What Is 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University during the 1941 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Puggy Hunton. They played their home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington, and outscored opponents 106–85.

Key Facts

The 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team finished with a 4–5 overall record
Head coach Puggy Hunton led the team during its final season before suspension
They played home games at Gonzaga Stadium in Spokane, Washington
The team scored 106 points while allowing 85 points in 1941
Gonzaga discontinued its football program after the 1941 season

Overview

The 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team represented Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, during the 1941 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Puggy Hunton, who was in his fifth year at the helm.

Gonzaga played its home games at Gonzaga Stadium, a modest venue with a capacity of around 12,000. The 1941 season marked the final year of the school's football program, which was suspended due to World War II and never revived at the varsity level.

Record: The team finished with a 4–5 overall record, including a 3–0 mark against in-state rivals.
Scoring: Gonzaga scored 106 total points across nine games, averaging 11.8 points per game.
Defense: The Bulldogs allowed 85 points, averaging 9.4 points per game against.
Final season: The 1941 season was the last for Gonzaga football before the program was discontinued.
Home field: Games were played at Gonzaga Stadium, located on campus in Spokane.

Season Performance

The 1941 campaign featured a mix of regional opponents and strong independents, reflecting Gonzaga’s independent status. The team showed flashes of competitiveness but struggled against stronger programs outside the Pacific Northwest.

Season opener: The Bulldogs defeated Idaho 20–0 on September 27, setting a positive tone early.
Key win: A 19–0 victory over Whitworth in October highlighted their dominance over local teams.
Loss to Washington: They were defeated 19–0 by the University of Washington, a stronger Pacific Coast Conference team.
Final game: The season concluded with a 20–19 loss to San Francisco on November 29.
Offensive leader: Fullback John Schmitz was among the team's top contributors on the ground.
Coaching: Puggy Hunton, a former Gonzaga player, coached the team from 1939 to 1941.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs to regional peers in terms of record, scoring, and program longevity.

Team	Year	Record	Points For	Points Against	Status
Gonzaga Bulldogs	1941	4–5	106	85	Discontinued
Washington Huskies	1941	4–5–1	111	87	Active
Idaho Vandals	1941	4–5	92	97	Active (FCS)
Whitworth Pirates	1941	4–4	107	67	Active (DIII)
San Francisco Dons	1941	5–4	121	99	Discontinued (1951)

This comparison illustrates that Gonzaga’s performance was on par with regional peers, but unlike Washington or Idaho, it chose not to continue its program after the war. San Francisco, like Gonzaga, eventually dropped football, while others evolved into modern NCAA programs.

Why It Matters

The 1941 Gonzaga Bulldogs represent a historical turning point in college football, marking the end of an era for a small Jesuit university’s bid to compete nationally.

Historical significance: The team’s final season reflects the widespread impact of World War II on college athletics.
Institutional legacy: Gonzaga’s decision to discontinue football contrasts with its later success in basketball.
Regional competition: The team helped establish intercollegiate rivalries in the Pacific Northwest.
Coaching legacy: Puggy Hunton remains a notable figure in Gonzaga’s athletic history.
Program discontinuation: Gonzaga is one of several schools that dropped football permanently after 1941.
Modern relevance: The 1941 season is now a footnote in sports history, studied by historians and alumni.

Though Gonzaga no longer fields a football team, the 1941 season remains a symbol of the university’s broader athletic journey and the transformative impact of global events on college sports.