What Is 1939 Missouri Tigers football team

Overview

The 1939 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri during the 1939 college football season. Competing in the Big Six Conference, the team achieved notable success under head coach Don Faurot, who was in his second year leading the program.

The Tigers finished the season with a 6–3 overall record and a 4–1 mark in conference play, securing the Big Six Conference championship. Their strong performance included a dominant win over rival Kansas and a hard-fought schedule against regional powerhouses.

• Season record: The team finished with a 6–3 overall record, marking significant improvement from the previous year’s 5–5–1 mark.
• Conference success: Missouri posted a 4–1 record in Big Six Conference play, clinching the conference title outright.
• Head coach: Don Faurot, in his second season, implemented the innovative split-T offense, which began gaining national attention.
• Home stadium: The Tigers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, which opened in 1926 and had a capacity of around 30,000 at the time.
• Key victory: Missouri defeated Kansas 20–0 in the season finale, extending their winning streak in the Border War rivalry to three games.

Season Highlights and Key Games

The 1939 season featured several pivotal matchups that defined Missouri’s championship campaign. The team demonstrated resilience and offensive innovation, particularly in conference play, where every game carried high stakes.

• September 30: Missouri opened the season with a 27–0 shutout victory over Washington University, a non-conference opponent.
• October 7: The Tigers defeated Iowa State 21–7, showcasing the effectiveness of the split-T offense under Faurot’s direction.
• October 21: A 13–6 win over Nebraska proved crucial, as it was one of the most competitive games of the season.
• November 4: Missouri narrowly lost to undefeated Minnesota, 13–7, in a road game against a top-10 national power.
• November 11: The team rebounded with a 34–0 rout of Kansas State, one of the most decisive victories of the season.
• November 25: The season concluded with a 20–0 victory over Kansas, securing the conference title and maintaining dominance in the rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1939 Missouri Tigers compared favorably to both their immediate predecessors and conference rivals. The following table highlights key performance metrics across seasons and opponents.

While Missouri did not receive a final AP ranking in 1939, their conference title and strong head-to-head results highlighted their rise under Faurot. The team outperformed rivals like Kansas and Nebraska in conference play, despite losing to national powerhouse Minnesota. Their consistency and offensive evolution laid the foundation for future success.

Why It Matters

The 1939 season was a turning point for Missouri football, marking the emergence of Don Faurot’s innovative coaching and the team’s return to regional prominence. The Big Six Conference championship signaled a shift in the program’s trajectory.

• Offensive innovation: The split-T offense, pioneered by Faurot, began gaining national attention and influenced college football strategy for decades.
• Conference dominance: Winning the Big Six title restored Missouri’s status as a top-tier program in the Midwest.
• Rivalry strength: The 20–0 win over Kansas reinforced Missouri’s superiority in one of college football’s oldest rivalries.
• Recruiting boost: Success in 1939 helped attract stronger talent to Columbia in subsequent years.
• Historical legacy: The 1939 team is remembered as the foundation for Missouri’s more dominant 1940 and 1941 seasons.
• Program momentum: The season marked the beginning of a three-year stretch where Missouri won two conference titles.

The 1939 Missouri Tigers may not have achieved national acclaim at the time, but their achievements laid essential groundwork for future success and solidified Don Faurot’s legacy as one of the program’s most influential coaches.