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Gonzaga Bulldogs football

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The Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the sport of college football. Gonzaga last fielded a varsity football team 83 years ago in 1941.[2][3] From 1892 to 1941, Gonzaga went 134–99–20 (.569) with one bowl appearance, in 1922 in the San Diego East-West Christmas Classic. The Bulldogs lost to the undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers,[4][5][6][7] who claimed a share of the national title that season.

Gonzaga Bulldogs football
First season1892; 132 years ago
Last season1941; 83 years ago
StadiumGonzaga Stadium
(1922–1941)
LocationSpokane, Washington
ConferenceIndependent
All-time record134–99–20 (.569)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
RivalriesIdaho (rivalry)
ColorsNavy blue, white, and red[1]
     

Like many colleges, the Gonzaga football program went on hiatus during World War II (in April 1942),[8][9] but after the war the administration decided not to resume it. The program had been in financial difficulty prior to the war.[10][11][12]

GU's most notable football player was running back Tony Canadeo (1919–2003) from Chicago, who played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers from 1941 to 1952 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.[13] Ray Flaherty joined him as a hall of famer (as a head coach) in 1976.[14][15] Flaherty was a Gonzaga teammate of Houston Stockton, a noted halfback in the 1920s (and the paternal grandfather of basketball star John Stockton). Their head coach at Gonzaga was Gus Dorais, who threw to college teammate Knute Rockne at Notre Dame in 1913.

Stadium

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The Gonzaga football stadium, built in 1922,[16][17] was used for city high school football until it was deemed unsafe by the city after the 1947 season.[18][19] The white-painted wooden venue hosted a professional preseason game in 1946 under the lights, between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers of the new All-America Football Conference.[20][21] High school football moved to Ferris Field in 1948 and to the new Memorial Stadium in 1950, renamed for Gonzaga alumnus Joe Albi in 1962. The Gonzaga Stadium football field is now occupied by the Foley Center Library (1992) and its Foley Lawn.[22]

Head coaching history

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Head coach Seasons Record Notes
Henry Luhn 1892–1898 7–0–2
Unknown 1907 0–0–1
George Varnell 1908–1911 10–4–1
Fred Burns 1912 2–1–0
Robert E. Harmon 1913–1914 11–4
William J. Coyle 1915 3–3
John F. McGough 1916 3–2
Jimmy Condon 1917 3–0
Charlie Mullen 1918 0–2–1
William S. Higgins 1919 2–3
Gus Dorais 1920–1924 20–13–3 [23][24][25]
Maurice J. "Clipper" Smith 1925–1928 23–9–5 [26][27][28]
Robert L. Mathews 1929 4–3 [29]
Ray Flaherty 1930 1–7–1 [14][30][31]
Mike Pecarovich 1931–1938 31–35–5 [25][32][33]
Puggy Hunton 1939–1941 14–13–1 [9][34][35][36]
40 seasons 134–99–20 [37]

All Americans

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All Americans
Year Name Position Team
1924 Hust Stockton HB 2nd
1924 Hec Cyre DT AP 3rd
1932 Max Krause FB AP 1st/ AP Little All American 1st
1937 George Karamatic FB NEA 1st/ UP 2nd

References

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  1. ^ "Approved Primary & Secondary Athletic Logo Colors". Gonzaga University Visual Identity and Graphics Standards Guide (PDF). Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Kennedy scores on Gonzaga as Cougars romp through to lopsided victory". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 24, 1941. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Gonzaga Bulldogs". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  4. ^ Varnell, George (December 23, 1922). "Bulldogs have chance to put Gonzaga on the football map Christmas Day". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 12.
  5. ^ "Bulldogs stir throng in brilliant finish". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 26, 1922. p. 18.
  6. ^ "East subdues West on grid". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). December 26, 1922. p. 11.
  7. ^ Blanchette, John (December 24, 1982). "Where did this ridiculous bowl hype start? Gonzaga?". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 13.
  8. ^ "Gonzaga cancels its intercollegiate football program". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 7, 1942. p. 11.
  9. ^ a b "Unofficial word says Hunton will be dismissed at Gonzaga". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 8, 1942. p. 17.
  10. ^ "Gonzaga might drop football". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. Associated Press. October 23, 1939. p. 6.
  11. ^ Ashlock, Herb (October 23, 1939). "Financial problem may force Gonzaga University to drop collegiate football program". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 11.
  12. ^ "Gonzaga looks for supporters". Spokesman-Review. October 24, 1939. p. 14.
  13. ^ "Tony Canadeo". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (January 27, 1976). "Flaherty named to pro grid hall". Spokesman-Review. p. 11.
  15. ^ "Flaherty gains Hall induction today". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. July 24, 1976. p. 13.
  16. ^ "Gonzaga's new stadium is ready for opening game". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 13, 1922. p. 1.
  17. ^ Duffy, Bernard (October 24, 1965). "Life and death of the Gonzaga Stadium". Spokesman-Review. Inland Empire. p. 4.
  18. ^ "City says stadium must be repaired". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 17, 1947. p. 1.
  19. ^ "Historic Gonzaga Stadium finally will be "retired"". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 8, 1949. p. 15.
  20. ^ "Top pro teams in game tonight". Spokesman-Review. August 24, 1946. p. 9.
  21. ^ "Yankees winners; may return here". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 26, 1946. p. 15.
  22. ^ "Photograph taken from speeding airplane". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 13, 1939. p. 1.
  23. ^ "Gonzaga seeks mentor to succeed Gus Dorais". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. February 3, 1925. p. 16.
  24. ^ "Gonzaga coach to be Detroit mentor". The Evening Record. Ellensburg, Washington. Associated Press. February 4, 1925. p. 8.
  25. ^ a b Thorpe, Ellsworth (September 11, 1933). "Famous gridiron men developed at Gonzaga". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 10.
  26. ^ "Clipper Smith works his outfit overtime". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 28, 1925. p. 18.
  27. ^ "Clipper Smith may change job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. May 18, 1929. p. 1.
  28. ^ "Clipper Smith heading south". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. May 30, 1929. p. 14.
  29. ^ "Mathews leaves post at Gonzaga". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. April 26, 1930. p. 1, sports.
  30. ^ "Ray Flaherty, Gonzaga coach". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. May 4, 1930. p. 1, sports.
  31. ^ "Gonzaga coach ready for work". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. August 18, 1930. p. 10.
  32. ^ "Eight football games on Gonzaga's 1931 grid schedule; new coach arrives". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. February 23, 1931. p. 14.
  33. ^ "Mike Pecarovich goes to Loyola". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. February 4, 1939. p. 14.
  34. ^ "Gonzaga selects John Hunton to handle university football coach job". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 7, 1939. p. 12.
  35. ^ "Puggy Hunton will continue as head man of the Gonzaga University football machine". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 15, 1939. p. 15.
  36. ^ Stark, C.R. Jr. (September 8, 1943). "Gonzaga squad may be formed". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 9.
  37. ^ "Gonzaga: coaching records". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
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