1940 Rocky Mountain Conference football season

August 2023 February 2026 Rocky Mountain Conference Football 5 Colorado College Champion Football 1939 1941 The 1940 Rocky Mountain Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) as part of the 1940 college football season. The Colorado College Tigers, led by head coach Clark DeGroot, won the RMC championship with a 5–2–1 record (2–0–1 against conference opponents). End Tom Pelican and halfback Don Heizer received first-team honors on the All-Rocky Mountain Conference team. The Colorado Mines Orediggers, led by John Mason, finished in second place with a 3–4 record (3–1 against RMC opponents). The conference championship was decided on October 19 when the Orediggers lost to Colorado College, 28–21, at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs. Four Colorado Mines players, including quarterback Joe Berta, received first-team honors on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference football team. Conference overview Conf. rankTeamHead coachConf. recordOverall recordPoints scoredPoints against1Colorado CollegeClark DeGroot2-0–15–2–1 2Colorado MinesJohn Mason3–13–4 3Montana StateSchubert R. Dyche2–14–4 4Colorado State–GreeleyJohn W. Hancock1–32–5–1 5Western State (CO)Paul Wright0–3–12–6–1 Teams Colorado College 1940 Colorado College Tigers football Rocky Mountain Conference RMC 5–2–1 2–0–1 Clark DeGroot 1st Washburn Field RMC champion The 1940 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In their first and only season under head coach Clark DeGroot, the Tigers compiled a 5–2–1 record (2–0–1 against RMC opponents) and won the RMC championship. The team played its home games at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs. End Tom Pelican and halfback Don Heizer received first-team honors on the All-Rocky Mountain Conference team. Despite his size (five feet, six inches, and 156 pounds), Heizer was rated highly by opposing coaches "for his driving ball carrying, his pass catching and his general defensive play." Colorado College was ranked at No. 328 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings The Boston Globe Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 19, 1940 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123126338/final-1940-litkenhous-ratings/ Newspapers.com y y September 27 1940 Baker Wildcats Baker<ncg> Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO W 16-0 Colorado College Scores Victory Over Baker, 16-0 The Daily Sentinel September 28, 1940 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120589387/colorado-college-scores-victory-over/ Newspapers.com October 5 1940 New Mexico Normal Cowboys New Mexico Normal<ncg> Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO W 37-7 Colorado College Beats New Mexico Normal Eleven The Daily Sentinel October 6, 1940 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120590091/colorado-college-beats-new-mexico/ Newspapers.com October 12 at 1940 Whitman Fighting Missionaries Whitman<ncg> Walla Walla, WA W 6-0 Colorado College Whips Whitman With 6-0 Score The Daily Sentinel October 12, 1940 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120589631/colorado-college-whips-whitman-with-6-0/ Newspapers.com October 19 Colorado Mines<hc> Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO W 28-21 4,214 CC Defeats Miners: Colorado College Avenges School of Mines Defeat in 1939 by 28 to 21 Victory The Daily Sentinel October 20, 1940 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120589107/colorado-college-avenges-school-of/ Newspapers.com November 2 at Western State Gunnison, CO T 0-0 Western State Holds CC Tigers to Scoreless Tie And Spoils Clear Record The Daily Sentinel November 3, 1940 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120590363/western-state-holds-cc-tigers-to/ Newspapers.com November 11 Colorado State-Greeley Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO W 20-7 Colorado College Tigers Win RMC Football Crown The Daily Inter Lake November 12, 1940 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120590702/colorado-college-tigers-win-rmc/ Newspapers.com November 23 at 1940 Grinnell Pioneers Grinnell<ncg> Grinnell, IA L 12-26 500 Coloradoans Fall -- Grinnell Wins, 26-12 The Des Moines Register November 24, 1940 Sports 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120625442/coloradoans-fall-grinnell-wins-26-12/ Newspapers.com November 30 Occidental<ncg> Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO L 6-25 Alert Oxy Team Defeats Colorado College, 25 to 6 Los Angeles Times December 1, 1940 II-16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120625760/alert-oxy-team-defeats-colorado/ Newspapers.com Colorado Mines 1940 Colorado Mines Orediggers football Rocky Mountain Conference RMC 3–4 3–1 John Mason 4th Campbell Field The 1940 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented the Colorado School of Mines of Golden, Colorado. In their fourth season under head coach John Mason, the Orediggers compiled a 3–4 record (3–1 against RMC opponents) and finished in second place in the RMC. The team played its home games at Campbell Field in Golden. Four Colorado Mines players received first-team honors from the Associated Press on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference football team. They were: quarterback Joe Berta; end Louis DeGoes; tackle Dick Moe; and center Glen Hutchinson. Colorado Mines was ranked at No. 387 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. y y September 28 vs Colorado A&M<ncg> Denver University Stadium Denver, CO L 0-25 Colorado Aggies Deal Out Harsh Licking to Miners The Daily Sentinel September 29, 1940 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120653539/colorado-aggies-deal-out-harsh-licking/ Newspapers.com October 5 at Creighton<ncg> Creighton Stadium Omaha, NE L 0-43 Blues Bury Miners Under 43 to 0 Score Sunday World-Herald October 6, 1940 1B, 7B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120537432/blues-bury-miners/ Newspapers.com October 12 Colorado State-Greeley Campbell Field Golden, CO W 12-7 October 19 at Colorado College<hc> Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO L 21-28 4,214 November 2 Montana State Campbell Field Golden, CO W 20-7 November 9 at Western State Gunnison, CO W 12-0 Miners Spill Western State at Gunnison: Victory Enables RMC Champs to Stay in Running for 1940 Title The Daily Sentinel November 10, 1940 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120654268/miners-spill-western-state-at-gunnison/ Newspapers.com November 21 at Fresno State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA L 0-28 7,256 Bulldogs Take Well Earned Rest After Thumping Miners The Fresno Bee Fresno, California Ed Orman November 22, 1940 2B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8723898/bulldogs_take_well_earned_rest_after/ Newspapers.com February 2, 2017 Montana State American college football season 1940 Montana State Bobcats football Rocky Mountain Conference RMC 4–4 2–1 Schubert R. Dyche 11th Gatton Field The 1940 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State College (later renamed Montana State University) of Bozeman, Montana. In their 11th season under head coach Schubert R. Dyche, the Bobcats compiled a 4–4 record.Bobcat Record Book 2018 Montana State University 57 https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/msubobcats.com/documents/2018/10/4/FB_Guide_2018_Records.pdf August 24, 2019 November 2, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211102233406/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/msubobcats.com/documents/2018/10/4/FB_Guide_2018_Records.pdf dead Montana State was ranked at No. 397 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. y y September 21 Western State (CO) Gatton Field Bozeman, MT W 12-0 Montana State Ready for Spartan Game Tomorrow: Bobcats Open Grid Season With Slashing 12-0 Victory The Montana Standard September 22, 1940 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321938/montana_state_ready_for_spartan_game/ Newspapers.com September 23 San Jose State<ncg> Butte High Stadium Butte, MT L 0-32 4,000 Brilliant Plays Bring Spartans 34 to 0 Victory The Montana Standard September 24, 1940 1, 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321734/brilliant_plays_bring_spartans_34_to_0/ Newspapers.com September 27 at Drake<ncg> Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA L 0-56 8,000 Drake Flays Montana Foe In 56-0 Orgy The Des Moines Register September 28, 1940 7–8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321563/drake_flays_montana_foe_in_560_orgy/ Newspapers.com October 5 North Dakota Agricultural<ncg><hc> Gatton Field Bozeman, MT W 7-0 2,500 Bobcats Trim N.D. State, 7-0 The Billings Gazette October 6, 1940 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321836/bobcats_trim_nd_state_70/ Newspapers.com October 19 vs Montana<ncg> Butte High Stadium Butte, MT (rivalry) L 0-6 6,000 Grizzly Eleven Defeats Bobcats, 6-0 The Montana Standard October 20, 1940 1, 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321428/grizzly_eleven_defeats_bobcats_60/ Newspapers.com October 26 Colorado State-Greeley Gatton Field Bozeman, MT W 7-0 Bobcats Win 7-0 Decision Over Greeley The Great Falls Tribune October 27, 1940 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321316/bobcats_win_70_decision_over_greeley/ Newspapers.com November 2 at Colorado Mines Campbell Field Golden, CO L 7-20 Colorado Mines Bumps Bobcats The Billings Gazette November 3, 1940 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321116/colorado_mines_bumps_bobcats/ Newspapers.com November 11 at Idaho Southern Branch<ncg> Spud Bowl Pocatello, ID W 15-7 Bobcats Defeat Idaho Southern The Billings Gazette November 12, 1940 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35321203/bobcats_defeat_idaho_southern/ Newspapers.com Colorado State–Greeley 1940 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football Rocky Mountain Conference RMC 2–5–1 1–3 John W. Hancock Jackson Field The 1940 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football team represented Colorado State College at Greeley, Colorado (now known as the University of Northern Colorado). Led by head coach John W. Hancock, the Bears compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–3 against RMC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the RMC. Halfback Sam Sears and fullback Horace Brelsford, both juniors, were selected by the Associated Press as first-team players on the 1940 All-Rocky Mountain Conference team. The team played its home games at Jackson Field in Greeley, Colorado. y y October 4 Idaho Southern<ncg> Jackson Field Greeley, CO W 21-7 Greeley Opens Grid Season by Whipping Idaho, 21-7: Bob Flieger Big Star of Bear Victory The Greeley Daily Tribune October 5, 1940 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120615992/greeley-opens-grid-season-by-whipping/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/97982649/greeley-state-defeats-idaho-southern-21/ Greeley State Defeats Idaho Southern 21-7 AP Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana 7 October 5, 1940 March 19, 2022 newspapers.com October 12 at Colorado Mines Campbell Field Golden, CO L 7-12 Colorado Mines Still in Champion's Seat, Beating Greeley state 12 to 7 The Daily Sentinel October 13, 1940 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120616136/colorado-mines-still-in-champions/ Newspapers.com October 19 Western State<hc> Jackson Field Greeley, Co W 33-12 Greeley Trounces Western State Saturday, 33 to 12: Bob Flieger Rolls Total Of 21 Points The Greeley Daily Tribune October 21, 1940 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120616357/greeley-trounces-western-state/ Newspapers.com October 26 at Montana State Gatton Field Bozeman, MT L 0-7 November 2 1940 Fort Hays State Tigers Fort Hays State Jackson Field Greeley, CO T 0-0 Hays and Greeley State Play to Scoreless Deadlock The Greeley Daily Tribune November 4, 1940 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120616517/hays-and-greeley-state-play-to/ Newspapers.com November 11 at Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO L 7-20 November 16 at Arizona State Goodwin Stadium Tempe, AZ L 0-41 5,000 Tempe Trounces Greeley State, 41-0, in Home-Coming Arizona Republic Kearney Egerton November 17, 1940 XI-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120616894/tempe-trounces-greeley-state-41-0-in/ Newspapers.com November 23 1940 Regis Rangers Regis<ncg> Jackson Field Greeley, CO L 12-13 Regis Rallies To Beat Greeley State Bears, 13 to 12 The Greeley Daily Tribune November 25, 1940 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120617014/regis-rallies-to-beat-greeley-state/ Newspapers.com Western State 1940 Western State Mountaineers football Rocky Mountain Conference RMC 2–6–1 0–3–1 Paul Wright 6th The 1940 Western State Mountaineers football team represented Western State College of Colorado at Gunnison, Colorado (now known as the Western Colorado University). In their sixth year under head coach Paul Wright, the Mountaineers compiled a 2–6–1 record (0–3–1 against RMC opponents) and finished in fifth place in the RMC. Western Colorado was ranked at No. 475 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. y September 21 at Montana State Gatton Field Bozeman, MT L 0-12 September 28 at Idaho Southern Branch<ncg> Pocatello, ID L 0-7 South Idaho Beats Western State, 7 to 0 Greeley Daily Tribune September 30, 1940 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120598447/south-idaho-beats-western-state/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/97982370/mountaineers-lose-to-idaho-bengals/ Mountaineers Lose To Idaho Bengals AP Twin Falls News Twin Falls, Idaho 2 September 29, 1940 March 19, 2022 newspapers.com October 5 West Texas State Gunnison, CO L 13-48 West Texas Passes Rip Western Colorado, 48-13 Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 7, 1940 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120655718/west-texas-passes-rip-western-colorado/ Newspapers.com October 12 1940 Weber State Wildcats Weber JC<ncg> Gunnison, CO L 0-13 Western State Loses, 13 to 0 The Greeley Daily Tribune October 14, 1940 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120597857/western-state-loses-13-to-0/ Newspapers.com October 19 at Colorado State-Greeley Jackson Field Greeley, Co L 12-33 Greeley Trounces Western State Saturday, 33 to 12 Greeley Daily Tribune October 21, 1940 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120598129/greeley-trounces-western-state/ Newspapers.com October 26 1940 Regis Rangers Regis<ncg> Denver, CO W 13-0 Western State Beats Regis Ranger Crew The Daily Sentinel October 27, 1940 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120655282/western-state-beats-regis-ranger-crew/ Newspapers.com November 2 Colorado College Gunnison, CO T 0-0 November 9 Colorado Mines Gunnison, CO L 0-12 All-conference team The Associated Press selected the following players as first-team honorees on the all-conference team. Quarterback - Joe Berta, Colorado Mines Halfbacks - Don Heizer, Colorado College; Sam Sears, Greeley Fullback - Horace Brelsford, Greeley Ends - Louis DeGoes, Colorado Mines; Tom Pelican, Colorado College Tackles - Dick Moe, Colorado Mines; Jack Burke, Montana State Guards - Rudy Aganski, Western State; Newell Berg, Montana State Center - Glen Hutchinson, Colorado Mines. Colorado Mines Salvages Glory From Rocky Mountain Race by Leading AP Team The Daily Sentinel November 24, 1940 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120588738/colorado-mines-salvages-glory-from/ Newspapers.com References