What Is 1940 Wyoming Cowboys football team

Overview

The 1940 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming during the 1940 college football season. Competing in the NCAA's Mountain States Conference (MSC), the team was led by head coach Willard Witte, who was in his third year at the helm.

The Cowboys played a balanced schedule of regional and conference opponents, finishing the season with a 4–5 overall record and a strong 3–1 mark in conference play. Their performance placed them among the upper tier of MSC teams, though they did not qualify for a postseason bowl game.

• Record: The team finished the season with a 4–5 overall record, marking a slight decline from previous years due to a challenging non-conference schedule.
• Conference performance: In Mountain States Conference play, they went 3–1, securing wins over Utah, Utah State, and Colorado State.
• Head coach:Willard Witte coached the team from 1938 to 1941, compiling a 15–19–2 record over four seasons.
• Home stadium: The Cowboys played their home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, which opened in 1959—prior to that, they used Corbett Field.
• Key game: A 13–0 victory over Colorado State on November 16, 1940, was the highlight of the season, showcasing strong defensive play.

Season Performance

The 1940 season featured a mix of competitive wins and tough losses, with the Cowboys showing resilience against regional rivals. Their schedule included both conference matchups and non-conference games against teams from neighboring states.

• September 28: Opened the season with a loss to Gonzaga (7–6), a close game that set the tone for a competitive year.
• October 5: Earned a 20–0 win over Denver, demonstrating offensive improvement and solid defense.
• October 19: Beat Utah 19–7, a key conference victory that boosted their MSC standings.
• October 26: Suffered a 20–0 loss to Utah State, their only conference defeat of the season.
• November 2: Won 19–0 against Colorado Mines, a dominant defensive performance in a non-conference game.
• November 9: Lost 20–7 to Montana State, a setback that impacted their final win-loss tally.
• November 16: Closed conference play with a 13–0 win over Colorado State, securing a winning MSC record.
• November 23: Finished the season with a 20–0 loss to New Mexico, ending on a low note.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1940 season can be better understood by comparing it to the previous and following years in Wyoming football history.

The 1940 team improved defensively compared to 1939 and led the conference in fewest points allowed per game. Their 3–1 conference record was one of the best in program history up to that point, though national recognition remained limited due to the team's small-school status and lack of bowl eligibility.

Why It Matters

The 1940 season represents a pivotal moment in the early development of Wyoming football, highlighting steady progress under a consistent coaching staff. Though overshadowed by later successes, it laid groundwork for future competitiveness.

• Program growth: The 1940 season showed improvement in conference standings, indicating long-term development under Witte.
• Regional rivalries: Games against Colorado State and Utah helped solidify longstanding in-state and regional rivalries.
• Defensive strength: The team recorded three shutouts, a testament to their defensive discipline.
• Historical context: Occurred just before U.S. entry into World War II, which would soon disrupt college sports.
• Coaching legacy: Willard Witte’s tenure, including 1940, helped stabilize the program during a transitional era.
• Foundation for success: The 1940 performance preceded Wyoming’s undefeated 1942 conference season, showing continuity.

The 1940 Wyoming Cowboys may not be remembered nationally, but they played a crucial role in building the foundation for future achievements in the program’s history.