1939 Ohio Athletic Conference football season

1939 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football
OAC champion
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	8–1 (7–0 OAC)
Head coach	Stu Holcomb (4th season)
Seasons ← 1938 1940 →

The 1939 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented Muskingum University of New Concord, Ohio. In their fourth season under head coach Stu Holcomb, the Fighting Muskies compiled an 8–1 record (7–0 against OAC opponents) and won the OAC championship.^[5]

Muskingum was ranked at No. 172 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Toledo Rockets football team represented Toledo University (renamed the University of Toledo in 1967) of Toledo, Ohio. In their fourth season under head coach Clarence Spears, the Rockets compiled a 7–3 record, shut out four of ten opponents, and outscored opponents by a total of 180 to 59.^[16] The defense held opponents to 5.9 points per game and allowed only nine touchdowns, both of which remain program records. The team allowed zero passing touchdowns, which is tied for the program record.^[17]

Frank Maher, who later played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, was the team captain. He returned a kickoff 92 yards in a game against Long Island.^[18]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Valparaiso*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	W 39–0		[19]
September 30	Detroit Tech*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	W 19–6		[20]
October 7	St. Mary's (TX)*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	W 20–12		[21]
October 14	North Dakota*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	W 26–7	5,000	[22]
October 20	at Scranton*	Scranton, PA	L 6–7	5,000	[23]
October 28	Western State Teachers (MI)*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	W 6–0		[24]
November 4	at John Carroll	Cleveland, OH	W 20–0		[25]
November 11	at Marshall*	Huntington, WV	L 12–14		[26]
November 18	Long Island*	University Stadium Toledo, OH	L 12–13		[27]
November 23	at Xavier*	Cincinnati, OH	W 20–0	5,000	[28]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The following Rocket was selected in the 1940 NFL Draft following the season.^[29]

The 1939 Capital Crusaders football team represented Capital University of Columbus, Ohio. In their second year under head coach Paul Davidson, the Crusaders compiled a 5–2 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in third place in the OAC.

The 1939 Case Rough Riders football team represented the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio, now a part of Case Western Reserve University. In their tenth year under head coach Ray A. Ride, the Rough Riders compiled a 6–2 record (3–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the OAC.

Case was ranked at No. 192 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State College (later renamed Bowling Green State University). In their fifth season under head coach Harry Ockerman, the Falcons compiled a 6–1–1 record (3–1–1 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 159 to 46. Edward Siminski was the team captain.^[32] The team played its home games at University Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Bluffton	University Stadium Bowling Green, OH	W 35–0		[33]
October 7	Wayne*	University Stadium Bowling Green, OH	W 9–0		[34]
October 14	Capital	University Stadium Bowling Green, OH	L 6–7		[31]
October 21	Otterbein	University Stadium Bowling Green, OH	W 26–6	5,000	[35]
October 28	at Wittenberg	Springfield, OH	W 19–13		[36]
November 4	at Kent State	Kent, OH (rivalry)	W 34–0		[37]
November 11	at Findlay	Findlay, OH	T 7–7		[38]
November 18	at Michigan State Normal*	Ypsilanti, MI	W 23–13		[39]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The 1939 Findlay Oilers football team represented the University of Findlay of Findlay, Ohio. In their fourth year under head coach Howard Kissell, the Oilers compiled a 4–2–1 record (3–1–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the OAC.

Findlay was ranked at No. 378 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1946 Denison Big Red football team represented Denison University of Granville, Ohio. In their fourth year under head coach Tom Rogers, the Big Red compiled a 5–2 record against OAC opponents) and finished in seventh place in the OAC.

Denison was ranked at No. 284 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 29	Transylvania*	Deeds Stadium Granville, OH	W 26–0	3,500	[42]
October 6	Ohio Northern	Deeds Stadium Granville, OH	W 21–12		[43]
October 14	at Kenyon	Gambier, OH	W 27–0		[44]
October 21	Muskingum	Deeds Stadium Granville, OH	L 6–20	5,000	[12]
October 27	at Marietta	Marietta, OH	L 6–7		[45]
November 4	at Wittenberg	Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH	W 3–0		[46]
November 11	at Oberlin	Oberlin, OH	W 13–7		[47]
November 18	Wooster	Deeds Stadium Granville, OH	W 40–6		[48]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The 1939 Wittenberg Tigers football team represented the Wittenberg University of Springfield, Ohio. In their eleventh year under head coach Bill Stobbs, the Tigers compiled a 5–3 record (4–2 against OAC opponents) and finished in eighth place in the OAC.

Wittenberg was ranked at No. 242 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	at Carnegie Tech*	Pittsburgh, PA	L 0–35	6,000
October 7	Otterbein	Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH	W 51–0
October 14	Bluffton*	Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH	W 32–0
October 28	Bowling Green	Springfield, OH	L 13–19
November 4	Denison	Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH	L 0–3
November 11	at Marietta	Marietta, OH	W 13–0	3,500
November 18	Mount Union	Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH	W 46–7
November 25	at Oberlin	Oberlin, OH	W 14–0
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The 1939 John Carroll Blue Streaks football team represented John Carroll University of University Heights, Ohio. In their fourth season under head coach Tom Conley, the Blue Streaks compiled a 7–1 record (2–1 against OAC opponents).^[49] John Carroll won its first Big Four conference title, going a perfect 3–0.^[50]

Five John Carroll players received honors from the United Press on its 1939 All-Ohio Conference football team. End Jack Dewan won first-team honors, and four others received second-team recognition: tackle Sulzer; guard Rancourt; halfback Carl Estenik; and fullback Young.^[51]

John Carroll was ranked at No. 137 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Ohio Northern Polar Bears football team represented Ohio Northern University of Ada, Ohio. In their ninth season under head coach Harris Lamb, the Polar Bears compiled a 5–3 record (5–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in tenth place in the OAC.^[60]

Ohio Northern was ranked at No. 361 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the Marietta College of Marietta, Ohio. In their 13th year under head coach Frank L. Hayes, the Pioneers compiled a 4–3 record (2–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in a tie for 11th place in the OAC.

The 1939 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the University of Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio. In their eighth season under head coach Harry Geltz, the Purple Raiders compiled a 3–5–1 record (2–3–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in a tie for 11th place in the OAC.

Mount Union was ranked at No. 348 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the College of Wooster of Wooster, Ohio. In their 13th and final year under head coach Lawrence C. Boles, the Fighting Scots compiled a 2–6 record (2–4 against OAC opponents) and finished in a tie for 13th place in the OAC.

Wooster was ranked at No. 354 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team represented Baldwin Wallace University of Berea, Ohio. In their 12th season under head coach Ray E. Watts, the Yellow Jackets compiled 6–2 record (1–2 against OAC opponents), finished in a tie for 13th place in the OAC and finished in 12th place in the OAC.

Baldwin-Wallace back George Morris led Ohio with 100 points scored.^[72]

Baldwin-Wallace was ranked at No. 101 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented the Heidelberg University of Tiffin, Ohio. In their tenth season under head coach Ted Turney, the Student Princes compiled a 2–7 record (2–5 against OAC opponents) and finished in 15th place in the OAC.

Heidelberg as ranked at No. 568 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Ashland	Armstrong Field Tiffin, OH	W 14–6		[74]
October 7	at Kent State	Rockwell Field Kent, OH	L 0–19	3,000	[75]
October 14	Ohio Northern	Armstrong Field Tiffin, OH	L 0–7	1,500	[76]
October 21	at Kenyon	Mount Vernon, OH	W 9–0		[77]
October 28	Mount Union	Armstrong Field Tiffin, OH	L 0–34
November 4	Capital	Armstrong Field Tiffin, OH	W 6–0
November 11	at Muskingum	New Concord, OH	L 0–55		[15]
November 18	at Detroit Tech*	Robinson Field Detroit, MI	L 0–52		[78]
November 25	at Bethany*	Bethany, WV	L 0–13		[79]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The 1939 Ashland Eagles football team represented Ashland University of Ashland, Ohio. In their second year under head coach Tony Loreno, the Tigers compiled a 2–4 record (1–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in a tie for 16th place in the OAC.

Ashland was ranked at No. 579 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University of Kent, Ohio. In their fifth season under head coach Donald Starn, the Golden Flashes compiled a 3–4–1 record (1–3–1 against OAC opponents). The team compiled a 3–1–1 record through the end of October, but then lost all three November games, including back-to-back shutouts against rival Bowling Green (0–34) and Western Reserve (0–38).^[80]

Kent State was ranked at No. 424 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Lawrence Tech*	Rockwell Field Kent, OH	W 20–6		[81][82]
October 7	Heidelberg	Rockwell Field Kent, OH	W 19–0	3,000	[83]
October 14	at Mount Union	Alliance, OH	T 6–6	3,000	[84]
October 20	Findlay	Rockwell Field Kent, OH	L 7–10	3,000	[41]
October 28	at Hobart*	Boswell Field Geneva, NY	W 8–6		[85]
November 4	Bowling Green	Rockwell Field Kent, OH (rivalry)	L 0–34	5,000	[86]
November 11	at Western Reserve*	League Park Cleveland, OH	L 0–38	8,000	[87]
November 18	at Baldwin–Wallace	Berea, OH	L 6–40	2,000	[88]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

The 1939 Kenyon Lords football team represented Kenyon College of Gambier, Ohio. In their third year under head coach Dwight Hafeli, the Lords compiled a 0–6–1 record (0–4 against OAC opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC.

Kenyon was ranked at No. 585 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented Oberlin College of Oberlin, Ohio. In their 10th season under head coach Lysle K. Butler, the Cardinals compiled a 3–4–1 record (0–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC.

Senior quarterback Robert T. Kretchmar was the captain.^[90]

Oberlin was ranked at No. 432 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]

The 1939 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio. In their first season under head coach Sam T. Selby, the Cardinals compiled a 0–8 record (0–7 against OAC opponent) and finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC.

Otterbein was ranked at No. 590 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.^[8]