What Is 1937 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1937 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University during the 1937 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Puggy Hunton. The team played its home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington, and competed as an independent.

Key Facts

The 1937 Gonzaga Bulldogs finished the season with a 4–5 overall record
Puggy Hunton was in his second year as head coach during the 1937 season
Gonzaga played its home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington
The team competed as an independent with no conference affiliation
Notable games included a 20–13 win over the University of the Pacific

Overview

The 1937 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, during the 1937 college football season. Competing as an independent program, the Bulldogs were led by head coach Puggy Hunton in his second year at the helm and played their home games at Gonzaga Stadium.

This season reflected a transitional period for the program, as Gonzaga continued to build its football identity amid growing competition from larger universities. Despite a losing record, the team showed moments of competitiveness against regional opponents.

Record: The Bulldogs finished the 1937 season with a 4–5 overall record, indicating a slightly below-average performance across nine scheduled games.
Coach:Puggy Hunton served as head coach, marking his second consecutive season leading the team after taking over in 1936.
Home Field: All home games were played at Gonzaga Stadium, a wooden structure located on campus that seated approximately 5,000 fans.
Conference Status: Gonzaga competed as an independent, meaning it was not affiliated with any athletic conference during the 1937 season.
Notable Result: A 20–13 victory over the University of the Pacific stood out as one of the team’s stronger performances that year.

Season Performance

The 1937 campaign featured a mix of wins and losses against both regional colleges and emerging football programs in the West Coast circuit. The Bulldogs faced a challenging non-conference schedule that tested their depth and resilience.

Early Season: The team opened with a loss to Whitman College (0–7), setting a defensive tone for the early part of the season.
Mid-Season Push: Gonzaga responded with a 19–0 shutout of Pacific Lutheran, showcasing improved offensive execution and defensive discipline.
Road Challenges: A 20–14 loss to Saint Mary's highlighted the difficulty of playing stronger California-based teams away from home.
Win Over Pacific: The 20–13 win against the University of the Pacific was a highlight, demonstrating the team’s ability to win close contests.
Season Finale: The Bulldogs closed with a 13–7 loss to Gonzaga Alumni, a non-collegiate team, underscoring the experimental nature of some matchups at the time.
Scoring Totals: The team scored 108 points over nine games, averaging about 12 points per game throughout the season.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1937 season can be better understood by comparing it to adjacent years in Gonzaga football history.

Season	Record	Head Coach	Home Games	Notable Result
1935	4–5	Puggy Hunton (1st year)	Gonzaga Stadium	Defeated Whitman
1936	5–4	Puggy Hunton	Gonzaga Stadium	Beat Pacific Lutheran
1937	4–5	Puggy Hunton	Gonzaga Stadium	Won vs. Pacific (20–13)
1938	3–5	Puggy Hunton	Gonzaga Stadium	Lost to Saint Mary's
1939	3–6	Puggy Hunton	Gonzaga Stadium	Final season before hiatus

This table illustrates a gradual decline in win totals from 1936 through 1939, with the 1937 season representing a plateau in performance. While the team maintained consistency in coaching and venue, overall competitiveness waned, leading to the eventual suspension of the football program after 1941 due to World War II and financial constraints.

Why It Matters

Though not a championship season, the 1937 campaign contributes to the historical fabric of Gonzaga’s athletic legacy, particularly in understanding the evolution of its football program before its eventual discontinuation.

Historical Record: The 1937 season is preserved in college football archives as part of Gonzaga’s football history from 1892 to 1941.
Coaching Legacy: Puggy Hunton’s tenure, including 1937, helped shape early program identity before the school shifted focus to basketball.
Regional Rivalries: Games against teams like Saint Mary's and Pacific laid groundwork for future West Coast athletic networks.
Stadium Culture: Gonzaga Stadium hosted passionate local crowds, contributing to early 20th-century college football culture in Spokane.
Program Decline: The 1937 record was a sign of growing challenges in sustaining a competitive football team at smaller institutions.
Transition to Basketball: Struggles in football during this era indirectly paved the way for Gonzaga’s future national prominence in basketball.

The 1937 Gonzaga Bulldogs may not be remembered for victories or championships, but they represent an important chapter in the university’s broader athletic journey—one that ultimately led to a different kind of national success in a different sport.