1941 Santa Barbara State Gauchos football team

The 1941 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos football team was an American football team that represented Santa Barbara State College (now known as the University of California, Santa Barbara) as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1941 college football season. In their first year under head coach Stan Williamson, the Gauchos compiled a 3–5–1 record (1–2 against CCAA opponents). The team played its home games at La Playa Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.

1941 Santa Barbara State Gauchos football
Conference	California Collegiate Athletic Association
1941 record	3–5–1 (1–2 CCAA)
Head coach	Stan Williamson (1st season)
Home stadium	La Playa Stadium (Capacity: 10,000)

1941 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
San Jose State +	2	–	0	–	1			5	–	3	–	3
Fresno State +	2	–	0	–	1			4	–	3	–	2
Santa Barbara State	1	–	2	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
San Diego State	0	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

Halfback/fullback Ernie Saenz was the team captain. Other key players included halfbacks Owen Van Buskirk and Hovis Bess, quarterback George James, fullback/guard Paul Siano, and centers Walt Ahlgren and Frankie Jones.[1]

A tenth game, scheduled for October 18 against the University of California Ramblers, was cancelled after the team physician found that nine of Santa Barbara's 24 players were unfit to play.[2]

Due to World War II, this was the last year of competition for Santa Barbara until 1946.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 19	Pomona[note 1]*	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	L 6–7		[3]
September 26	Occidental*	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	L 0–25		[4]
October 4	Redlands*	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	W 19–7		[5]
October 11	Fresno State[note 2]	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	L 0–26	5,000	[6][7]
October 25	at Nevada*	Mackay Stadium[note 3] Reno, NV	L 0–7		[8]
October 31	at San Jose State[note 4]	Spartan Stadium San Jose, CA	L 14–33	4,500	[9]
November 8	Cal Aggies[note 5]*	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	T 6–6	3,000	[10]
November 19	Pacific (CA)[note 6]*	La Playa Stadium Santa Barbara, CA	W 7–6		[11]
November 28	at San Diego State[note 7]	Aztec Bowl San Diego, CA	W 7–6	5,000	[12][13]
*Non-conference game

1942 NFL Draft

No Santa Barbara Gaucho players were selected in the 1942 NFL Draft.[14][15][16]

Notes

1. What is now known as the Pomona-Pitzer football team played using just the Pomona College name from 1893 to 1949. Pitzer College did not exist until 1963.
2. California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) was known as Fresno State Normal School from 1911 to 1948
3. This stadium is the predecessor to the current Mackay Stadium, which was opened for the 1966 season."University of Nevada, Reno; Mackay Stadium". Retrieved January 4, 2017.
4. San Jose State University was known as San Jose State College from 1935 to 1971.
5. University of California, Davis was known as Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture from 1922 to 1959. In common usage, the sports teams were called the "Cal Aggies" from 1924 until the mid 1970s.
6. University of the Pacific (UOP) was known as College of the Pacific from 1911 to 1961.
7. San Diego State University was known as San Diego State College from 1935 to 1971.

References

1. "Williamson Shifts Backs". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1941. p. I-24 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "9 Gauchos Are Unfit; Rambler Game Cancelled". The Fresno Bee. October 16, 1941. p. 11B – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Pomona Hens Spill Santa Barbara". The San Bernardino Daily Sun. September 20, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Occidental Smothers Santa Barbara, 25-0". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1941. p. I-8 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Grid Scores". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. October 5, 1941. p. 14. Retrieved July 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Fresno State Overpowers Santa Barbara 26-0". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. October 12, 1941. p. 1C. Retrieved February 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
8. "Nevada Leading in First Period of Gaucho Game". Reno Evening Gazette. October 25, 1941. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Gauchos Beaten by San Jose". The San Bernardino Daily Sun. November 1, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Cal Aggies Tie With Gauchos". The San Bernardino Daily Sun. November 9, 1941. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Santa Barbara Wins From C.O.P. Eleven". The San Bernardino Daily Sun. November 20, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Charles Byrne (November 29, 1941). "Gauchos Topple San Diego, 7-6". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 3-B.
13. "San Diego Upset by Gauchos". Los Angeles Times. November 29, 1941. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "1942 NFL Draft". Retrieved February 2, 2017.
15. "California-Santa Barbara Players/Alumni". Retrieved February 2, 2017.
16. "Draft History: California-Santa Barbara". Retrieved March 18, 2017.