What Is 1931 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1931 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1931 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Homer Woodson Hargiss. They competed as an independent and played home games at McNulty Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Key Facts

The 1931 Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished with a 4–5 overall record
Head coach Homer Woodson Hargiss led the team in his third season
They played home games at McNulty Park, a wooden stadium in Tulsa
Tulsa was an independent team, not part of a conference in 1931
The team scored 137 points while allowing 103 points on defense

Overview

The 1931 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1931 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Homer Woodson Hargiss in his third year at the helm. Despite a below-.500 record, the season reflected a transitional period in the program’s early development.

Playing their home games at McNulty Park, a modest wooden stadium in downtown Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane faced a challenging schedule against regional opponents. The team showed offensive promise, scoring 137 points over nine games, but struggled defensively at times. The 1931 season is remembered as part of Tulsa’s foundation in building a competitive football program in the pre-World War II era.

Record: The team finished with a 4–5 overall record, marking a slight decline from the previous season’s 6–2–2 performance.
Head Coach:Homer Woodson Hargiss served as head coach, bringing a disciplined, run-oriented approach to the team’s strategy.
Home Field: Games were played at McNulty Park, a 15,000-seat wooden stadium located near downtown Tulsa.
Scoring: Tulsa scored 137 points across nine games, averaging 15.2 points per game, a solid output for the era.
Defense: The defense allowed 103 points, showing inconsistency but flashes of resilience in key matchups.

Season Performance

The 1931 campaign included a mix of victories and narrow losses, reflecting the team’s competitive but inconsistent nature. Tulsa faced a variety of regional opponents, including colleges from Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, typical of independent scheduling during that time.

September 26: Opened the season with a 20–0 win over Southwestern (KS), setting an early positive tone.
October 3: Suffered a 7–6 loss to Drake, a strong Missouri Valley Conference team, in a tightly contested game.
October 10: Responded with a 32–0 shutout of Arkansas State, showcasing offensive firepower and defensive dominance.
October 24: Lost 13–0 to Centenary, a team known for its speed and passing attack under coach Dan McGugin.
November 7: Secured a 20–13 win over Oklahoma City University, improving to 3–3 mid-season.
November 26: Closed the season with a 20–13 loss to Texas Tech in a hard-fought Thanksgiving Day game.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 1931 Golden Hurricane season to key prior and subsequent years in program history:

Season	Record	Head Coach	Points For	Points Against
1929	6–2–2	Homer Hargiss	137	84
1930	6–2–2	Homer Hargiss	147	78
1931	4–5	Homer Hargiss	137	103
1932	3–5–1	Homer Hargiss	98	104
1933	4–5–1	Homer Hargiss	101	99

This comparison highlights a gradual decline in performance from 1930 to 1933, with the 1931 season marking the first losing record under Hargiss. While scoring remained consistent, defensive lapses contributed to the downturn. The team’s status as an independent limited access to major conference recognition, but Tulsa continued developing regional rivalries and a strong fan base.

Why It Matters

The 1931 season is a snapshot of early college football in Oklahoma, illustrating the challenges and ambitions of mid-tier programs during the Great Depression. It provides historical context for Tulsa’s evolution into a more prominent football power in later decades.

Historical Insight: The season offers a window into pre-BCS college football, where independents dominated scheduling and conference affiliations were fluid.
Program Development: Tulsa’s fluctuating performance in the early 1930s underscores the instability and growth phase of its football program.
Coaching Legacy:Homer Hargiss laid groundwork for future success, emphasizing discipline and fundamentals during his tenure from 1929 to 1936.
Regional Impact: Games against schools like Arkansas State and Texas Tech helped solidify Tulsa’s presence in the Southwest football landscape.
Stadium Evolution: McNulty Park, though primitive, was a community hub and precursor to more modern facilities like Skelly Field.
Statistical Benchmark: The 137 points scored in 1931 became a baseline for evaluating offensive progress in subsequent seasons.

While not a championship year, the 1931 season remains a documented chapter in the University of Tulsa’s athletic history, reflecting perseverance during a difficult economic era and contributing to the long-term identity of the Golden Hurricane football program.