1940 Rocky Mountain Conference football season

Rocky Mountain Conference
SportFootball
Number of teams5
ChampionColorado College
Football seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado College $ 2 – 0 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
Colorado Mines 3 – 1 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Montana State 2 – 1 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Colorado State–Greeley 1 – 3 – 0 2 – 5 – 1
Western State (CO) 0 – 3 – 1 2 – 6 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1940 Rocky Mountain Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) as part of the 1940 college football season.

The Colorado College Tigers, led by head coach Clark DeGroot, won the RMC championship with a 5–2–1 record (2–0–1 against conference opponents). End Tom Pelican and halfback Don Heizer received first-team honors on the All-Rocky Mountain Conference team.

The Colorado Mines Orediggers, led by John Mason, finished in second place with a 3–4 record (3–1 against RMC opponents). The conference championship was decided on October 19 when the Orediggers lost to Colorado College, 28–21, at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs. Four Colorado Mines players, including quarterback Joe Berta, received first-team honors on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference football team.

Conference overview

Conf. rank Team Head coach Conf. record Overall record Points scored Points against
1 Colorado College Clark DeGroot 2-0–1 5–2–1
2 Colorado Mines John Mason 3–1 3–4
3 Montana State Schubert R. Dyche 2–1 4–4
4 Colorado State–Greeley John W. Hancock 1–3 2–5–1
5 Western State (CO) Paul Wright 0–3–1 2–6–1

Teams

Colorado College

1940 Colorado College Tigers football
RMC champion
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record5–2–1 (2–0–1 RMC)
Head coach
Home stadiumWashburn Field
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →

The 1940 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In their first and only season under head coach Clark DeGroot, the Tigers compiled a 5–2–1 record (2–0–1 against RMC opponents) and won the RMC championship. The team played its home games at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs.

End Tom Pelican and halfback Don Heizer received first-team honors on the All-Rocky Mountain Conference team. Despite his size (five feet, six inches, and 156 pounds), Heizer was rated highly by opposing coaches "for his driving ball carrying, his pass catching and his general defensive play."[1]

Colorado College was ranked at No. 328 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[2]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Baker*
W 16–0[3]
October 5New Mexico Normal*
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
W 37–7[4]
October 12at Whitman*Walla Walla, WAW 6–0[5]
October 19Colorado Minesdagger
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
W 28–214,214[6]
November 2at Western StateGunnison, COT 0–0[7]
November 11Colorado State-Greeley
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
W 20–7[8]
November 23at Grinnell*Grinnell, IAL 12–26500[9]
November 30Occidental*
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
L 6–25[10]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Colorado Mines

1940 Colorado Mines Orediggers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record3–4 (3–1 RMC)
Head coach
Home stadiumCampbell Field
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →

The 1940 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented the Colorado School of Mines of Golden, Colorado. In their fourth season under head coach John Mason, the Orediggers compiled a 3–4 record (3–1 against RMC opponents) and finished in second place in the RMC. The team played its home games at Campbell Field in Golden.

Four Colorado Mines players received first-team honors from the Associated Press on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference football team. They were: quarterback Joe Berta; end Louis DeGoes; tackle Dick Moe; and center Glen Hutchinson.[1]

Colorado Mines was ranked at No. 387 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[2]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28vs. Colorado A&M*
L 0–25[11]
October 5at Creighton*
L 0–43[12]
October 12Colorado State-Greeley
W 12–7[13]
October 19at Colorado Collegedagger
L 21–284,214[6]
November 2Montana State
  • Campbell Field
  • Golden, CO
W 20–7[14]
November 9at Western StateGunnison, COW 12–0[15]
November 21at Fresno State
L 0–287,256[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Montana State

1940 Montana State Bobcats football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record4–4 (2–1 RMC)
Head coach
Home stadiumGatton Field
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →

The 1940 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State College (later renamed Montana State University) of Bozeman, Montana. In their 11th season under head coach Schubert R. Dyche, the Bobcats compiled a 4–4 record.[17]

Montana State was ranked at No. 397 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[2]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21Western State (CO)
W 12–0[18]
September 23San Jose State*
L 0–324,000[19]
September 27at Drake*
L 0–568,000[20]
October 5North Dakota Agricultural*dagger
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 7–02,500[21]
October 19vs. Montana*
  • Butte High Stadium
  • Butte, MT (rivalry)
L 0–66,000[22]
October 26Colorado State-Greeley
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 7–0[23]
November 2at Colorado Mines
L 7–20[14]
November 11at Idaho Southern Branch*
W 15–7[24]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Colorado State–Greeley

1940 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record2–5–1 (1–3 RMC)
Head coach
Home stadiumJackson Field
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →

The 1940 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football team represented Colorado State College at Greeley, Colorado (now known as the University of Northern Colorado). Led by head coach John W. Hancock, the Bears compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–3 against RMC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the RMC.

Halfback Sam Sears and fullback Horace Brelsford, both juniors, were selected by the Associated Press as first-team players on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference team.[1]

The team played its home games at Jackson Field in Greeley, Colorado.

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 4Idaho Southern*
  • Jackson Field
  • Greeley, CO
W 21–7[25][26]
October 12at Colorado Mines
L 7–12[13]
October 19Western Statedagger
  • Jackson Field
  • Greeley, Co
W 33–12[27]
October 26at Montana State
L 0–7[23]
November 2Fort Hays State
  • Jackson Field
  • Greeley, CO
T 0–0[28]
November 11at Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, COL 7–20[8]
November 16at Arizona State
L 0–415,000[29]
November 23Regis*
  • Jackson Field
  • Greeley, CO
L 12–13[30]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Western State

1940 Western State Mountaineers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record2–6–1 (0–3–1 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →

The 1940 Western State Mountaineers football team represented Western State College of Colorado at Gunnison, Colorado (now known as the Western Colorado University). In their sixth year under head coach Paul Wright, the Mountaineers compiled a 2–6–1 record (0–3–1 against RMC opponents) and finished in fifth place in the RMC.

Western Colorado was ranked at No. 475 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[2]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 21at Montana State
L 0–12[18]
September 28at Idaho Southern Branch*Pocatello, IDL 0–7[31][32]
October 5West Texas StateGunnison, COL 13–48[33]
October 12Weber JC*Gunnison, COL 0–13[34]
October 19at Colorado State-Greeley
  • Jackson Field
  • Greeley, Co
L 12–33[35]
October 26Regis*Denver, COW 13–0[36]
November 2Colorado CollegeGunnison, COT 0–0[7]
November 9Colorado MinesGunnison, COL 0–12[15]
  • *Non-conference game

All-conference team

The Associated Press selected the following players as first-team honorees on the all-conference team.

  • Quarterback - Joe Berta, Colorado Mines
  • Halfbacks - Don Heizer, Colorado College; Sam Sears, Greeley
  • Fullback - Horace Brelsford, Greeley
  • Ends - Louis DeGoes, Colorado Mines; Tom Pelican, Colorado College
  • Tackles - Dick Moe, Colorado Mines; Jack Burke, Montana State
  • Guards - Rudy Aganski, Western State; Newell Berg, Montana State
  • Center - Glen Hutchinson, Colorado Mines.

[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Colorado Mines Salvages Glory From Rocky Mountain Race by Leading AP Team". The Daily Sentinel. November 24, 1940. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Colorado College Scores Victory Over Baker, 16-0". The Daily Sentinel. September 28, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Colorado College Beats New Mexico Normal Eleven". The Daily Sentinel. October 6, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Colorado College Whips Whitman With 6-0 Score". The Daily Sentinel. October 12, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "CC Defeats Miners: Colorado College Avenges School of Mines Defeat in 1939 by 28 to 21 Victory". The Daily Sentinel. October 20, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Western State Holds CC Tigers to Scoreless Tie And Spoils Clear Record". The Daily Sentinel. November 3, 1940. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Colorado College Tigers Win RMC Football Crown". The Daily Inter Lake. November 12, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Coloradoans Fall -- Grinnell Wins, 26-12". The Des Moines Register. November 24, 1940. p. Sports 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Alert Oxy Team Defeats Colorado College, 25 to 6". Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1940. p. II-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Colorado Aggies Deal Out Harsh Licking to Miners". The Daily Sentinel. September 29, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Blues Bury Miners Under 43 to 0 Score". Sunday World-Herald. October 6, 1940. pp. 1B, 7B – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Colorado Mines Still in Champion's Seat, Beating Greeley state 12 to 7". The Daily Sentinel. October 13, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Colorado Mines Bumps Bobcats". The Billings Gazette. November 3, 1940. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Miners Spill Western State at Gunnison: Victory Enables RMC Champs to Stay in Running for 1940 Title". The Daily Sentinel. November 10, 1940. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Ed Orman (November 22, 1940). "Bulldogs Take Well Earned Rest After Thumping Miners". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. p. 2B. Retrieved February 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ^ "Bobcat Record Book" (PDF). Montana State University. 2018. p. 57. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Montana State Ready for Spartan Game Tomorrow: Bobcats Open Grid Season With Slashing 12-0 Victory". The Montana Standard. September 22, 1940. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Brilliant Plays Bring Spartans 34 to 0 Victory". The Montana Standard. September 24, 1940. pp. 1, 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Drake Flays Montana Foe In 56-0 Orgy". The Des Moines Register. September 28, 1940. pp. 7–8 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Bobcats Trim N.D. State, 7-0". The Billings Gazette. October 6, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Grizzly Eleven Defeats Bobcats, 6-0". The Montana Standard. October 20, 1940. pp. 1, 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Bobcats Win 7-0 Decision Over Greeley". The Great Falls Tribune. October 27, 1940. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Bobcats Defeat Idaho Southern". The Billings Gazette. November 12, 1940. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Greeley Opens Grid Season by Whipping Idaho, 21-7: Bob Flieger Big Star of Bear Victory". The Greeley Daily Tribune. October 5, 1940. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Greeley State Defeats Idaho Southern 21-7". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. AP. October 5, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved March 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Greeley Trounces Western State Saturday, 33 to 12: Bob Flieger Rolls Total Of 21 Points". The Greeley Daily Tribune. October 21, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Hays and Greeley State Play to Scoreless Deadlock". The Greeley Daily Tribune. November 4, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Kearney Egerton (November 17, 1940). "Tempe Trounces Greeley State, 41-0, in Home-Coming". Arizona Republic. p. XI-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Regis Rallies To Beat Greeley State Bears, 13 to 12". The Greeley Daily Tribune. November 25, 1940. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "South Idaho Beats Western State, 7 to 0". Greeley Daily Tribune. September 30, 1940. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Mountaineers Lose To Idaho Bengals". Twin Falls News. Twin Falls, Idaho. AP. September 29, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved March 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "West Texas Passes Rip Western Colorado, 48-13". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 7, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Western State Loses, 13 to 0". The Greeley Daily Tribune. October 14, 1940. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Greeley Trounces Western State Saturday, 33 to 12". Greeley Daily Tribune. October 21, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Western State Beats Regis Ranger Crew". The Daily Sentinel. October 27, 1940. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.