1943 Wayne Tartars football team

The 1943 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1943 college football season. The team compiled a 0–3 record and was outscored by opponents, 64 to 0.^[1]

1943 Wayne Tartars football
Conference	Independent
Record	0–3
Head coach	Joe Gembis (12th season)
Captain	Frank Bielman Jr.
Home stadium	University of Detroit Stadium
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

1943 Midwestern college football independents records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Michigan State Normal			–					2	–	0	–	0
DePauw			–					5	–	0	–	1
No. 1 Notre Dame			–					9	–	1	–	0
Miami (OH)			–					7	–	2	–	1
Western Michigan			–					4	–	2	–	0
Bowling Green			–					5	–	3	–	1
Marquette			–					3	–	4	–	1
Central Michigan			–					2	–	3	–	0
Ohio Wesleyan			–					4	–	6	–	0
Xavier			–					1	–	6	–	0
Wayne			–					0	–	3	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Joe Gembis was in his 12th year as head coach. Frank Bielman, Jr., was the team captain.^[2]

As the fall semester began, there was uncertainty as to whether Wayne would be able to field a football team. Many schools had cancelled the football season due to the loss of students to wartime military service. Because Wayne had no Navy or Marine program, and the prior year's players were in the military, the team would have to be formed from incoming freshmen. Coach Gembis noted at the time: "We want to have a football team, even if we play only two games."^[3]

In late September 1943, a team was formed with 35 players. Coach Gembis arranged for a home and home series with Michigan State Normal and wrote to the commissioner of the Ohio Athletic Conference in search of other opponents.^[4]

A fourth game was arranged with Otterbein College, but it was cancelled when Otterbein was unable to field a team.^[5]

At the end of the season, 16 players received varsity letters, and Marshall Chrisjohn was selected as the team's most valuable player. The players receiving varsity letters were: Wallace Bagozzi, Frank Bielman, Francis Blake, Marshall Chrisjohn, Thomas Connor, Fred Cuthrell, Allan Dow, Andrew Edgerton, James Fears, Masis Godoshian, James Hannan, Richard Hartley, Allen Henderson, John Hochstein, Don Olson, and Tony Yangovyian.^[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 16	Michigan State Normal	University of Detroit Stadium Detroit, MI	L 0–14		[7]
October 25	at Michigan State Normal	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	L 0–14	1,000	[8]
November 13	at Xavier	Xavier Stadium Cincinnati, OH	L 0–36	< 500	[9]

References

1. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Wayne State University. pp. 111, 114. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
2. 2016 Football Media Guide, p. 112.
3. Bob Latshaw (September 7, 1943). "Wayne's Grid Fate Hinges on Enrollment in Next Fortnight". Detroit Free Press. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Bob Latshaw (September 21, 1943). "Ah, to Be Young Again! 35 Wayne Hopefuls Defy Fate and Service Teams". Detroit Free Press. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Wayne's Chance to Salvage Bit of Football Glory Fades". Detroit Free Press. November 4, 1943. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "16 Awarded Wayne Letters for Football". Detroit Free Press. December 19, 1943. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Bob Latshaw (October 17, 1943). "Michigan Normal Takes Advantage of Three Breaks to Beat Wayne, 14-0". Detroit Free Press. p. 2-1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Bob Latshaw (October 26, 1943). "Wayne Bows to Normal Again, 14-0". Detroit Free Press. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Musketeers Defeat Wayne University To Cop Their First Gridiron Victory". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 14, 1943. pp. 33–34 – via Newspapers.com.