1939 Central Michigan Bearcats football team

The 1939 Central Michigan Bearcats football team represented Central Michigan College of Education, later renamed Central Michigan University, as an independent during the 1939 college football season. In their third season under head coach Ron Finch, the Bearcats compiled an 8–1 record, shut out six opponents, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 167 to 40. The team's sole loss was by a 20–7 score to Gus Dorais' 1939 Detroit Titans football team.^[1][2]

1939 Central Michigan Bearcats football
Conference	Independent
Record	8–1
Head coach	Ron Finch (3rd season)
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1938 1940 →

1939 Midwestern college football independents records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Central Michigan			–					8	–	1	–	0
No. 13 Notre Dame			–					7	–	2	–	0
Ohio			–					6	–	3	–	0
Detroit			–					5	–	3	–	1
Akron			–					5	–	4	–	0
Cincinnati			–					4	–	3	–	2
Ohio Wesleyan			–					5	–	4	–	1
Marquette			–					4	–	4	–	0
Michigan State			–					4	–	4	–	1
Dayton			–					4	–	4	–	1
Michigan State Normal			–					3	–	3	–	1
Wayne			–					4	–	5	–	0
Xavier			–					3	–	5	–	1
Western State Teachers (MI)			–					2	–	6	–	1
Miami (OH)			–					1	–	7	–	1
Rankings from AP Poll

Central Michigan was ranked at No. 159 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 22	at Detroit	University of Detroit Stadium Detroit, MI	L 7–20	21,500	[4]
September 29	at Ferris Institute	Big Rapids, MI	W 20–0		[5][6]
September 30	Northern Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 6–0		[7]
October 6	Northern State Teachers (MI)	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 37–0		[8]
October 14	at Eastern Kentucky	Richmond, KY	W 18–14		[9][10]
October 21	at Michigan State Normal	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry)	W 14–0	5,000	[11]
October 27	Ball State	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 7–0		[12]
November 11	Wayne	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 33–6	5,500	[13]
	Grand Rapids	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 25–0

References

1. "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 109. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
2. "Central Michigan Yearly Results (1935-1939)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
3. 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.
4. W. W. Edgar (September 23, 1939). "Breaks Help U. of D. Beat Central State, 20-7". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Bearcat Reserves Win". The Detroit Free Press. September 30, 1939. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Central State Saves Regulars in Victory". The Lansing State Journal. September 30, 1939. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Central Teachers Win Close One, 6-0". The Lansing State Journal. October 1, 1939. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Bearcat Subs Win". The Detroit Free Press. October 7, 1939. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Bearcats Win Fourth In Row". Lansing State Journal. October 15, 1939. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Eastern Loses: Bows to Central Michigan Teachers by Score of 18 to 14". The Messenger. October 15, 1939. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Bearcats Top Huron Eleven: Taylor Runs 96 Yards in 14-0 Victory". The Detroit Free Press. October 22, 1939. p. Sport 5 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Passing Attack Sends Cards to 7 to 0 Defeat: Ball State Defeated By Central State Teachers". The Muncie Evening Press. October 28, 1939. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Bearcats Rout Tartar Eleven: Central Wins, 33-6, for Eighth in a Row". Detroit Free Press. November 12, 1939. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.