What Is 1940 New Mexico Lobos football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1940 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico during the 1940 college football season, finishing with a 4–4–1 record under head coach Ted Shipkey, who was in his fourth season.

Key Facts

The 1940 New Mexico Lobos compiled a 4–4–1 overall record during the season.
Head coach Ted Shipkey led the team for the fourth consecutive year.
The Lobos played their home games at University Stadium in Albuquerque.
They competed as an independent team with no conference affiliation.
The team scored a total of 118 points while allowing 107 points on defense.

Overview

The 1940 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico during the 1940 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Ted Shipkey, who was in his fourth year at the helm. The Lobos played their home games at University Stadium in Albuquerque, a venue that had become central to the program's identity.

That season, the team finished with a balanced 4–4–1 record, marking modest improvement from previous years. Despite not being part of a formal conference, the Lobos faced a challenging schedule that included regional rivals and military teams. Their offensive output totaled 118 points, while the defense allowed 107, reflecting a competitive but inconsistent performance across games.

Record: The team finished the season with a 4–4–1 win-loss-tie record, showing slight improvement over 1939’s 3–6 mark.
Head Coach:Ted Shipkey remained head coach for his fourth consecutive season, continuing to build program stability.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at University Stadium in Albuquerque, which had opened in 1938.
Scoring: The Lobos scored 118 points over nine games, averaging about 13.1 points per game.
Defense: They allowed 107 points, averaging just under 12 points per game against, indicating tight contests.

Season Performance

The 1940 campaign featured a mix of wins, losses, and one tie, highlighting the team’s unpredictability. Games were often close, with several decided by one score or less, underscoring the team’s competitive spirit despite limited resources.

Season Opener: The Lobos began with a 13–0 victory over New Mexico A&M, setting a positive tone early.
Rivalry Game: They lost to in-state rival New Mexico State 19–0, a setback in the annual Battle of I-25 precursor.
Military Opponent: A 20–19 win over the Albuquerque Army Air Base team demonstrated resilience against non-collegiate foes.
Close Loss: A narrow 7–6 defeat to Hardin–Simmons showed the team could compete with stronger programs.
Tie Game: The season included a 7–7 tie with Western Reserve, a rare result in that era of football.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 13–6 win over West Texas State, ending on a positive note.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1940 New Mexico Lobos season compares to other years in the late 1930s and early 1940s:

Season	Record (W-L-T)	Head Coach	Points For	Points Against
1938	3–7–0	Ted Shipkey	98	134
1939	3–6–0	Ted Shipkey	96	118
1940	4–4–1	Ted Shipkey	118	107
1941	4–4–1	Ted Shipkey	111	106
1942	2–7–0	Ted Shipkey	65	125

The 1940 season stands out as one of the more balanced years during Shipkey’s tenure. While not a championship contender, the team showed marked improvement in scoring and defense compared to 1938 and 1939. The tie with Western Reserve and wins over military and regional teams reflected the transitional nature of college football during the pre-World War II era. Additionally, the consistency in record between 1940 and 1941 suggests a plateau in performance before the war disrupted collegiate athletics.

Why It Matters

The 1940 season is a snapshot of college football during a pivotal time in American history, just before U.S. entry into World War II. It reflects the growth of the University of New Mexico’s athletic program and the challenges of fielding a competitive team without conference affiliation.

Program Development: The 1940 season marked continued progress under Ted Shipkey, who helped stabilize the program.
Historical Context: Played just before WWII, the season included games against military teams, reflecting the era’s shifting landscape.
Local Rivalries: Matches against New Mexico State helped lay the foundation for one of the Southwest’s longest-running rivalries.
Stadium Legacy: Games at University Stadium contributed to fan culture and home-field tradition in Albuquerque.
Statistical Benchmark: The 4–4–1 record became a reference point for future rebuilding efforts in the 1940s.
Pre-War Era: This season captures college football before wartime disruptions, when rosters and schedules were more stable.

Though not a standout year nationally, the 1940 New Mexico Lobos season holds significance for regional sports history and the evolution of the university’s football identity. It represents a period of modest but meaningful growth for a program striving to establish itself in the competitive landscape of mid-20th century college football.