1940 Detroit Titans football team

The 1940 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit in the 1940 college football season. Detroit shut out six of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 147 to 27, and finished with a 7–2 record in its 16th year under head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Gus Dorais.[1] During the 1940 season, Dorais registered his 100th victory as coach of the Titans.[2] In his first 16 seasons with the University of Detroit, Dorais compiled a 101–42–7 record.

1940 Detroit Titans football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–2
Head coach
CaptainCasimere Brovarney
Home stadiumUniversity of Detroit Stadium
1940 Midwestern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Wayne   –  4 –1 –3
Detroit   –  7 –2 –0
Notre Dame   –  7 –2 –0
Xavier   –  7 –3 –0
Ohio   –  5 –2 –2
Dayton   –  6 –3 –0
Cincinnati   –  5 –3 –1
Wichita   –  6 –4 –0
Central Michigan   –  4 –3 –1
Marquette   –  4 –4 –0
Michigan State   –  3 –4 –1
Ohio Wesleyan   –  2 –4 –3
Akron   –  2 –5 –2
Western State Teachers (MI)   –  2 –5 –0
Michigan State Normal   –  1 –5 –1
Miami (OH)   –  0 –7 –1

According to the American Football Statistical Bureau's 1940 yearbook, the Titans ranked first among the 13 major Midwestern schools (a category including the Western Conference teams) in total offense (322.3 yards per game), rushing offense (242.6 yards per game), total defense (140 yards per game), rushing defense (63.6 yards per game), first downs made (133), and fewest first downs against (58).[3]

Detroit was ranked at No. 38 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[4]

Detroit halfback Al Ghesquiere led the NCAA major college programs with 956 rushing yards, finishing ahead of Michigan's Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon.[5] The team's center, Vince Banonis, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The team's captain was Casimere Brovarney. The assistant coaches were line coach Bud Boeringer and backfield coach Lloyd Brazil.[6]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Wayne
W 42–721,200[7]
October 4Catholic University
  • University of Detroit Stadium
  • Detroit, MI
W 13–019,353[8]
October 11Michigan State Normal
  • University of Detroit Stadium
  • Detroit, MI
W 47–016,341[9]
October 18at Manhattan
W 6–011,500[10]
October 27at Villanova
W 10–030,251[11]
November 2TulsaNo. 17
  • University of Detroit Stadium
  • Detroit, MI
L 0–719,861[12]
November 9TCU
  • University of Detroit Stadium
  • Detroit, MI
W 3–012,352[13]
November 16at Gonzaga
L 7–136,000[14]
November 23Marquette
  • University of Detroit Stadium
  • Detroit, MI
W 19–010,000[15]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Players
  • Vince Banonis, center
  • John Biringer, quarterback
  • Casimere Brovarney, guard
  • Ray Domerque, guard
  • James Ellis, halfback
  • Al Ghesquiere, left halfback
  • Al Goodrich, fullback
  • Harry Groth, fullback
  • William Harrison, end
  • Frank Hayes, end
  • Don Hughes, quarterback
  • Clyde Johnson, fullback
  • Howard Keating, end
  • Robert Keene, right halfback
  • Ed Kukorowski, tackle
  • Tom Martin, halfback
  • Paul McErlean, halfback
  • Paul McLaughlin, halfback
  • Tom McLoughlin, guard
  • John McManigal, guard
  • Don Parro, center
  • Ted Pavelec, tackle
  • Jack Pearl, fullback
  • George Petersmarck, tackle
  • Richard Pugh, guard
  • Ed Rice, tackle
  • Meyrl Toepfer, end

References
  1. "1940 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  2. W. W. Edgar (December 18, 1940). "Banonis Will Pilot 1941 Titan Football Team". Detroit Free Press. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "U. of D. Eleven Takes Offensive and Defensive Honors in Midwest". Detroit Free Press. December 22, 1940. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1182. ISBN 1401337031.(1940 NCAA Major College Statistical Leaders)
  6. Game program, 1940 Marquette game.
  7. John N. Sabo (September 28, 1940). "U. of D. Wallops Wayne, 42 to 7, in Opening Grid Contest". Detroit Free Press. pp. 13–14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Keating Stars as Titans Beat Catholic 'U,' 13 to 0". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1940. pp. 11, 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. W. W. Egdar (October 12, 1940). "Titans Run Roughshod Over Huron Gridders to Register 47-0 Victory". Detroit Free Press. pp. 11, 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "U-D Beats Manhattan, 6-0, on Ghesquiere's 80-Yard Run". Detroit Free Press. October 19, 1940. pp. 13–14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. W. W. Edgar (October 28, 1940). "Unbeaten U-D Shatters Villanova Jinx, 10-0: U. of D. Wins No. 5 in Row to End Long Villanova Domination". Detroit Free Press. pp. 13, 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. W. W. Edgar (November 3, 1940). "Tulsa Ends U-D Streak: Passes Send Titans Down to Defeat, 7-0". Detroit Free Press. pp. Sports 1, 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. W. W. Edgar (November 10, 1940). "Titans Topple Texas Christian as Spartans Bow Before Indiana: Pavelec Wins for U-D, 3-0, on Field Goal". Detroit Free Press. p. Sports 1, 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Bankson, Rod (November 17, 1940). "Canadeo and Gonzaga Slash Through to Thrilling Victory over Detroit". The Spokesman-Review. p. 1. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  15. W. W. Edgar (November 24, 1940). "U. of D.'s Powerful Ground Attack Crushes Disorganized Marquette: Al Ghesquiere Leads Titans to 19-0 Victory". Detroit Free Press. pp. Sports 1, 7 – via Newspapers.com.
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