1938 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1938 UCLA Bruins football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 7–4–1 4–3–1 William H. Spaulding 14th Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Poi Bowl W 32–7 vs. 1938 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Hawaii The 1938 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the 1938 college football season. Coached by William H. Spaulding, the Bruins finished the season with a 7–4–1 record and made their first postseason appearance in a bowl game. The Poi Bowl featured the Bruins playing the 1938 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on January 2, 1939, in Honolulu. The Bruins season offense scored 217 points while the defense allowed 106 points. George Pfeiffer and Hal Hirshon served as Co-Captains of the team. Center John Ryland was selected to the PCC First-Team All Coast and drafted by the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League (NFL) in 1939. The team also featured future Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, Hollywood actor Woody Strode, Football Hall of Famer Kenny Washington. and Bill Overlin. This was the Bruins' 14th and last season with Spaulding as coach, and the following season new head coach Edwin C. Horrell took over. Schedule 1938 AP September 23 w y Iowa Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 27–3 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-bruins-wallop-iowa-with-s/188791718/ Press-Telegram Bruins wallop Iowa with speedy attack in grid opener, 27–3 September 24, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com October 1 l y Oregon Hayward Field Eugene, OR 12–14 7,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal-webfeet-nose-ou/188791908/ The Oregon Daily Journal Webfeet nose out Bruins, 14 to 12 October 2, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com October 8 w Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 13–0 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-uclans-trounce-huskies/188792036/ The Modesto Bee Uclans trounce Huskies October 9, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com October 15 l y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA rivalry 7–20 40,000 Finch F. Powerful Bears rout Bruin eleven 20–7 https://www.proquest.com/docview/164878106 The Los Angeles Times October 16, 1938 164878106 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-california-rips-bruins-b/188790551/ The Modesto Bee California rips Bruins by 20 to 7 October 16, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com October 22 w Idaho Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 33–0 25,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fW5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6580%2C2634387 The Spokesman-Review Henry Bill UCLA swamps Idaho in final quarter touchdown barrage, 33 to 0 October 23, 1938 2, sports January 12, 2026 Google News Archive October 29 w Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 6–0 37,000 Finch F. Trojans rout Oregon; Bruins shade Stanford https://www.proquest.com/docview/164883541 The Los Angeles Times October 30, 1938 164883541 November 5 w y Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA 21–0 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-kenny-washington-sp/188792161/ The Sunday Oregonian Kenny Washington sparks Uclans' 21-to-0 triumph over Washington Staters November 6, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com November 12 l y Wisconsin 15 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 7–14 35,000 Finch F. Huskies upset Troy, 7–6; Bruins beaten, 14–7 https://www.proquest.com/docview/164884013 The Los Angeles Times November 13, 1938 164884013 November 24, 1938 l y USC 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 7–42 65,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-troy-terrific/188789552/ The San Francisco Examiner Troy terrific, routs Bruins, 42–7 November 25, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com December 10 t Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 6–6 10,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-ucla-and-beavers-play-t/188792294/ The Tacoma Sunday Ledger UCLA and Beavers play tie December 11, 1938 January 12, 2026 Newspapers.com December 26 w y y Honolulu Town Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii 46–0 9,000 Bruins score 46–0 victory https://www.proquest.com/docview/164899904 The Los Angeles Times December 27, 1938 164899904 January 2 w y y Hawaii Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Poi Bowl 32–7 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-bruins-romp-to-32/145021024/ The Los Angeles Times Bruins romp to 32–7 triumph over University of Hawaii January 3, 1939 April 8, 2024 Newspapers.comBruins romp to 32–7 triumph over university of hawaii. https://www.proquest.com/docview/164946901 Los Angeles Times 3 January 1939 164946901 1938 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1938-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference January 12, 2026 2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide Year-by-Year Results http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2015/8/13/FB_15MG_96_100.pdf December 15, 2016 1938 team players in the NFL The following player was claimed in the 1939 NFL draft. 2 UCLA Bruins Player Position Round Pick NFL club John Ryland Center 14 123 Cleveland Browns https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1939.htm Reference at www.pro-football-reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com 2018-03-30 2010-11-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20101102034740/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1939.htm dead Team member Jackie Robinson would go on to a career in Major League Baseball.https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/robinja02.shtml Jackie Robinson Stats References UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons Category:Poi Bowl champion seasons UCLA Bruins football