[26]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22at Santa Barbara State*
L 0–20[35]
October 6San Diego State*
L 6–103,000[36][37]
October 21at Caltech
W 15–7[38][39][40]
October 27at San Diego Marines*San Diego, CAL 6–33[41]
November 4Redlandsdagger
  • Patterson Field
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 16–64,000[42][43]
November 11at Whittier
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
L 0–367,000[19][20][44]
November 18at Pomona
L 6–208,000[34][45]
December 2Colorado College*
  • Patterson Field
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 33–6[46][47]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Redlands[edit]

1939 Redlands Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record3–7 (2–2 SCC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →

The 1939 Redlands Bulldogs football team represented the University of Redlands of Redlands, California. In their 10th season under head coach Cecil A. Cushman, the Bulldogs compiled a 3–7 record (2–2 against SCC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the SCC.

Redlands was ranked at No. 324 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.[26]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22at Loyola (Los Angeles)*
L 0–610,000[48]
September 29at San Diego State*
L 0–263,500[49]
October 6at Santa Ana JC*
postponed
October 14PomonaRedlands, CAW 19–9[28][50]
October 21at San Diego Marines*
L 14–153,500[51]
October 27La Verne*Redlands, CAW 13–12[52]
November 4at Occidental
  • Patterson Field
  • Los Angeles, CA
L 6–15[42][43]
November 10at San Jose State
L 6–52
November 18at Caltech
  • Rose Bowl
  • Pasadena, CA
W 7–6[53]
November 22WhittierRedlands, CAL 7–27> 3,000[23]
  • *Non-conference game

Caltech[edit]

1939 Caltech Engineers football
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record2–6 (0–4 SCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRose Bowl
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →

The 1939 Caltech Engineers football team represented the California Institute of Technology of Pasadena, California. In their 19th year under head coach Fox Stanton, the Engineers compiled a 2–6 record (0–4 against SCC opponents) and finished in last place in the SCC.

Caltech's star center Paul H. Becker Jr. died from injuries sustained in a November 22 game against La Verne. He was 19 years old, attended Caltech on a mathematics scholarship, and died at Huntington Memorial Hospital having never regained consciousness.[54]

Caltech quarterback Stanley Sohler received first-team honors on the 1939 SCC all-star team. End Donald Walter was named to the second team.[2]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22at Cal Poly*
L 6–242,000[55]
September 29Citrus JC*
  • Tournament Park
  • Pasadena, CA
W 26–0[56]
October 6at San Diego Marines*San Diego, CAL 3–21[57]
October 21Occidental
L 7–15[38]
October 27at Whittier
L 6–473,000[16]
November 11Pomona
  • Rose Bowl
  • Pasadena, CA
L 12–20[33]
November 18Redlands
  • Rose Bowl
  • Pasadena, CA
L 6–7[53]
November 23La Verne*
  • Rose Bowl
  • Pasadena, CA
W 13–7[58]
  • *Non-conference game

All-conference team[edit]

At the end of the season, the SCC coaches selected the following players as first-team players on the 1939 all-conference team:

  • Quarterback: Stanley Sohler, Caltech
  • Halfbacks: Norman Nagel, Pomona; Gene Wineinger, Whittier
  • Fullback: James Moradian, Occidental
  • Ends: Leroy Hughes, Whittier; Don Craggs, Whittier
  • Tackles: Myron Claxton, Whittier; Stan Jolivette, Pomona
  • Guards: Bert Nichols, Whittier; Jack Thatcher, Occidental
  • Center: Alex Mechikoff, Whittier

Claxton and Wineinger were the only two unanimous choices.[2][59]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gregory, Murray (November 30, 1939). "Getting The Breaks". Whittier Daily News. Whittier, California. p. 8. Retrieved November 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Six Quaker Gridders on All-Conference Team: Wineinger and Claxton Tabbed". Los Angeles Times. December 4, 1939. p. II-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "The Battle for the Shoes". Occidental Athletics. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  4. ^ Steve Ramirez (October 10, 2014). "Occidental, Whittier renew the "Battle for the Shoes"". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  5. ^ "Journey of the Shoes". YouTube.
  6. ^ Sandra Molina (November 15, 2013). "Whittier College Poets v. Occidental College Tigers rivalry featured on ESPN College Game Day". Whittier Daily News. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Murray Gregory (September 21, 1939). "Poets Open Season With 12-0 Victory Over USS Maryland". The Whittier News. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Murray Gregory (September 28, 1939). "Whittier Beats Loyola 19-13 in Thrilling Gridiron Upset". The Whittier News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Charles Curtis (September 28, 1939). "Whittier Poets Upset Loyola in Grid Thriller, 19 to 13: Witham Hero of Contest". Los Angeles Times. pp. II-9, II-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Murray Gregory (October 9, 1939). "Poets and Pomona Tie 0-0 Again: Scoreless Deadlock Constitutes Upset as Bards Were Favored". The Whittier News. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Paul McKenzie (October 9, 1939). "Pomona College, Whittier Play Scoreless Tie In Rain". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. pp. II-2, II-8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Poets Bow 28-0 at Tempe Before Crowd of 9,000 Grid Fans". The Whittier News. October 16, 1939. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ George Moore (October 15, 1939). "Tempe and Arizona Win Grid Tilts: Bulldogs Step Into Lead In Final Periods". Arizona Republic. pp. IV-1, IV-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Steve Gardner (October 23, 1939). "Hendrick Stars as Poets Beat Flagstaff Teachers 27-13". The Whittier News. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Poets Top Flagstaff". Arizona Republic. October 22, 1939 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Murray Gregory (October 28, 1939). "Poets Swamp Caltech Grids 47-6". The Whittier News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Poets Beat San Diego 23-12; Oxy Game Becomes Title Contest". The Whittier News. November 6, 1939. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Ted Steinmann (November 5, 1939). "Troy, Bruins Turn In Gridiron Triumphs; Aztecs Beaten". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 1-E.
  19. ^ a b "Poets Crush Occidental 36-0 in Homecoming Day Grid Game". The Whittier News. November 13, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b Bob Smyser (November 12, 1939). "Whittier Gridiron Machine Smashes Occidental, 36 to 0". Los Angeles Times. pp. 17, 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Murray Gregory (November 18, 1939). "Fresno State Trims Poets 27-13". The Whittier News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "FSC Bulldogs Turn Back Whittier Poets By 27 To 13 Count". The Fresno Bee. November 18, 1939. pp. 2B, 3B – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Poet Gridders Defeat Redlands 27-7, Win Conference Title". The Whittier News. November 23, 1939. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Murray Gregory (December 2, 1939). "Poets End Season With 10-0 Victory Over Santa Barbara". The Whittier News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Poets Blank Santa Barbara Grids, 10-0". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1939. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b c E. E. Litkenhous (December 31, 1939). "Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth". Johnson City Sunday Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Sagehens Bow, 21-0, to Arizona". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. September 25, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b Paul McKenzie (October 16, 1939). "Redlands Spills Sagehens in 19 To 9 Gridiron Upset". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Scrappy Leopards Bow To Pomona College in Grid Contest, 16-0". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. October 23, 1939. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Sagehens Upset San Diego, 12-6". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. October 30, 1939. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Ted Steinmann (October 29, 1939). "Pomona Defeats Aztecs, 12-6; Trojans Rout Bears 26-0". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 1-E.
  32. ^ Paul McKenzie (November 4, 1939). "Hens Clipped, 33-12, by Marines". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b Paul McKenzie (November 13, 1939). "Bobbie Nicholl Shines As Sagehens Defeat Engineers, 20-13". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b Paul McKenzie (November 20, 1939). "Pomona Sagehens Smash Occidental By 20 To 6 Score". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Tiger Grid Team Opens Season at Santa Barbara Tonight". Highland Park News-Herald. September 22, 1939. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Ted Steinmann (October 7, 1939). "Aztecs Beat Oxy; Marines Trounce Caltech". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 3-B.
  37. ^ "Occidental Tigers take on San Diego Aztecs on border city gridiron". Highland Park News-Herald. October 6, 1939. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ a b "Occidental Whips Caltech by 15-to-7 Score for First Conference Victory". Los Angeles Times. October 22, 1939. p. II-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Oxy, Caltech Renew Rivalry". Highland Park News-Herald. October 20, 1939. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Tigers take on San Diego Marines tonight -- Down Cal Tech Engineers 15 to 7". Highland Park News-Herald. October 27, 1939. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "San Diego Marines Beat Occidental". The Modesto Bee. October 28, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ a b Bob Smyser (November 5, 1939). "Occidental Takes League Lead With 16-6 Win Over Bulldogs". Los Angeles Times. pp. II-13, II-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b "Occidental Takes on Redlands Bulldogs Here Tomorrow: Tigers in first game on Patterson Field -- teams undefeated in league play". Highland Park Herald-News. November 3, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Occidental gridmen battle Whittier tomorrow night for college conference crown". Highland Park News-Herald. November 10, 1939. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Tigers and Sagehens renew ancient grid rivalry at Claremont next Saturday". Highland Park News-Herald. November 17, 1939. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Bob Smyser (December 3, 1939). "Oxy Tramples Colorado in Finale, 33-6". Los Angeles Times. pp. II-11, II-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Occidental grid team rests this week -- prepare for Colorado game December 2". Highland park News-Herald. November 24, 1939. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ Charles Curtis (September 23, 1939). "Loyola Conquers Redlands, 6-0: Pass Brings Touchdown". Los Angeles Times. pp. I-7, I-9 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Ted Steinmann (September 30, 1939). "Aztecs Run Wild, Trounce Redlands, 26 to 0". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 3-B.
  50. ^ Eugene Gidet (October 15, 1939). "Redlands Beats Sagehens by 19-9 Count". The San Bernardino Sun. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Bulldogs Beaten In Last Two Seconds: Freak Play Enables Marines To Trip Redlands 15-14". The San Bernardino Sun. October 22, 1939. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ Eugene Giedt (October 28, 1939). "Redlands Barely Defeats La Verne In Tight 13-12 Grid Contest". The San Bernardino Sun. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b "Bulldogs Nose Out Caltech". Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1939. p. II-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "Football Injuries Fatal for Paul Becker, Caltech Center". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1939. p. II-9 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "California Polytechnic Eleven Turns in 24-6 Win Over Cal Tech". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. September 23, 1939. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Caltech Submerges Citrus J.C., 26-0". Los Angeles Times. September 30, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "San Diego Marines Ruin Caltech Grids". Los Angeles Times. October 7, 1939. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "La Verne Bows to Caltech, 13-7". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. November 23, 1939. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Two Sagehens on S.C. Conference All-Star Team". The Pomona Progress-Bulletin. December 4, 1939. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
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