1939 SMU Mustangs football team

The 1939 SMU Mustangs football team was an American football team that represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1939 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Matty Bell, the Mustangs compiled a 6–3–1 record (4–2 against conference opponents) and were outscored by a total of 118 to 60.[1]

1939 SMU Mustangs football
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Record6–3–1 (4–2 SWC)
Head coach
CaptainChelsea Crouch
Home stadiumOwnby Stadium
Seasons
← 1938
1940 →
1939 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Texas A&M $ 6 0 0 11 0 0
Baylor 4 2 0 7 3 0
SMU 4 2 0 6 3 1
Texas 3 3 0 5 4 0
Arkansas 2 3 1 4 5 1
TCU 1 5 0 3 7 0
Rice 0 5 1 1 9 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

SMU was not ranked in the final AP poll, but it was ranked at No. 12 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939,[2] and at No. 22 in the 1939 Williamson System ratings.[3]

The team played its home games at Ownby Stadium in the University Park suburb of Dallas.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 30at OklahomaT 7–726,205
October 7North Texas State Teachers*W 16–0 [4]
October 14at Notre Dame*L 19–2029,730
October 21Marquette*No. 18W 16–08,500[5]
November 4TexasNo. 16
  • Ownby Stadium
  • University Park, TX
W 10–023,000[6]
November 11at No. 2 Texas A&MNo. 13L 2–630,000[7]
November 17at ArkansasNo. 17L 0–14
November 25Baylor
  • Ownby Stadium
  • University Park, TX
W 21–014,000
December 2at TCUW 14–718,000
December 9RiceDallas, TXW 13–6
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References edit

  1. ^ "1939 SMU Mustangs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Paul Williamson (December 8, 1941). "Texas Aggies Ranked Nation's Top". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Johnston leads Mustangs to 16–0 win over Eagles". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 8, 1939. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Harold V. Ratliff (October 22, 1939). "Marquette Fails to Make Single First Down, SMU Wins, 16-0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "S.M.U. becomes conference threat, beating Texas, 10 to 0". Sunday Courier-Times-Telegraph. November 5, 1939. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ 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.