What Is 1939 Columbia Lions football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1939 Columbia Lions football team represented Columbia University during the 1939 college football season, finishing with a 3–5 record under head coach Lou Little. They played their home games at Baker Field in Upper Manhattan and were outscored 115 to 97 over the season.

Key Facts

The 1939 Columbia Lions compiled a 3–5 overall record during the season.
Head coach Lou Little led the team in his 10th season at Columbia.
They played home games at Baker Field in New York City.
The Lions were outscored 115–97 by their opponents on the year.
Columbia defeated Penn 14–7, one of their three wins.

Overview

The 1939 Columbia Lions football team represented Columbia University in the 1939 college football season, competing as an independent team not affiliated with a conference. Led by head coach Lou Little in his 10th year, the Lions played their home games at Baker Field in Upper Manhattan, a venue known for its tight field dimensions and limited seating capacity.

Despite flashes of competitiveness, the team struggled to maintain consistency, finishing the season with a 3–5 overall record. They were outscored 115 to 97 over the course of the year, indicating challenges on both offense and defense. The season reflected a transitional period for the program amid growing competition in collegiate football.

Season Record: The 1939 Columbia Lions finished with a 3–5 overall record, winning three and losing five games across the season.
Head Coach:Lou Little, in his 10th season, continued to build the program after leading Columbia to a Rose Bowl victory in 1934.
Home Venue: All home games were played at Baker Field, located in Upper Manhattan, which had limited seating and field space.
Key Victory: The Lions defeated the University of Pennsylvania 14–7, marking a highlight in an otherwise difficult season.
Scoring Differential: Columbia was outscored 115–97 for the season, indicating narrow margins in most contests.

Season Performance & Game Results

The 1939 season featured a mix of regional and national opponents, with Columbia facing teams from both strong and mid-tier programs. Games were played on Saturdays, typical of the era, with limited media coverage compared to modern standards.

September 30: Lost to Western Reserve 0–7, opening the season with a defensive struggle at Baker Field.
October 7: Defeated Wagner College 21–0, securing their first win with a dominant defensive performance.
October 14: Lost to USC 0–20, facing a powerful West Coast team that would finish ranked nationally.
October 21: Beat the University of Pennsylvania 14–7, one of the season’s key victories under challenging conditions.
October 28: Lost to Duquesne 0–13, struggling offensively against a tough defensive unit.
November 4: Defeated Temple 13–0, showing improvement with a shutout win in mid-season.
November 11: Lost to Army 7–20, facing a disciplined military academy team with strong rushing offense.
November 25: Lost to Yale 0–13, closing the season with a shutout defeat in a traditional Ivy rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 1939 Columbia Lions’ performance with select peer teams from the same season:

Team	Record	Points For	Points Against	Head Coach
Columbia	3–5	97	115	Lou Little
Yale	3–4–1	103	86	Raymond Morrison
Princeton	6–1–1	197	70	Charlie Caldwell
USC	8–0–2	165	40	Howard Jones
Army	6–2	162	65	Earl Blaik

Compared to peers, Columbia’s 3–5 record placed them below competitive teams like Princeton and USC. While Yale had a similar win total, they allowed fewer points, highlighting Columbia’s defensive shortcomings. The data shows that Columbia’s offense struggled to keep pace with stronger programs, especially against nationally ranked teams like USC and Army.

Why It Matters

The 1939 season is a snapshot of Columbia football during a transitional era in college sports, reflecting both the challenges of maintaining competitiveness and the evolving structure of collegiate athletics. Though not a standout year, it contributes to the historical record of a program with past national prominence.

The season illustrates the competitive gap between Columbia and top-tier programs like USC and Army in the late 1930s.
It highlights the tenure of Lou Little, a respected coach who helped elevate Columbia’s national profile in earlier years.
The use of Baker Field underscores the logistical and spatial limitations faced by urban football programs.
Games against Ivy League rivals like Yale and Penn reinforced regional rivalries that shaped conference dynamics.
The 1939 season occurred just before World War II, which would soon disrupt college football schedules nationwide.
Historical records like this help preserve the legacy of student-athletes and programs often overlooked in modern retrospectives.

While the 1939 Columbia Lions did not achieve postseason success, their season remains a documented chapter in the evolution of college football, offering insight into the sport’s development during a pivotal decade.