What Is 1938 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1938 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University in the 1938 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Mike Pecarovich. The team played as an independent and did not belong to a conference.

Key Facts

The 1938 Gonzaga Bulldogs finished the season with a 4–5 overall record
Mike Pecarovich was the head coach during the 1938 season
Gonzaga played as an independent with no conference affiliation
The team played its home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington
Gonzaga discontinued its football program after the 1941 season

Overview

The 1938 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University during the 1938 NCAA college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Mike Pecarovich in his second year at the helm. Gonzaga did not belong to a conference, which was common for smaller programs at the time.

The Bulldogs played their home games at Gonzaga Stadium, a modest on-campus facility in Spokane, Washington. While the team showed flashes of competitiveness, it ultimately finished the season with a losing record. The 1938 season was part of a transitional era for the program before its eventual discontinuation in the early 1940s.

Record: The team finished with a 4–5 overall win-loss record, marking a slight decline from the previous season’s 4–4 mark.
Head Coach:Mike Pecarovich served as head coach, leading the program from 1937 to 1941 before the football team was suspended.
Home Field: Games were played at Gonzaga Stadium, a 5,000-seat venue located on campus, which was later repurposed for other uses.
Independent Status: The Bulldogs competed as an independent, meaning they were not affiliated with any athletic conference during the 1938 season.
Season End: The final game of the season was a loss to Whitman College, contributing to the team’s sub-.500 win percentage.

How It Works

College football in the 1930s operated under different structural and competitive norms compared to today, especially for smaller schools like Gonzaga. Independent teams scheduled opponents on a game-by-game basis without conference obligations or postseason eligibility tied to league standings.

Independent Program:Gonzaga operated as an independent, allowing scheduling flexibility but limiting exposure and postseason opportunities.
Coaching Structure: Head coach Mike Pecarovich managed all aspects of the team, from strategy to player development, with minimal staff support.
Player Roster: Rosters were smaller than today, with many players participating on both offense and defense due to limited substitutions.
Game Rules: The 1938 season followed standard NCAA football rules, including a 10-yard first-down requirement and two-platoon system limitations.
Game Day: Attendance averaged between 1,500 and 3,000 fans, reflecting regional interest in a mid-sized university program.
Travel: The team traveled regionally, facing opponents in Washington, Oregon, and Montana, minimizing logistical and financial strain.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1938 Gonzaga Bulldogs compared to select contemporary teams in terms of record, structure, and program trajectory.

Team	Year	Record	Conference	Head Coach
Gonzaga Bulldogs	1938	4–5	Independent	Mike Pecarovich
Washington Huskies	1938	6–4	PCC	James Phelan
Oregon Ducks	1938	4–5–1	PCC	Tex Oliver
Notre Dame Fighting Irish	1938	8–1	Independent	Elmer Layden
Stanford Indians	1938	8–1–1	PCC	Tiny Thornhill

This comparison highlights Gonzaga’s mid-tier performance among regional and national programs. While powerhouses like Notre Dame and Stanford dominated, Gonzaga’s 4–5 record placed it near peers like Oregon. The lack of conference affiliation limited national recognition, but the team remained competitive in local matchups.

Why It Matters

The 1938 season is a snapshot of Gonzaga’s brief but notable football history before the program was suspended. Though overshadowed by the school’s later basketball success, football once played a central role in campus life.

Historical Context: The 1938 season reflects the challenges smaller schools faced in sustaining football programs during the Great Depression.
Program Legacy: Gonzaga’s football history, including 1938, is preserved in university archives despite the sport’s discontinuation in 1941.
Coaching Impact:Mike Pecarovich laid groundwork for future athletic development, later contributing to Gonzaga’s physical education department.
Regional Rivalries: Games against Whitman, Washington, and Pacific Lutheran fostered local fan engagement and intercollegiate competition.
Evolution of Sports: The end of Gonzaga football highlights a national trend of smaller schools focusing on basketball and other sports.
Cultural Shift: The transition from football to basketball dominance at Gonzaga began in the 1940s, reshaping the school’s athletic identity.

Today, the 1938 team serves as a reminder of Gonzaga’s broader athletic past and the shifting priorities in college sports over the decades.