The 1941 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the season of

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

played by the six member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the

1941 college football season The 1941 college football regular season was the 73rd season of college football, intercollegiate football in the United States. Competition included schools from the 1941 Big Ten Conference football season, Big Ten Conference, the Pacific Coast ...

. The Alma Scots, led by head coach Gordon MacDonald, won the MIAC championship with a 6–0–1 record (4–0–1 against conference opponents) and outscored opponents by a total 131 to 19.

Conference overview

Teams

Alma

The 1941 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College of Alma, Michigan. In their sixth year under head coach Gordon MacDonald, the Scots compiled a 6–0–1 record (4–0–1 against MIAA opponents), won the MIAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 131 to 19. Four Alma players were named to the All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football team; quarterback Robert Kirby; end Keith Carey; tackle Edward Baklarz; and guard James Hicks. Alma was ranked at No. 258 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

Albion

The 1941 Albion Britons football team represented Albion College of Albion, Michigan. In their 19th year under head coach Dale R. Sprankle, the Britons compiled a 3–4–1 record (3–0–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in second place in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 118 to 52. The game between Albion and Hillsdale marked the 50th anniversary of the first football game between the schools, which was also the first football game in the MIAA. Albion tackle Robert Fles was selected as a first-team player on the 1941 All-Star M.I.A.A. football team. Albion was ranked at No. 457 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

Hope

The 1941 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College of

Hope, Michigan Hope Township is a civil township of Midland County, Michigan, Midland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,286 at the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census. Communities * Hope is an unincorporated community and post offi ...

. In their 11th year under head coach

Bud Hinga In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be spe ...

, the Dutchmen compiled a 3–2–3 record (2–1–2 against MIAA opponents), finished in third place in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 36 to 35. Three Hope players were selected as first-team players on the 1941 All-Star M.I.A.A. football team: halfback Don Defouw; center William Tappen; and tackle Martin Bekken. Hope was ranked at No. 501 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

Kalamazoo

The 1941 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of

Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolit ...

. In their 17th and final year under head coach

Chester S. Barnard Chester Smith Barnard (October 25, 1894 – October 16, 1952) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at the University of Mississippi in 1924 and at Kalamazoo College from ...

, the Hornets compiled a 5–2–1 record (2–2–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in fourth place in the MIAA, and outscored opponents by a total of 68 to 38. Kalamazoo was ranked at No. 467 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

Hillsdale

The 1941 Hillsdale Dales football team was an American football team that represented

Hillsdale College Hillsdale College is a Private university, private Conservatism in the United States, conservative Christian liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan. It was founded in 1844 by Abolitionism, abolitionists known as Free Will Baptists. Its missio ...

in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the

. In their 15th year under head coach

Dwight Harwood Dwight Brigham Harwood (April 29, 1892 – August 8, 1965) was an American football and basketball coach. He was the head football coach at Hillsdale College Hillsdale College is a Private university, private Conservatism in the United States ...

, the Dales compiled a 3–4–1 record (1–3–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in fifth place out of six teams in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 89 to 51. Brothers Bob and Burr Manby starred at the guard and fullback positions. The brothers were both named to the 1941 all-conference football team. Paul Wright was the team captain. Hillsdale was ranked at No. 479 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

Adrian

The 1941 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College of

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district. History Adrian was founded on June 18, 1826 by Addison Co ...

. In their fourth and final year under head coach

Harve A. Oliphant Harvey Andrew "Harve" Oliphant Jr. (July 7, 1912 – February 20, 1998) was an American football coach. Oliphant was the head football coach at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan for four seasons, from 1938 to 1941, compiling a record of 5–26� ...

, the Bulldogs compiled a 2–6 record (0–5 against MIAA opponents), finished in last place out of six teams in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 141 to 19. Adrian was ranked at No. 620 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.

All-conference team

The following players were selected as first-team players on the All-MIAA football team: * Quarterback - Bob Kirby,

Alma Alma or ALMA may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film * ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922 * ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017 * ''Alma'' (play), a 1996 drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma ...

* Fullback - Burr Manby, Hillsdale * Halfbacks - William Johnston, Hillsdale; Don Defouw,

Hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish ...

; Jack Bockleman, Kalamazoo * Ends - Keith Carey, Alma; Gerald Gillman, Kalamazoo * Tackles - Edward Baklarz, Alma; Martin Bekken, Hope; J. Clay, Kalamazoo; Robert Fles,

Albion Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scot ...

* Guards - James Hicks, Alma; Robert Manby, Hillsdale * Center - William Tappen, Hope

References

{{Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football navbox