What Is 1938 DePaul Blue Demons football team

Overview

The 1938 DePaul Blue Demons football team represented DePaul University in Chicago during the 1938 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Ray Neal, who was in his third year at the helm, and played its home games at the newly constructed DePaul Field.

Despite high hopes following improvements in previous seasons, the Blue Demons finished the year with a losing record. The team showed flashes of potential but struggled with consistency, particularly on defense, which ultimately impacted their final standing.

• Season record: The team finished with a 4–5 win-loss record, failing to secure a winning season.
• Head coach:Ray Neal served as head coach, leading the program from 1936 to 1939 before stepping down.
• Home field: Games were played at DePaul Field, a small on-campus stadium with limited seating capacity.
• Points scored: The offense tallied 98 points over nine games, averaging about 10.9 points per game.
• Points allowed: The defense surrendered 110 points, indicating struggles in containing opposing offenses.

Season Performance and Game Results

The 1938 campaign featured a mix of wins against smaller colleges and narrow losses to stronger programs. DePaul opened the season with a win but faced a challenging mid-season stretch that included tough opponents from major conferences.

• Opening win: The Blue Demons defeated Carroll College 19–0 in their season opener on September 24, 1938.
• Key loss: A 13–6 defeat to Loyola of Chicago marked a turning point in the team’s confidence.
• Midseason slump: The team lost three consecutive games in October, including a 20–0 shutout by Western Reserve.
• Strong finish: DePaul closed the season with two wins, defeating Bradley 19–13 and Illinois Tech 20–0.
• No bowl game: As an independent with a losing record, the team did not qualify for postseason play.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1938 DePaul Blue Demons compared to peer independent programs of the era:

While DePaul’s record was below average compared to regional peers, the team fared better than some smaller independents. However, it lacked the scoring power and defensive resilience seen in more established programs like Notre Dame and Northwestern, which dominated their schedules.

Why It Matters

Though not a standout season, the 1938 campaign is part of DePaul’s broader athletic history and reflects the challenges of maintaining a competitive football program without conference affiliation. It also highlights the evolution of college football during the pre-war era, when many Catholic universities fielded teams.

• Historical context: The 1938 season occurred during the Great Depression, affecting funding and fan attendance.
• Program decline: DePaul football gradually declined, eventually being discontinued in 1939 due to financial constraints.
• Legacy impact: The discontinuation shifted focus to basketball, which later became DePaul’s flagship sport.
• Coaching influence: Ray Neal’s tenure, though brief, laid groundwork for future athletic development.
• Independent status: Without a conference, scheduling and national recognition remained major hurdles.
• Sports history: The 1938 team is a footnote in the broader narrative of college football’s expansion in the 1930s.

Today, the 1938 Blue Demons are remembered primarily by sports historians and alumni, serving as a reminder of DePaul’s once-active gridiron tradition before the university redirected its athletic priorities.