What Is 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University during the 1939 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Puggy Hunton. The team played as an independent and did not participate in a conference or postseason.

Key Facts

The 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team had a final record of 4 wins and 5 losses
Puggy Hunton was the head coach during the 1939 season
Gonzaga played as an independent, not belonging to any athletic conference
The team's home games were held at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington
The 1939 season marked the final full season before Gonzaga discontinued its football program in 1941

Overview

The 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University in the 1939 college football season, competing as an independent program without conference affiliation. Coached by Puggy Hunton in his second year at the helm, the team played its home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington, a modest venue with limited seating capacity.

This season occurred during a transitional era for college football, with many smaller programs struggling to maintain competitive and financially viable teams. Gonzaga’s football program, though historically active since the early 20th century, was nearing its eventual suspension due to financial and logistical challenges.

Record: The team finished the 1939 season with a 4–5 overall record, indicating a below-average performance compared to stronger regional programs.
Coach:Puggy Hunton served as head coach, bringing prior experience as a player and assistant coach at Notre Dame before leading Gonzaga from 1939 to 1941.
Home Field:Gonzaga Stadium, located on campus, hosted all home games but lacked modern amenities and had a capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators.
Opponents: The Bulldogs faced a mix of regional teams, including colleges from the Pacific Northwest and California, such as Saint Mary's and the University of San Francisco.
Program Status: Gonzaga competed as an independent, meaning it was not part of any formal conference, which limited postseason opportunities and national visibility.

Season Structure and Game Results

The 1939 season consisted of nine scheduled games, reflecting the typical length of a college football season at the time. Games were played primarily on weekends, with travel logistics posing a challenge for a small program like Gonzaga.

September 30: The Bulldogs opened the season with a loss to Saint Mary's, 0–7, highlighting early offensive struggles.
October 7: Gonzaga earned its first win by defeating the University of San Francisco Dons, 13–7, showcasing improved offensive execution.
October 14: A 20–0 victory over Whitman College demonstrated dominance against a smaller liberal arts school.
November 4: A hard-fought 20–19 win over Idaho kept the team’s record competitive midway through the season.
November 18: The team lost to Montana State, 7–13, in a game that underscored defensive inconsistencies.
Final Game: The season concluded with a loss to Pacific, 0–20, on November 25, marking the end of Hunton’s second campaign.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs to other contemporary teams highlights its mid-tier standing among regional programs.

Team	Record (1939)	Conference	Head Coach	Postseason
Gonzaga Bulldogs	4–5	Independent	Puggy Hunton	None
Saint Mary's Gaels	5–4	Independent	Slip Madigan	None
Washington Huskies	4–5	PCC	Jimmy Phelan	None
Notre Dame Fighting Irish	7–2	Independent	Elmer Layden	None
USC Trojans	8–0–2	PCC	Howard Jones	Rose Bowl

The table illustrates that Gonzaga’s 4–5 record placed it on par with regional peers like Washington but far behind national powers such as USC. As an independent, Gonzaga lacked the scheduling stability and exposure of conference-affiliated teams, which contributed to its eventual decision to discontinue the program.

Why It Matters

The 1939 season is significant as one of the final chapters in Gonzaga’s football history before the program was suspended in 1941 due to World War II and financial constraints. It reflects the challenges smaller Catholic universities faced in sustaining Division I-level football.

Historical Significance: The 1939 team represents the penultimate full season before Gonzaga dropped football, making it a key point in the school’s athletic evolution.
Financial Pressures: Operating without conference revenue or large attendance made sustaining the program economically unfeasible during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
War Impact: The onset of World War II led to player shortages and travel restrictions, accelerating the program’s end.
Legacy Shift: Gonzaga redirected athletic focus to basketball, which eventually became its most prominent sport.
Regional Rivalries: Games against schools like Idaho and Saint Mary’s helped build regional identity despite limited national recognition.
Coaching Influence: Puggy Hunton’s tenure, though brief, influenced future coaching hires and program structure before football’s discontinuation.

Today, the 1939 Gonzaga Bulldogs are remembered as part of a bygone era in college athletics, illustrating how broader historical and economic forces shaped the development of modern university sports programs.