What Is 1941 Montana Grizzlies football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1941 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana during the 1941 college football season, finishing with a 3–4–1 record under head coach Doug Fessenden, who was in his ninth season.

Key Facts

The 1941 Montana Grizzlies finished the season with a 3–4–1 overall record
Doug Fessenden was the head coach, serving his ninth year in that role
The team played as an independent with no conference affiliation
They were outscored 103 to 94 over the course of the season
Their home games were played at Dornblaser Field in Missoula, Montana

Overview

The 1941 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana during the 1941 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Doug Fessenden in his ninth year at the helm.

Playing their home games at Dornblaser Field in Missoula, the Grizzlies struggled to find consistent success, finishing the season with a 3–4–1 overall record. Despite some competitive performances, the team was outscored 103 to 94 across eight games.

Season Record: The Grizzlies ended the year with a 3–4–1 win-loss-tie record, reflecting a slightly below-average performance for the era.
Head Coach:Doug Fessenden, in his ninth season, led the team through a challenging schedule without the benefit of conference support or structure.
Independent Status: As an independent team, Montana did not belong to any athletic conference, limiting postseason opportunities and consistent rivalries.
Scoring Differential: The team was outscored 103 to 94 for the season, indicating close games but insufficient offensive firepower.
Home Field: Games were hosted at Dornblaser Field, a modest on-campus venue that served as Montana’s football home through the 1950s.

How It Works

College football in 1941 operated under different structural norms than today, with many teams competing as independents and relying on regional matchups rather than conference schedules.

Independent Status: Teams like the 1941 Grizzlies were not part of a conference, meaning they scheduled opponents independently and had no path to a conference championship.
Season Length: The Grizzlies played 8 games in 1941, which was typical for the era, compared to the 12+ game seasons seen in modern college football.
Coaching Tenure:Doug Fessenden coached Montana from 1933 to 1941, compiling a 38–43–8 record before stepping down after the season.
Player Eligibility: Rosters were composed of student-athletes, though wartime pressures began affecting college sports as U.S. involvement in World War II loomed.
Game Rules: The game followed standard NCAA rules of the time, including a 15-minute fourth quarter and two-platoon systems still in development.
Scoring System: Touchdowns were worth 6 points, field goals 3, and safeties 2—rules that have remained largely unchanged since the early 20th century.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1941 Montana Grizzlies with select peer teams from the same season, highlighting performance and structural differences.

Team	Record	Conference	Head Coach	Points For
Montana Grizzlies	3–4–1	Independent	Doug Fessenden	94
Montana State	4–4–1	Independent	Art Wilson	113
Idaho	4–5	PCC	Forrest Twogood	98
Washington	4–5	PCC	Jimmy Phelan	137
Oregon State	4–5–1	PCC	Lon Stiner	113

Montana’s performance was comparable to regional rivals, though slightly worse than Montana State, their in-state counterpart. The lack of a conference affiliation meant fewer structured games and limited national exposure. While teams like Washington and Oregon State played in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), Montana had to build its schedule independently, often facing logistical and competitive challenges. This era marked the end of Fessenden’s tenure, as he stepped down after the 1941 season, paving the way for new leadership amid growing changes in college athletics.

Why It Matters

The 1941 season represents a snapshot of college football during a transitional period, just before World War II reshaped American sports and society.

Historical Context: The 1941 season occurred just before the U.S. entered World War II, which would drastically reduce college rosters in the following years.
Program Development: Montana’s independent status highlighted the challenges smaller programs faced in gaining national recognition.
Coaching Legacy: Doug Fessenden’s nine-year tenure laid groundwork for future coaching hires and program stability.
Regional Rivalries: Games against teams like Montana State helped solidify in-state rivalries that continue today.
Evolution of Football: The 1941 season reflects early forms of the game before modern training, recruiting, and television exposure.
Archival Significance: Records from this season contribute to the historical continuity of the Montana football program.

Though not a standout year in terms of wins, the 1941 Montana Grizzlies season remains a valuable part of the university’s athletic history, illustrating the resilience and regional identity of college football in the pre-war era.