1941 Willamette Bearcats football team

College football season February 2026 August 2023 1946 Willamette Bearcats football 1941 Willamette Bearcats football team.png 285 Northwest Conference NWC 8–2 5–0 Spec Keene 16th Buddy Reynolds and ?https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123403401/la-grande-observer/ La Grande Observer Newspapers.com October 31, 1941 6 Ex-La Grander Runs for Bearcats Sweetland Field NWC champion The 1941 Willamette Bearcats football team was an American football team that represented the Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, as a member of the Northwest Conference during the 1941 college football season. In their 16th season under head coach Spec Keene, the Bearcats compiled an 8–2 record (5–0 against NWC opponents), outscored five conference opponents by a total of 218 to 7, and won the conference championship. Dick Weisgerber, a Willamette alumnus who went on to play for the Green Bay Packers, returned to Willamette as an assistant coach in 1941.Weisgerber Back To Coach Bearcats The Capital Journal September 16, 1941 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123413868/weisgerber-back-to-coach-bearcats/ Newspapers.com Due to their playing in Honolulu on the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor, they became known as the "Pearl Harbor" team. Four members of the team (Keene, Weisgerber, Ted Ogdahl, and Marvin Goodman) were inducted individually into the Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame. The team as a whole was inducted in 1997.1941 "Pearl Harbor" Football Team Willamette Bearcats Football April 21, 2023 https://www.wubearcats.com/hof/teams/1941football?view=bioSurprise of Pearl Harbor forever changed Willamette athletes Statesman Journal Dan Postrel December 7, 1997 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123425810/surprise-of-pearl-harbor-forever/ Newspapers.com Willamette players received 11 of 13 first-team spots on the 1941 All-Northwest Conference football team. Four players were unanimous picks: end Bill Reder; tackle Martin Barstad; guard Tony Fraiola; and back Teddy Ogdahl.All-Northwest Conference 11? Certainly, It's 'All'-Willamette The Oregon Statesman November 22, 1941 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123368171/all-northwest-conference-11-certainly/ Newspapers.com Willamette was ranked at No. 99 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1941.Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published The Courier-Journal Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 26, 1941 Sports 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123088221/gophers-grid-kings-over-6-year-span/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Sweetland Field in Salem, Oregon. Schedule y y September 19 Portland Army Air Base Sweetland Field Salem, OR W 19-0 Air Base Gridders Tackle Willamette at 8 Tonight The Capital Journal September 19, 1941 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123403959/air-base-gridders-tackle-willamette-at/ Newspapers.com'Cats Vie With Airmen Tonight In Season's Grid Opener Here Statesman Journal September 19, 1941 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123404257/cats-vie-with-airmen-tonight-in/ Newspapers.comWillamette Trims Air Base Club 19-0 in First Game The Capital Journal September 20, 1941 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123404495/willamette-trims-air-base-club-19-0-in/ Newspapers.com September 26 1941 College of Idaho Coyotes College of Idaho Sweetland Field Salem, OR W 52-0 October 2 at Portland Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR W 26-0 Bearcats Whitewash Pilots, 26 to 0 The Capital Journal October 3, 1941 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35068298/bearcats_whitewash_pilots_26_to_0/ Newspapers.com October 10 at 1941 Linfield Wildcats Linfield McMinnville, OR W 43-0 October 17 1941 Whittier Poets Whittier<ncg> Sweetland Field Salem, OR W 33-7 October 25 at Idaho<ncg> Neale Stadium Moscow, ID L 6-33 1,200 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sa5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2111%2C6331237 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press Willamette walloped by Idaho, 33 to 6 October 26, 1941 6https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kCNZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6770%2C6000380 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Tough line play helps Idaho win October 27, 1941 11 November 7 1941 Puget Sound Loggers Puget Sound<hc> Sweetland Field Salem, OR W 55-7 November 11 1941 Pacific Badgers Pacific (OR) Sweetland Field Salem, OR (Armistice Day) W 40-0 33rd Clash of 'Cats, Badgers Set on Sweetland Here Today Statesman Journal November 11, 1941 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123376698/33rd-clash-of-cats-badgers-set-on/ Newspapers.comWillamette Smothers Pacific Gridders by 40 to 0 Score The Capital Journal November 12, 1941 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123376530/willamette-smothers-pacific-gridders-by/ Newspapers.com November 20 at 1941 Whitman Fighting Missionaries Whitman Walla Walla, WA W 28-0 December 6 at Hawaii<ncg> Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii(Shrine Football Classic) L 6-20 25,000 University of Hawaii Downs Willamette 20-6: Rainbows Explode in Last Half to Conquer Invading Eleven The Honolulu Advertiser Red McQueen December 7, 1941 14, 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27546887/university_of_hawaii_downs_willamette/ Newspapers.com Shrine Game and Pearl Harbor On the afternoon of December 6, 1941, in the Shrine Football Classic, Willamette lost to Hawaii at Honolulu Stadium. The game drew a crowd of 25,000 persons, the largest paid attendance in Hawaii history to that point.Record Crowd Takes In Colorful Shrine Show Honolulu Star-Bulletin December 8, 1941 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547210/record_crowd_takes_in_colorful_shrine/ Newspapers.com The attendees included Territorial Governor Joseph Poindexter, Honolulu Mayor Lester Petrie, and Lt. Gen. Walter Short, the U.S. commander responsible for the defense of U.S. military installations in Hawaii; the game was preceded by a "spectacle" of marching bands, including performances by the U.S. Marine band and bands from several Hawaiian high schools and colleges.14 Bands Play in Spectacular Benefit Affair The Honolulu Advertiser December 7, 1941 1, 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547063/14_bands_play_in_spectacular_benefit/ Newspapers.com Early the following morning, the team gathered for a planned sightseeing tour and picnic. The attack on Pearl Harbor interrupted the picnic plan and began the Pacific War. Willamette was also scheduled to play San Jose State on December 16 in Honolulu, but that game was cancelled.All Major Athletic Events Are Cancelled The Honolulu Advertiser Red McQueen December 9, 1941 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547411/all_major_athletic_events_are_cancelled/ Newspapers.com In the wake of the attack, it was unclear if a full-scale invasion had begun. Martial law was declared in Honolulu, and the visiting Willamette football players were assigned to support the emergency. They were given World War I rifles, bayonets and helmets, and served for the next 10 days as guards at the Punahou School which was converted into an ammunition depot.Willamette University Pearl Harbor Football Team Willamette University April 21, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrCUBnKZli01941 Willamette football team called to arms after Pearl Harbor Statesman Journal Capi Lynn December 6, 2018 https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/12/06/1941-willamette-football-team-called-arms-after-pearl-harbor/2230806002/Visiting Grid Players Given Police Duties Honolulu Star-Bulletin December 8, 1941 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27547210/record_crowd_takes_in_colorful_shrine/ Newspapers.com The team returned home on the SS President Coolidge, attending to wounded sailors, finally arriving in San Francisco on Christmas Day.San Jose State, Willamette football teams, and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 ESPN.com December 24, 2019 Ivan Maisel https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28366087/san-jose-state-willamette-football-teams-aftermath-pearl-harbor-attack-19411941 Pearl Harbor Willamette Football Team Willamette University, Hatfield Library December 17, 2015 http://blog.library.willamette.edu/2015/12/17/1941-pearl-harbor-willamette-football-team/ In 2019, the experiences of the Willamette and San Jose State football teams were documented in the book, "Scrimmage for War: A Story of Pearl Harbor, Football, and World War II".Scrimmage for War: A Story of Pearl Harbor, Football, and World War II Bill McWilliams Stackpole Books 2019 https://books.google.com/books?id=bWGlDwAAQBAJ&q=willamette+%22pearl+harbor%22 Honors The conference coaches selected an All-Northwest Conference football team at the end of the 1941 season. Willamette players received 11 of the 13 first-team spots. Willamette's first-team honorees were: Marshall Barbour, right end, age 20, 5'11", 190 pounds, Portland, Oregon Martin Barstad, left tackle, age 20, 6'1", 203 pounds, Woodburn, Oregon (unanimous pick) George Constable, right end, age 20, 6', 200 pounds, Gillespie, Illinois Anthony Jo "Tony" Fraiola, left guard, age 23, 5'9", 175 pounds, New Providence, New Jersey (unanimous pick, second consecutive year with all-conference honors) Gordon Moore, right guard, age 22, 6'2", 195 pounds, Tigard, Oregon Neil Morley, right tackle, age 19, 6'2", 210 pounds, Bingen, Washington Teddy Ogdahl, right halfback, age 19, 5'9", 172 pounds, Portland, Oregon (unanimous pick) Bill Reder, left end, age 20, 6'2", 190 pounds, Portland, Oregon (unanimous pick) Buddy Reynolds, left halfback, age 24, 5'7", 168 pounds, La Grande, Oregon Gene Stewart, left halfback, age 23, 5'10", 175 pounds, Ontario, Oregon Al Walden, fullback, age 21, 5'7", 175 pounds, San Diego (third consecutive year with all-conference honors) Bearcat Club Complete, 45 Players The Capital Journal September 17, 1941 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123405631/bearcat-club-complete-45-players/ Newspapers.com In addition, two other Willamette players were named to the second team: Pat White, center, age 20, 6', 190 pounds, Portland, Oregon Chuck Furno, right halfback, age 20, 5'5", 165 pounds, Wisconsin Rapids References Willamette Category:Willamette Bearcats football seasons Category:Northwest Conference football champion seasons Willamette Bearcat football