1940 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

1940 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
League	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Sport	Football
Number of teams	6
Champion	Albion
Football seasons
←  1939 1941  →

1940 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Albion $	5	–	0	–	0			7	–	1	–	0
Alma	4	–	1	–	0			5	–	2	–	0
Hope	2	–	2	–	1			3	–	3	–	1
Hillsdale	2	–	2	–	1			2	–	4	–	1
Adrian	1	–	4	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
Kalamazoo	0	–	5	–	0			1	–	6	–	1
$ – Conference champion

The 1940 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the season of college football played by the six member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 1940 college football season.

The Albion Britons, led by head coach Dale R. Sprankle and halfback Morris Trimble, won the MIAA championship with a 7–1 record (5–0 against conference opponents). ^[1] Albion also won the 1939 MIAA championship, and the 1940 team returned a veteran team except for the center position. ^[2]

The Alma Scots, led by head coach Gordon MacDonald, finished in second place with a 5–2 record (4–1 against MIAA opponents), losing to Albion on November 9 for its only conference defeat.

Conference overview

Conf. rank	Team	Head coach	Overall record	Conf. record	Points scored	Points against
1	Albion	Dale R. Sprankle	7–1	5–0
2	Alma	Gordon MacDonald	5–2	4–1
3	Hope	Bud Hinga	3–3–1	2–2–1
4	Hillsdale	Dwight Harwood	3–4–1	1–3–1
5	Adrian	Harve A. Oliphant	1–7	1–4
6	Kalamazoo	Chester S. Barnard	1–6–1	0–5

^[3]

Teams

Albion

1940 Albion Britons football
MIAA champion
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	7–1 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach	Dale R. Sprankle (18th season)
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Albion Britons football team represented Albion College of Albion, Michigan. In their 18th year under head coach Dale R. Sprankle, the Britons compiled a 7–1 record (5–0 against MIAA opponents) and won the MIAA championship. Albion won 14 consecutive games during the 1939 and 1940 season, finally losing to Lake Forest in the final game of the 1940 season. ^[4]

Three Albion players received first-team honors on the 1940 All-M.I.A.A. football team: halfback Maurice Trimble; end Charles VanderLinde; and guard Walter Ptak. ^[5]

Albion was ranked at No. 356 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	Mount Union *	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 13–0		[7]
September 28	at Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	W 7–3		[8]
October 4	Adrian	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 19–0		[9]
October 12	at Defiance *	Defiance, OH	W 34–7		[10]
October 18	Hillsdale	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 19–6		[1] [11]
October 26	at Olivet	Olivet, MI
November 2	at Hope	Holland, MI	W 6–0	5,000	[12]
November 9	Alma	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 13–0	3,000	[13]
November 16	at Lake Forest*	Lake Forest, IL	L 7–14		[4]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Alma

1940 Alma Scots football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	5–2 (4–1 MIAA)
Head coach	Gordon MacDonald (5th season)
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College of Alma, Michigan. In their fifth year under head coach Gordon MacDonald, the Scots compiled a 5–2 record (4–1 against MIAA opponents) and finished in second place in the MIAA.

Four Alma players were named to the All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football team: quarterback J. Tait; end Keith Carey; tackle E. Ziem; and guard G. Barnett. ^[5]

Alma was ranked at No. 336 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	Grand Rapids JC		W 37–0		[14]
October 4	at Hope	Holland, MI	W 19–7
October 11	Hillsdale	Alma, MI	W 39–0		[15]
October 19	at Adrian	Adrian, MI	W 14–0		[16]
October 26	Kalamazoo	Alma, MI	W 19–2		[17]
November 2	Michigan State Normal *	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	L 7–24		[18]
November 9	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 0–13	3,000	[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Hope

1940 Hope Flying Dutchmen football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	3–3–1 (2–2–1 MIAA)
Head coach	Bud Hinga (10th season)
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College of Hope, Michigan. In their 10th year under head coach Bud Hinga, the Dutchmen compiled a 3–3–1 record (2–2–1 against MIAA opponents) and finished in third place in the MIAA.

Hope was ranked at No. 443 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	Ferris Institute *	Holland, MI	W 35–0
September 28	at Adrian	Adrian, MI	W 20–0		[19]
October 4	Alma	Holland, MI	L 7–19
October 12	at Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	W 7–0		[20]
October 26	at Hillsdale	Hillsdale, MI	T 6–6		[21]
November 2	Albion	Holland, MI	L 0–6	5,000	[12]
November 9	Grand Rapids JC *	Holland, MI	L 6–10		[22]
*Non-conference game

Hillsdale

1940 Hillsdale Dales football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	3–4–1 (1–3–1 MIAA)
Head coach	Dwight Harwood (14th season)
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Hillsdale Dales football team was an American football team that represented Hillsdale College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1941 college football season. ^[23] In their 14th year under head coach Dwight Harwood, the Dales compiled a 3–4–1 record (1–3–1 against MIAA opponents) and finished in fourth place out of six teams in the MIAA.

Center Robert Manby was selected as a first-team player on the 1940 All-MIAA football team. ^[5] Senior fullback Bert Eklund was selected as the team's most valuable player. ^[24]

Hillsdale was ranked at No. 519 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	Lawrence Tech *	Hillsdale, MI	L 9–19		[25]
September 28	at Grand Rapids JC	Grand Rapids, MI	L 0–2		[26]
October 4	Kalamazoo	Hillsdale, MI	W 14–6
October 11	at Alma	Alma, MI	L 0–39		[15]
October 19	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 6–19		[11]
October 26	Hope	Hillsdale, MI	T 6–6		[21]
November 9	Adrian	Hillsdale, MI	W 22–6		[27]
*Non-conference game

Adrian

1940 Adrian Bulldogs football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	1–7 (1–4 MIAA)
Head coach	Harve A. Oliphant (3rd season)
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College of Adrian, Michigan. In their third year under head coach Harve A. Oliphant, the Bulldogs compiled a 1–7 record (1–4 against MIAA opponents) and finished in fifth place out of six teams in the MIAA.

Adrian was ranked at No. 611 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	Findlay *	Adrian, MI	L 0–19		[28]
September 29	Hope	Adrian, MI	L 0–20		[19]
October 4	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 0–19
October 19	Alma	Adrian, MI	L 0–14		[16]
October 26	at Assumption*	Kennedy Collegiate Field Windsor, Ontario	L 0–14		[29]
November 3	Kalamazoo	Adrian, MI	W 13–12		[30]
November 9	at Hillsdale	Hillsdale, MI	L 6–22		[27]
November 16	at Ferris Institute	Big Rapids, MI	L 0–7		[31]
*Non-conference game

Kalamazoo

1940 Kalamazoo Hornets football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	1–6–1 (0–5 MIAA)
Head coach	Chester S. Barnard (16th season)
Seasons ←  1939 1941  →

The 1940 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In their 16th year under head coach Chester S. Barnard, the Hornets compiled a 1–6–1 record (0–5 against MIAA opponents) and finished in last place in the MIAA.

Kalamazoo was ranked at No. 468 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[6]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	Grand Rapids JC	Kalamazoo, MI	L 6–20
September 28	Albion	Kalamazoo, MI	L 3–7		[32]
October 4	at Hillsdale	Hillsdale, MI	L 6–14
October 12	Hope	Kalamazoo, MI	L 0–7		[20]
October 26	at Alma	Alma, MI	L 2–19		[17]
November 2	at Adrian	Adrian, MI	L 12–13		[30]
November 9	at Hiram	Hiram, OH	T 7–7		[33] [34]
November 15	at Michigan State Normal *	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 13–3		[35]
*Non-conference game

All-conference team

The following players were selected as first-team players on the All-MIAA football team:

• Quarterback - J. Tait, Alma
• Fullback - Robert Montgomery
• Halfbacks - Morris Trimble, Albion; Steve Dalla, Kalamazoo
• Ends - Keith Carey, Alma; Charles Vanderlinde, Albion
• Tackles - Dick Thompson, Adrian; Paul Van Kueren, Kalamazoo; E. Ziem, Alma
• Guards - Walter Ptak, Albion; G. Barnett, Alma
• Center - Robert Manby, Hillsdale

^[5]

References

1. "Albion Retains M.I.A.A. Football Championship: Britons Beat Alma, 12 to 0; Albion Wins 14th Straight to Complete First Unbeaten season Since 1928". The Lansing State Journal. November 10, 1940. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "M.I.A.A. Gridders Will Start Friday". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 15, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Walter R. Okeson, ed. (1941). The Official 1941 Football Guide with the Official Rules. A.S. Barnes and Company.
4. "Albion's 14 Game Streak Ended by Lake Forest, 14-7". Chicago Tribune. November 17, 1940. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Alma Places Four Players On All-M.I.A.A. Eleven". The Lansing State Journal. November 17, 1940. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Mt. Union Drops 13-0 To Albion". The Sidney Daily News. September 21, 1940. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Albion Rallies, Wins Against Kalamazoo". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 29, 1940. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Albion Defeats Adrian, 19 to 0: Overconfident Briton Eleven Scores Second M.I.A.A. Victory". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 5, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Albion Rolls Over Defiance, 34-7". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1940. p. Sports 7 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Albion College Defeats 'Dales". Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 19, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Albion Keeps Its Record Clean". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1940. p. Sport 5 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Albion Beats Alma to Win M.I.A.A. Title". The Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1940. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Alma Thumps Opening Foe". Lansing State Journal. September 21, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Alma Sinks Dales, 39 to 0". Lansing State Journal. October 12, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Surprising Adrian Team Holds Alma to 14 Points". Detroit Free Press. October 20, 1940. p. Sport 5 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Alma Rolls Up 19-2 Victory". Detroit Free Press. October 27, 1940. p. Sport 5 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Hurons Trounce Alma, 24-7, For First Grid Victory". The Ypsilanti Daily Press. November 4, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Hope Defeats Adrian, 20 to 0: All Three Touchdowns Come as a Result of Long Gallops". The Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1940. p. Sport 3 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Hope's Passes Beat Hornets". The Lansing State Journal. October 13, 1940. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Hope and Hillsdale Play to 6-6 Tie". The Detroit Free Press. October 27, 1940. p. Sport 7 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "G.R. College Conquers Hope, 19-6". Lansing State Journal. November 9, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Hillsdale 11 Lacks Power of Past Years". The News-Palladium. September 18, 1940. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Most Valuable Player". The Ypsilanti Daily Press. November 16, 1940. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Lawrence Tech Beats Dales, 19-9". The Detroit Free Press. September 21, 1940. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Grand Rapids Ekes Out 2-0 Triumph". Port Huron Times Herald. September 29, 1940. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Hillsdale Victor over Adrian, 22-6". The Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1940. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Adrian Is Beaten by Findlay, 19-0". The Detroit Free Press. September 22, 1940. p. Sport 4 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Assumption Game Is Moved Up". The Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1940. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "'Scoreless Wonders' Of Adrian at Last Win". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 3, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Ferris Beats Adrian For Only Win of Year". Lansing State Journal. November 17, 1940. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Albion Rallies, Wins Against Kalamazoo". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 29, 1940. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Kalamazoo, Hiram Tie". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 10, 1940. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Kalamazoo College Holds Hiram To Tie". Lansing State Journal. November 10, 1940. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Hurons Conclude Season With 13-3 Loss to Kalamazoo". The Ypsilanti Daily Press. November 16, 1940. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.