What Is 1939 California Golden Bears football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1939 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 1939 college football season, finishing with a 3–4–1 record under head coach Stub Allison. They competed in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), winning only one conference game out of six. The team played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

Key Facts

The 1939 California Golden Bears finished with a 3–4–1 overall record
They went 1–4–1 in Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) play
Head coach Stub Allison was in his 5th season at Cal
The team played home games at California Memorial Stadium
Cal defeated Stanford 13–7 in the Big Game on November 18, 1939

Overview

The 1939 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley during the 1939 college football season. Competing in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), the team was led by fifth-year head coach Stub Allison and played its home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

Despite high hopes entering the season, the Golden Bears struggled with consistency, finishing with a 3–4–1 overall record and a 1–4–1 mark in conference play. Their most notable victory came in the annual Big Game against Stanford, a hard-fought 13–7 win that preserved a key rivalry tradition.

Record: The team finished the season with a 3–4–1 overall record, reflecting a below-average performance compared to previous Cal squads.
Conference play: In the Pacific Coast Conference, they went 1–4–1, securing only one win against PCC opponents.
Head coach:Stub Allison, in his fifth year, led the team but faced criticism for inconsistent offensive execution.
Home stadium: All home games were played at California Memorial Stadium, which had a capacity of approximately 72,000 at the time.
Season highlight: The 13–7 victory over Stanford on November 18, 1939, stood out as the season’s defining moment.

How It Works

The 1939 season followed standard college football rules of the era, with teams fielding 11 players and playing four 15-minute quarters. Strategy focused on ground-based offenses, limited passing, and physical line play typical of the pre-World War II era.

Term: Single Wing Formation This offensive system emphasized a powerful running game, with the fullback as the primary ball carrier and direct snaps from the center.
Term: Two-Way Players Most athletes played both offense and defense, with minimal substitutions due to NCAA rules limiting player rotation.
Term: Pacific Coast Conference The PCC was the primary collegiate athletic conference in the western U.S., precursor to today’s Pac-12, founded in 1915.
Term: Big Game The annual rivalry matchup between Cal and Stanford, first played in 1892, was one of college football’s oldest traditions by 1939.
Term: 1939 Season Length Cal played 8 games, a standard schedule length for the era, with no postseason bowl appearance.
Term: Game Day Experience Attendance at Memorial Stadium averaged between 40,000–60,000 fans, reflecting strong regional interest despite the team’s record.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1939 Golden Bears are best understood in comparison to nearby programs and recent Cal seasons, highlighting their mid-tier performance.

Team	Overall Record	PCC Record	Head Coach
1939 California	3–4–1	1–4–1	Stub Allison
1938 California	3–4–2	2–3–2	Stub Allison
1939 Stanford	1–7–1	1–5–1	Tiny Thornhill
1939 USC	8–2	5–2	Howard Jones
1939 Washington	6–4	5–3	Jimmy Phelan

Compared to peers, Cal’s 1939 performance was slightly better than Stanford’s but lagged behind power programs like USC and Washington. The team showed modest improvement from the previous year’s 3–4–2 record but failed to gain national recognition. Their defense allowed an average of 13.5 points per game, while the offense struggled to maintain consistency, averaging just 10.8 points per game.

Why It Matters

While not a championship season, the 1939 campaign reflects a transitional period in Cal football history and offers insight into college football during a pivotal decade.

Historical continuity: The season maintained Cal’s long-standing presence in the PCC, a foundation for future Pac-12 dominance.
Rivalry preservation: The Big Game victory kept the Stanford rivalry competitive and boosted morale among alumni and fans.
Coaching legacy: Stub Allison’s tenure, though declining by 1939, included Cal’s 1937 and 1938 Rose Bowl appearances, adding context to later struggles.
Pre-war football: The 1939 season occurred just before WWII, after which college football underwent major rule and structural changes.
Player development: Several players from this team later served in the military, reflecting the broader societal impact of the era.
Stadium tradition: Playing at Memorial Stadium reinforced the site’s role as a cultural and athletic landmark in Northern California.

The 1939 California Golden Bears may not be remembered for wins or rankings, but they represent an enduring chapter in the university’s athletic narrative, bridging eras of success and challenge.