1944 UNAM Pumas American football team

The 1944 UNAM Pumas football team (also known as Pumas Dorados) represented the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM, during the 1944 college football season. The Pumas were coached by Bernard A. Hoban, compiled a 4–1–1, and were invited to the 1945 Sun Bowl, where they were defeated by the Southwestern Pirates. This was the first time an American football team had played in a bowl with a team from Mexico, which did not occur again until the 2011 Kilimanjaro Bowl. Despite the Sun Bowl loss, UNAM claimed their 12th consecutive national championship, a streak dating back to 1933.[2]

1944 UNAM Pumas football
National champion of Mexico
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–1–1[1]
Head coach
  • Bernard A. Hoban (3rd season)
Offensive schemeModified T-formation
Seasons
← 1943
1945 →

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
YMCAW 25–0
Mexico EducacionW 32–0
PolitécnicoT 6–6[3]
YMCAW 14–12
Mexico EducacionW 51–6
November 26at South Plains AAFcancelled [4][5]
December 16PolitécnicoMexico City, MXW 8–0[6]
January 1, 1945vs. Southwestern (TX)L 0–3513,000[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ "Mexico U. to Send A Classy, Smooth-Running team to the Sun Bowl". Clovis News-Journal. December 20, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. ^ "Team Records Game by Game". September 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Team Records Game by Game". September 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "SPAAF Will Play Mexico University". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, Texas. Associated Press. November 12, 1944. p. 9. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ "Mexico U Game Here Sunday Is Cancelled". Lubbock Morning Avalanche. Lubbock, Texas. November 25, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ "Mexico Will Depend On Gridiron Tricks To Win Bowl Game". Arizona Daily Star. December 22, 1944. p. 16. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  7. ^ "Sun Bowl". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Pirates Arrive For Sun Bowl Battle Today". El Paso Times. January 1, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2020.