1939 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1939 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers. The organizations choosing the teams included: the United Press, the Associated Press
, Collier's Weekly
, and the New York Sun
. Iowa halfback Nile Kinnick
was awarded the 1939 Heisman Trophy, and five players were selected to all or nearly all of the All-American teams by the various selectors, including Kinnick, Michigan halfback Tom Harmon
and Nile Kinnick
, USC Trojans guard Harry Smith, Texas A&M fullback John Kimbrough
, and Cornell tackle Nick Drahos
. Between them, Tennessee's guards Ed Molinski
and Bob Suffridge
were also picked to every major All-American team. The University of Tennessee was the only school with more than one consensus All-American, with Molinski, Suffridge, and quarterback George Cafego
all winning the honor.
voting.
Bold = Consensus All-American
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, and the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
. Iowa halfback Nile Kinnick
Nile Kinnick
Nile Clarke Kinnick, Jr. was a student and a college football player at the University of Iowa. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American. He died during a training flight while serving as a U.S Navy aviator in World War II...
was awarded the 1939 Heisman Trophy, and five players were selected to all or nearly all of the All-American teams by the various selectors, including Kinnick, Michigan halfback Tom Harmon
Tom Harmon
Thomas Dudley Harmon was a star player in American college football, a sports broadcaster, and patriarch of a family of American actors...
and Nile Kinnick
Nile Kinnick
Nile Clarke Kinnick, Jr. was a student and a college football player at the University of Iowa. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American. He died during a training flight while serving as a U.S Navy aviator in World War II...
, USC Trojans guard Harry Smith, Texas A&M fullback John Kimbrough
John Kimbrough
John Kimbrough was a college athlete, a member of the Texas Legislature, the star of two western movies and a rancher. His older brother Frank Kimbrough served as head football coach at Baylor and West Texas A&M.-Football:...
, and Cornell tackle Nick Drahos
Nick Drahos
Nick Drahos is a former American football end. He played college football at Cornell University and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.-References:**...
. Between them, Tennessee's guards Ed Molinski
Ed Molinski
Ed Molinski was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee. He later became a doctor after being involved in boxing, World War II, and college coaching.-Football career:...
and Bob Suffridge
Bob Suffridge
Robert Lee "Bob" Suffridge was an American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame...
were also picked to every major All-American team. The University of Tennessee was the only school with more than one consensus All-American, with Molinski, Suffridge, and quarterback George Cafego
George Cafego
George Cafego was a college, and professional American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.-High school and collegiate career:...
all winning the honor.
Consensus All-Americans
The chart below reflects the published point total from the United Press poll (___ points possible), and also reflects the number of polls in which the leading candidates were selected as a first-team All-American, and their point total in the 1938 Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
| Name | Class | Position | School | UPI votes | First-team selections | Heisman points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nile Kinnick Nile Kinnick Nile Clarke Kinnick, Jr. was a student and a college football player at the University of Iowa. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American. He died during a training flight while serving as a U.S Navy aviator in World War II... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes football The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
9 | 651 | ||
| Harry Smith | Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
USC | 9 | |||
| Tom Harmon Tom Harmon Thomas Dudley Harmon was a star player in American college football, a sports broadcaster, and patriarch of a family of American actors... |
Jr. | Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Michigan Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history... |
8 | 405 | |
| Nick Drahos Nick Drahos Nick Drahos is a former American football end. He played college football at Cornell University and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.-References:**... |
Jr. | Tackle Tackle (American football) Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions.... |
Cornell | 8 | ||
| John Kimbrough John Kimbrough John Kimbrough was a college athlete, a member of the Texas Legislature, the star of two western movies and a rancher. His older brother Frank Kimbrough served as head football coach at Baylor and West Texas A&M.-Football:... |
Jr. | Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Texas A&M Texas A&M University Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school... |
7 | 268 | |
| Esco Sarkkinen | End | Ohio State | 7 | |||
| Bob Suffridge Bob Suffridge Robert Lee "Bob" Suffridge was an American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame... |
Jr. | Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
5 | ||
| John Schiechl John Schiechl John George "Johnny" Schiechl was an Austrian American professional American football center in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference... |
Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Santa Clara | 5 | |||
| Ed Molinski Ed Molinski Ed Molinski was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee. He later became a doctor after being involved in boxing, World War II, and college coaching.-Football career:... |
Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
4 | |||
| George Cafego George Cafego George Cafego was a college, and professional American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.-High school and collegiate career:... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
3 | 296 | ||
| Paul Christman Paul Christman Paul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Missouri | 3 | 391 | ||
| Ken Kavanaugh Ken Kavanaugh Ken Kavanaugh was an American football player, coach and scout. He played college football at LSU, where he was named Most Valuable Player of the Southeastern Conference in 1939. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963.After college, Kavanaugh played in the National Football... |
End | LSU | 3 | |||
| Bud Kerr | End | Notre Dame | 3 | |||
| Harry Stella | Tackle Tackle (American football) Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions.... |
Army | 3 | |||
Key
- AP = Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
- UP = United Press
- CP = Central Press AssociationCentral Press AssociationThe Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, selected by the captains of more than 60 football teams across the country - CO = Collier's WeeklyCollier's WeeklyCollier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, selected by Grantland RiceGrantland RiceGrantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:... - INS = International News Service
- NYS = New York Sun
- NEA = NEA Sports Syndicate
- WC = Walter Camp Football FoundationWalter Camp Football FoundationThe Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
- NW = Newsweek, based on a consensus of five All-America teams chosen by the UP, the New York Daily News, Christy Walsh All-America Football Board, and the New York Sun
Bold = Consensus All-American
- 1 - First Team Selection
- 2 - Second Team Selection
- 3 - Third Team Selection
Ends
- Esco Sarkkinen, Ohio State (AP-2; UP-1; CO-1; CP-1; NEA-1; NYS-1; NW-1; WC-1)
- Ken KavanaughKen KavanaughKen Kavanaugh was an American football player, coach and scout. He played college football at LSU, where he was named Most Valuable Player of the Southeastern Conference in 1939. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963.After college, Kavanaugh played in the National Football...
, LSU (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-1; CP-2; INS-1; NW-1) - William "Bud" Kerr, Notre Dame (AP-1; UP-2; CP-2; INS-2; NEA-1; NYS-2; WC-1)
- Ralph Wenzel, Tulane (UP-3; CP-1; NYS-1)
- Paul Severin, North Carolina (AP-1; UP-3; NEA-2)
- Harlan Gustafson, Penn (AP-3; INS-1)
- Frank Ivy, Oklahoma (AP-3; CO-1)
- Hal Newman, Alabama (NEA-2)
- Erwin PrasseErwin PrasseErwin T. Prasse was a college football player for the University of Iowa. He was a second team All-American and the captain of Iowa’s 1939 “Ironmen” team.-Background:...
, Iowa (UP-2; CP-3) - Bob Ison, Georgia (CP-3; NEA-3; NYS-2)
- Bob NowaskeyBob NowaskeyRobert John Nowaskey was an American football defensive end, born in Everett, Pennsylvania, who played eight seasons in the All-America Football Conference and in the National Football League.-External links:...
, George Washington (NEA-3) - Bill Annahu, Santa Clara (INS-2)
Tackles
- Nick DrahosNick DrahosNick Drahos is a former American football end. He played college football at Cornell University and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.-References:**...
, Cornell (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; WC-1; NW-1) - Harley McCollumHarley McCollumHarley Raymond McCollum was an American football tackle in the All-America Football Conference for the New York Yankees and Chicago Rockets. He played college football at Tulane University and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1942 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins....
, Tulane (AP-1; CP-3; INS-2; NEA-1) - Harry Stella, Army (AP-2; UP-1; INS-1; NW-1)
- Joe BoydJoe BoydJoe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
, Texas A&M (AP-3; UP-2; CO-1; CP-2; NEA-2; NYS-1) - Gilford Duggan, Oklahoma (UP-2; CP-1; INS-2; NEA-3; NYS-1)
- Lee ArtoeLee ArtoeLee Robert Reno Artoe was a professional American football player in the National Football League and All-America Football Conference for 7 seasons. An offensive tackle, Artoe played for the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, California (AP-2) - Edward Coon, North Carolina State (NEA-2; NYS-2)
- Win Pederson, Minnesota (AP-3; UP-3)
- Mike EnichMike EnichMike Enich was a college football player for the University of Iowa. He was a member of Iowa’s 1939 “Ironmen” team and a first team All-American in 1940.-Playing career:...
, Iowa (NEA-3) - Gaspar, Southern California (UP-3)
- Bob Tierney, Princeton (CP-2)
- James Reeder, Illinois (NYS-2; WC-1)
Guards
- Harry Smith, Southern California (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; NYS-1; WC-1; NW-1)
- Ed MolinskiEd MolinskiEd Molinski was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee. He later became a doctor after being involved in boxing, World War II, and college coaching.-Football career:...
, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-2; CO-1; CP-3; NEA-1; WC-1) - Bob SuffridgeBob SuffridgeRobert Lee "Bob" Suffridge was an American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame...
, Tennessee (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-3; NYS-1; NW-1) - Marshall RobnettMarshall RobnettMarshall Foch Robnett was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played professionally from 1943 until 1945 for the Chicago Cardinals and was included on their merged team with the Pittsburgh Steelers, known as "Card-Pitt", in 1944....
, Texas A&M (AP-2; UP-3) - Jim Turner, Holy Cross (UP-3; CP-2; INS-2; NYS-2)
- Eberle Schultz, Oregon State (AP-3; CP-3; NYS-2)
- Brewer, Illinois (UP-2)
- Warren AlfsonWarren AlfsonWarren Alfson was an American football guard and linebacker for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, as well as the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League.-Early years:He was born and raised in Wisner, Nebraska...
, Nebraska (AP-2) - Robert Waldorf, Missouri (NEA-2)
- Tom O'Boyle, Tulane (NEA-2)
- Allen JohnsonAllen JohnsonAllen Kenneth Johnson is a retired hurdling athlete and won Olympic Gold in the 110 metre high hurdles at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia....
, Duke (INS-2) - Jack Sommers, UCLA (CP-2)
- Frank RibarFrank RibarFrank Andrew Ribar was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
, Duke (AP-3) - Joseph Enzler, Portland (NEA-3)
- Carl Nery, Duquesne (CP-3)
Centers
- John SchiechlJohn SchiechlJohn George "Johnny" Schiechl was an Austrian American professional American football center in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference...
, Santa Clara (AP-1; UP-2; CO-1; CP-1; INS-2; NEA-1; NYS-2; WC-1) - John Haman, Northwestern (UP-1; CP-3; INS-1; NW-1)
- Turner, Hardin-Simmons (NEA-3; NYS-1)
- Robert Nelson, Baylor (AP-2)
- Frank Finnerman, Cornell (AP-3; NEA-2)
- Carey Cox, Alabama (CP-2)
- Archie KodrosArchie Kodros-External links:...
, Michigan (UP-3)
Quarterbacks
- George CafegoGeorge CafegoGeorge Cafego was a college, and professional American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.-High school and collegiate career:...
, Tennessee (INS-1; UP-1; CP-2; NEA-2 [fb]; NW-1) - Paul ChristmanPaul ChristmanPaul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
, Missouri (AP-2; UP-2; CO-1; CP-2; INS-2; NEA-1; NYS-2; WC-1) - Jimmy McFadden, Clemson (AP-1)
- Matuszezak, Cornell (NYS-1)
- Don ScottDon Scott (American football)Donald E. Scott was a star of American football. He was a two-time All-America quarterback at the Ohio State University. He died on October 1, 1943 when his bomber crashed while he was training as a pilot in England during World War II.-High school star:...
, Ohio State (AP-3; UP-3; CP-3; NEA-2) - George Stirnweiss, North Carolina (CP-2; NEA-3)
Halfbacks
- Tom HarmonTom HarmonThomas Dudley Harmon was a star player in American college football, a sports broadcaster, and patriarch of a family of American actors...
, Michigan (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-3; NYS-1 [fb]; WC-1; NW-1) - Nile KinnickNile KinnickNile Clarke Kinnick, Jr. was a student and a college football player at the University of Iowa. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy and was a consensus All-American. He died during a training flight while serving as a U.S Navy aviator in World War II...
, Iowa (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CO-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; NYS-1; WC-1; NW-1) - Banks McFaddenBanks McFaddenBanks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
, Clemson (College Football Hall of Fame) (UP-3; CO-1 [fb]; CP-3; NEA-1) - George McAfeeGeorge McAfeeGeorge Anderson McAfee was a former American football player. McAfee is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played college football at Duke University. He is a former running back who played for the Chicago Bears...
, Duke (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; CP-2; NEA-2; NYS-1) - Kenny WashingtonKenny Washington (American football)Kenneth S. "Kingfish" Washington was a professional football player who was the first African-American to sign a contract with a National Football League team in the modern era.-UCLA Bruins:...
, UCLA (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; CP-3; INS-2; NEA-2; NYS-2) - Grenny LansdellGrenny LansdellGrenville Archer Lansdell Jr. was an American football halfback who played for the National Football League's New York Giants during the 1940 season....
, Southern California (AP-3; CP-1) - Jim Lelanne, North Carolina (INS-2)
- Beryl Clark, Oklahoma (INS-2)
- Hoffman, Southern California (NYS-2)
- Jack CrainJack CrainJack Crain was a football player for the University of Texas at Austin who later served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He was named an All Southwest Conference player in 1939 and 1940, and was twice selected All-American.-High school:Crain grew up in Nocona, Texas, where he...
, Texas (AP-3) - Richard Cassiano, Pitt (UP-3; NEA-3)
Fullbacks
- John KimbroughJohn KimbroughJohn Kimbrough was a college athlete, a member of the Texas Legislature, the star of two western movies and a rancher. His older brother Frank Kimbrough served as head football coach at Baylor and West Texas A&M.-Football:...
, Texas A&M (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; NYS-2; WC-1; NW-1) - Milt Piepul, Notre Dame (UP-2)
- Dom Principe, Fordham (AP-3; UP-3; CP-3; NEA-3)