1942 Santa Clara Broncos football team

The 1942 Santa Clara Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Santa Clara University during the 1942 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Buck Shaw, the Broncos compiled a 7–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 101 to 52, and were ranked No. 15 in the final AP Poll.[1]

1942 Santa Clara Broncos football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 15
1942 record7–2
Head coach
Home stadiumKezar Stadium
1942 Western college football independents records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 17 Santa Clara   –    7 –2 –0
Saint Mary's   –    6 –3 –1
San Francisco   –    6 –4 –0
Portland   –    5 –1 –0
Loyola (CA)   –    5 –4 –1
Idaho Southern Branch   –    4 –2 –0
Nevada   –    4 –3 –1
Cal Poly   –    4 –3 –0
San Francisco State   –    0 –6 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

After winning its first four games against Utah, Stanford, California, and Oregon State, Santa Clara was ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll. The team lost to No. 14 UCLA, then rebounded with three consecutive victories, including victories over rivals San Francisco and Saint Mary's. In the final game of the season, the Broncos lost to the powerful service team assembled at Saint Mary's Preflight School.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 26at Utah
W 12–016,000[2]
October 3vs. Stanford
W 14–630,000[3]
October 10at California
W 7–630,000[4]
October 17at Oregon StateNo. 15
W 7–08,000[5]
October 24at No. 14 UCLANo. 9
L 6–1445,000[6]
November 1at San Francisco
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco
W 8–625,000[7]
November 9at Loyola (CA)No. 12
W 21–012,000[8]
November 14vs. Saint Mary's
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco
W 20–736,000[9]
November 22vs. Saint Mary's Pre-FlightNo. 14
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco
L 6–1325,000[10]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Postseason

Two Santa Clara players were recognized on the 1942 College Football All-America Team: end Al Beals received second-team honors from the Central Press Association; and quarterback Jesse Freitas received third-team honors from the Associated Press.

In March 1943, coach Shaw cancelled spring football practice. At that point, 98% of the school's male students were in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and their free time was occupied by Army training. Shaw noted that "fall football looks hopeless," and added that it was "improbable that we could get a football team from among the 4-F boys or those under 18."[11]

On August 18, 1943, the school announced that it was abandoning football for the duration of World War II. Athletic director George Barsi noted that 94% of the prior year's student body was in the armed services, and the shortage of manpower made it "inadvisable to field a team".[12] The Broncos did not field a football team again until 1946.

References
  1. "1942 Santa Clara Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  2. Mac R. Johnson (September 27, 1942). "Broncos Whip Utes 12-0: Santa Clara Passes Way to Victory Over Indians". Provo (Utah) Sunday Herald. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Art Cohn (October 4, 1942). "Santa Clara 14, Stanford 6: Beals Scores Two on Passes". Oakland Tribune. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Art Cohn (October 11, 1942). "Santa Clara 7, California 6: Merlo Muffs Hero's Role". Oakland Tribune. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Santa Clara Wins From Oregon State By Score of 7-0". Nevada State Journal. October 18, 1942. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Al Wolf (October 25, 1942). "Broncos Bow to Bruins". Los Angeles Times. p. II-9 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Santa Clara Beats Dons, 8-6: Safety From Blocked Punt Saves Broncs". The San Bernardino Daily Sun (Associated Press). November 2, 1942. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Bob Smyser (November 9, 1942). "Broncos Down Lions: Santa Clara Victor, 21-0". Los Angeles Times. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Broncos Trip Gaels, 20-7". Los Angeles Times. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Alan Ward (November 23, 1942). "Bronc Bowl Hopes Ruined by Preflight: Bottari's Air Shots Bring 13-6 Victory". Oakland Tribune. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Broncs Cancel Spring Drills". The Salt Lake Tribune. March 18, 1943. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Broncos Drop Football for War Duration". The Press Democrat. August 19, 1943. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
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