What Is 1940 San Diego State Aztecs football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1940 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State College during the 1940 college football season, finishing with a 4–4–1 record under head coach Leo B. Calland in his seventh season.

Key Facts

The 1940 San Diego State Aztecs finished with a 4–4–1 overall record
Head coach Leo B. Calland was in his seventh season leading the team
The Aztecs played their home games at Aztec Bowl in San Diego
They competed as an independent with no conference affiliation
The team scored 105 points while allowing 106 points on defense

Overview

The 1940 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State College during the 1940 college football season. Competing as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for part of the season, they ultimately played as an independent, meaning they did not belong to a formal conference by the end of the year.

Under the leadership of head coach Leo B. Calland, who was in his seventh year at the helm, the team finished with a balanced 4–4–1 overall record. Their schedule included a mix of regional opponents from California and neighboring states, reflecting the geographic scope of college football at the time.

Season record: The Aztecs ended the 1940 season with a 4–4–1 win-loss-tie record, marking a slight improvement from the previous year’s 3–5–1 performance.
Head coach:Leo B. Calland led the team in his seventh consecutive season, having served since 1934 and later being inducted into the San Diego State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Home stadium: The team played its home games at Aztec Bowl, a 13,000-seat facility located on campus, which opened in 1936 and served as their primary venue through the 1940s.
Scoring: San Diego State scored 105 total points across nine games, averaging 11.7 points per game, while their defense allowed 106 points, nearly matching their output.
Independent status: Though initially part of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Aztecs played as an independent by the end of the season, giving them scheduling flexibility but no conference championship opportunity.

Season Schedule and Results

The 1940 season featured a nine-game slate, including matchups against junior colleges, state colleges, and military academies, typical of the era’s collegiate football structure.

September 28: Defeated Fresno State 20–0 in a dominant season-opening performance at Aztec Bowl.
October 5: Lost to Occidental College 0–7 in a defensive battle, marking their first loss of the season.
October 19: Beat Whittier College 13–7, showcasing improved offensive execution after early-season struggles.
October 26: Suffered a 0–20 shutout loss to UCLA, a major program that would later dominate the Pac-12.
November 2: Tied Redlands 7–7 in a hard-fought contest, one of two ties that season.
November 9: Won 19–13 against Pacific (CA), capitalizing on key turnovers to secure victory.
November 16: Lost 12–20 to San Francisco State, a rising regional opponent.
November 23: Tied San Bernardino JC 13–13, highlighting inconsistent defensive play.
November 30: Concluded the season with a 33–0 win over Imperial Valley JC, their most lopsided victory.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1940 Aztecs compared to other seasons under Leo Calland:

Season	Record	Head Coach	Points For	Points Against
1938	3–5	Leo B. Calland	98	118
1939	3–5–1	Leo B. Calland	99	111
1940	4–4–1	Leo B. Calland	105	106
1941	4–4–1	Leo B. Calland	102	108
1942	3–4–2	Leo B. Calland	98	107

The 1940 season represented a modest improvement in both wins and offensive output compared to the prior two years. While the defense remained inconsistent, the team showed resilience, particularly in close games and non-conference matchups. The tie games against Redlands and San Bernardino JC underscored their competitive parity with regional programs.

Why It Matters

The 1940 season is a snapshot of San Diego State football during its formative years, before the program achieved national prominence in later decades. It reflects the evolution of college football in Southern California during the pre-World War II era.

Historical significance: The 1940 season occurred just before U.S. entry into World War II, after which college athletics saw major disruptions and realignment.
Program development: These years laid the foundation for San Diego State’s eventual rise to Division I and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) status.
Coach legacy: Leo B. Calland’s long tenure helped stabilize the program, coaching from 1934 to 1948 and shaping its early identity.
Stadium legacy: Playing at Aztec Bowl connected the team to campus culture, fostering early traditions that persist today.
Competitive context: Games against schools like UCLA and Occidental provided exposure and helped measure progress against stronger opponents.
Historical record: The 1940 season is preserved in SDSU’s official media guides and archives, contributing to the rich history of Aztec football.

Though not a championship season, 1940 was a step forward in consistency and performance, illustrating the steady growth of a program that would later become a powerhouse in the Mountain West Conference.