1940 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic was the fourth edition of the postseason college football bowl game, between the Clemson Tigers and the Boston College Eagles.[1] It was played on Monday, January 1, 1940, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.[2][3]

1940 Cotton Bowl Classic
4th Cotton Bowl Classic
Banks McFadden carries the ball for Clemson
Clemson Tigers Boston College Eagles
(8–1) (9–1)
SoCon Independent
6 3
Head coach: 
Jess Neely		 Head coach: 
Frank Leahy
AP
12
AP
11
1234 Total
Clemson 0600 6
Boston College 0300 3
DateJanuary 1, 1940
Season1939
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPBanks McFadden
(Back, Clemson)
FavoriteClemson
Attendance15,000
PayoutUS$15,000

Background

Texas A&M, the 1939 SWC Champion, declined to be in this game, instead playing in the Sugar Bowl. Tennessee of the SEC and Oklahoma of the Big Six also declined this game. Fearing for the longevity of the game, J. Curtis Sanford strove to keep the bowl game alive, extending invites to Clemson and BC, who accepted; this was the first bowl game for both schools.

With both teams from outside the region, attendance was low;[2] the first three editions (and next six) included a team from the state of Texas.

Lou Montgomery Controversy

The star player on the Boston College team was running back Lou Montgomery, who was the first Black student-athlete in B.C.'s history. [4] Sportswriters used adjectives like "flashy" and "brilliant" to describe his running ability and his skill at evading anyone trying to tackle him. He was an important part of B.C.'s successful season, and very popular with the fans. [5] But America was segregated at that time, and despite being a key part of the Eagles' offense, whenever B.C. played against southern teams, even if the game was played up north, [6] Montgomery had been benched. [7] And when Boston College received its invitation to the Cotton Bowl, the President of the Cotton Bowl's Athletic Association, Curtis Sanford, announced that Montgomery would not be allowed to participate, and that he had discussed this with "officials at Boston College," who agreed. Sanford asserted that keeping him out of the game was "advisable...in view of the general Texas attitude regarding Negroes." [8] The story was reported as if Montgomery too agreed with the decision, although some fans believed he felt there was no other option but to accept it. [9] Montgomery was praised in the major Boston newspapers for being such a good sport about not playing in the Cotton Bowl. [10] Years later, some Boston sportswriters had second thoughts, and wondered why they hadn't protested the injustice of a star player being excluded from a bowl game because of his race, but at the time, few of the white sportswriters spoke up. [11] Sportswriters at Black newspapers were outraged over it, however. One Boston-based reporter for the Chicago Defender accused coach Frank Leahy of giving in to Jim Crow customs and "catering to southern prejudice," charges that Leahy denied. [12] Other Black sportswriters accused Boston College, a Catholic institution, of not living up to its own ideals, by allowing Montgomery to endure discrimination and doing nothing to defend him. [13] In mid-January 1940, the Boston Veterans of Foreign Wars gave Montgomery an award for "sportsmanship, citizenship, and athletic ability," and praised him for his "self-effacement." [14]

Game summary

Boston College took the lead on a 30-yard field goal by Alex Lukachik early in the second quarter, after four failed plays following a punt return to the Clemson 13. After both teams exchanged punts throughout most of the quarter, Clemson got it back at their 43. They drove 57 yards and it culminated with a touchdown by sophomore Charlie Timmons, but the extra point was missed.[15] The remainder of the game was scoreless as Clemson won their first bowl game, and All-American back Banks McFadden was named the game's most valuable player.[2][3][16]

Aftermath

Boston College returned to the Cotton Bowl Classic 45 years later in 1985 and won, led by Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie; Clemson returned in 2018 with a 30-3 College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Notre Dame.

The teams have been conference foes since 2005, when BC joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Since 2008, the O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy is awarded to the winner of the annual Boston College–Clemson game, honoring Charlie O'Rourke of BC and McFadden of Clemson, leaders of their teams in the 1940 Cotton Bowl.[17]

See also

References
  1. Snider, Steve (January 1, 1940). "Texans pick Clemson to beat Boston". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). United Press. p. 11.
  2. Snider, Steve (January 2, 1940). "Cotton Bowl game costly". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). United Press. p. 14.
  3. "Clemson upsets Boston College". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1940. p. 2.
  4. Bryan Marquard. "BC's First Black Football Player Honored." Boston Globe, September 2, 2012.
  5. Lou Montgomery to Get Chance at B.C. This Fall," Boston Globe, September 21, 1939, p. 20.
  6. W.J. Lee. "The Case of Lou Montgomery," Hartford Courant, December 28, 1939, p. 13.
  7. "Learning About Lou." Boston College Athletic Communication, October 30, 2020.
  8. "B.C. Keeps Montgomery Out of Clemson Game." Camden (NJ) Morning Post, December 16, 1939, p. 31.
  9. Mabe 'Doc' Kountze, "Montgomery 'Decides' to Stay Out of Texas," Chicago Defender, December 30, 1939, p. 20.
  10. Hy Hurwitz. "Lou Montgomery Steals Spotlight as Eagles Leave," Boston Globe, December 26, 1939, p. 1.
  11. Ray Fitzgerald. "A Sad Day When 'He Knew His Place'," Boston Globe, January 1, 1980, p. 53.
  12. Mabe 'Doc' Kountze, "Boston College Bows to Rebels," Chicago Defender, November 11, 1939, p. 24.
  13. Fay Young. "The Stuff Is Here," Chicago Defender, November 4, 1939, p. 24.
  14. "Will Honor Montgomery for 'Self-Effacement.'" Hartford Courant, December 24, 1939, p. C4.
  15. "Clemson takes Boston in the Cotton Bowl". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 2, 1940. p. 7.
  16. "14-25.pmd" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  17. "O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy to the Winner of Clemson vs. BC". TigerNet. October 27, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
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