1941 Fordham Rams football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1941
| team = Fordham Rams
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| APRank = 6
| record = 8–1
| head_coach = Jim Crowley
| hc_year = 9th
| captain =
| stadium = Polo Grounds
| champion = Sugar Bowl champion
Eastern champion
| bowl = Sugar Bowl
| bowl_result = W 2–0 vs. Missouri
}}
{{1941 Eastern college football independents records}}
The 1941 Fordham Rams football team was an American football team that represented Fordham University as an independent during the 1941 college football season. In their ninth season under head coach Jim Crowley, the Rams compiled an 8–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 182 to 67, and were ranked No. 6 in the final AP poll.
During the regular season, the Rams played a national schedule with wins over teams from the south (SMU, North Carolina, West Virginia, TCU), Midwest (Purdue), and west (Saint Mary's), while suffering their only loss to Pittsburgh. They concluded their season with a 2–0 victory over Missouri in the 1942 Sugar Bowl. The game was played in heavy rain and the only score came off of a blocked punt in the {{nowrap|first quarter.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=izBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6612%2C6973047 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |last=Wheeler |first=Romney |title=Blocked punt gives Fordham 2-0 verdict over Missouri Tigers |date=January 2, 1942 |page=B3}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=unMbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5427%2C537556 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |last=Kirksey |first=George |title=Safety nets Fordham 2-0 Sugar Bowl win |date=January 2, 1942 |page=60}}}}
Fordham end Jim Lansing was selected by Liberty magazine as a first-team player on the 1941 All-America team.{{cite news|title=Sinkwich Gets Most Votes on All-Foes Eleven: 96 of 96 Pick Bulldog Flash; Dudley Second|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=December 31, 1941|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36892009/sinkwich_gets_most_votes_on_allfoes/|via=Newspapers.com}} Fullback Steve Filipowicz completed 37 of 101 passes for 722 yards during the regular season and was selected by the Associated Press (AP) a first-team player on the 1941 All-Eastern football team. Guard Larry Sartori was named to the second team.{{cite news|title=MacKinney and Peabody on A.P. Eastern Eleven|newspaper=The Boston Daily Globe|date=December 5, 1941|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36483061/mackinney_and_peabody_on_ap_eastern/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team played its home games at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1941
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = SMU
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 16–10
| attend = 28,500
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Nip Mustangs, 16-10, In Last Half-Minute|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Gene Ward|date=October 5, 1941|page=88|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36148760/rams_nip_mustangs_1610_in_last/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = North Carolina
| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| score = 27–14
| attend = 27,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = West Virginia
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 27–0
| attend = 12,500
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Win Third, Clip W. Va., 27-0|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Jack Smith|date=October 19, 1941|page=82|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35903456/rams_win_third_clip_w_va_270/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 25
| w/l = w
| rank = 6
| opponent = TCU
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 28–14
| attend = 39,500
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Rally in Fourth, Rout TCU, 28-14|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Jack Smith|date=October 26, 1941|page=C36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36144619/rams_rally_in_fourth_rout_tcu_2814/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 17–0
| attend = 20,500
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Overpower Purdue, 17 to 0|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Jack Smith|date=November 2, 1941|page=88|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35807290/rams_overpower_purdue_17_to_0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 8
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Pittsburgh
| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium
| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA
| score = 0–13
| attend = 25,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 11
| opponent = Saint Mary's
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 35–7
| attend = 40,000
| source = {{cite news|title=St. Mary's Buried, 35 to 7!|newspaper=San Francisco Examiner|author=Harry Borba|date=November 23, 1941|page=Sports 2, 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23211089/st_marys_buried_35_to_7/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 29
| w/l = w
| rank = 8
| opponent = NYU
| site_stadium = Yankee Stadium
| site_cityst = Bronx, NY
| score = 30–9
| attend = 31,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Conquer NYU, 30-9; Blumenstock Scores 2|newspaper=New York Daily News|author=Jack Smith|date=November 30, 1941|page=C36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35795454/rams_conquer_nyu_309_blumenstock/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = January 1
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Missouri
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Tulane Stadium
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = Sugar Bowl
| score = 2–0
| attend = 73,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Rams Eke Out 2-0 Triumph Over Tigers: 73,000 Sugar Bowl Fans See Fordham Win On Automatic Safety|newspaper=The Monroe (La.) News-Star|author=Romney Wheeler|date=January 2, 1942|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35795359/rams_eke_out_20_triumph_over_tigers/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1941 college football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 1
| poll1lastweek = 8
| poll1_1=4
| poll1_2=6
| poll1_3=3 {{small|(7)}}
| poll1_4=3 {{small|(6)}}
| poll1_5=11
| poll1_6=11
| poll1_7=8
| poll1_8=6
}}
Roster
- Joseph Andrejco, halfback, No. 46, sophomore, 6'0", 190 pounds, Beaver Meadows, PA
- Thomas Bennett, guard, No. 11, 5'11", 175 pounds, Ansonia, CT
- James Blumenstock, halfback, No. 51, senior, 5'10", 178 pounds, Rutherford, NJ
- Steve Filipowicz, fullback, No. 25, junior, 5'8", 185 pounds, Kulpmont, PA
- Stephen Hudasek, tackle, No. 7, senior, 6'1", 195 pounds, Plymouth, PA
- Jim Lansing, end, No. 14, junior, 6'0", 186 pounds, Pelham, NY
- James Noble, quarterback, No. 12, senior, 5'10", 162 pounds, Easton, PA[[
- Joseph Sabasteanski, center, No. 35, junior, 6'0", 198 pounds, Portland, ME
- Larry Sartori, captain and guard, No. 1, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Shepton, PA
- Edward Slodowski, tackle, No. 41, sophomore, 6'2", 206 pounds, Jersey City, NJ
- George Topo, end, No. 31, sophomore, 6'2", 215 pounds, Tamaqua, PA
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Fordham Rams football navbox}}
Category:Fordham Rams football seasons
Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons