Wikipedia

1940 Springfield Bears football team

The 1940 Springfield Bears football team was an American football team that represented the Springfield Teachers College (later renamed Missouri State University) as a member of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1940 college football season. In their third season under head coach Red Blair, the Bears compiled a perfect 10–0 record (5–0 in conference games), won the MIAA championship, shut out seven of ten opponent, and outscored all opponents by a total of 279 to 20.[1][2]

1940 Springfield Bears football
Dwight Bumpus (upper left); Russell Kaminsky (lower left); Earl Graves (lower right); and Ed Lechner (upper right)
MIAA champion
ConferenceMissouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record10–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach
Home stadiumSTC Stadium
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Springfield (MO) $ 5 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Maryville (MO) 3 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Missouri Mines 2 – 2 – 1 3 – 3 – 2
Warrensburg 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Cape Girardeau 1 – 3 – 1 4 – 5 – 1
Kirksville 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

Springfield relied on a passing offense led by its quarterback Dwight Bumpus.[3] Despite a preseason accident that cost him part of a finger, the diminutive Bumpus (five feet, six inches tall, and weighing 150 pounds) was called "the hub of the Bears' aerial Circus". At the end of the season, he was the unanimous choose of coaches, officials, and reporters as the quarterback on the 1940 MIAA all-star football team.[4]

One of Bumpus' principal receivers was end Russell Kaminsky. Bumpus and Kaminsky were both Ohio natives who were selected as first-team all-conference players for three consecutive seasons in 1939, 1940, and 1941.[4][5] Kaminsky also received second-team honors on the 1940 Little All-America college football team.[6] In addition to Bumpus and Kaminsky, two other Springfield Bears were selected as 1940 first-team all-conference players: tackle Earl Graves and en Ed Lechner. Three others were named to the second team: Guy Brashear at fullback; Howard Elliott at tackle; Harry Berry at center.[4]

The team played its home games in Springfield, Missouri.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Northeastern State*Springfield, MOW 38–0
October 4at Pittsburg State*Pittsburg, KSW 34–0[7]
October 11at KirksvilleKirksville, MOW 28–0[8]
October 18Maryville (MO)Springfield, MOW 13–0[9][10]
October 25Southwestern (KS)*Springfield, MOW 20–01,200
November 2Missouri Mines Springfield, MOW 27–76,000[11]
November 8WarrensburgSpringfield, MOW 13–04,000[12][13]
November 15at Cape GirardeauCape Girardeau, MOW 21–7[14]
November 21Arkansas A&M*Springfield, MOW 34–04,800[15]
November 30Hastings*Springfield, MOW 51–6[16][17]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Missouri State Football 2023 Media Guide" (PDF). Missouri State University Athletics. p. 63. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Marty Eddlemon (November 13, 1994). "Bears' 1940 football team a fearsome group: SMS used a razzle-dazzle offense and a punishing defense during a 10-0 year". Springfield News and Leader. p. 12C.
  3. ^ "Dwight Bumpus, STC's Passing Wizard, Has .800 Average, 4 Touchdown Throws". Springfield Leader and Press. October 18, 1940. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Harold Claassen (November 30, 1940). "Bears Land Four Stars on All-Conference Eleven: Bumpus Unanimous Choice For Quarterback Laurels". Springfield Leader and Press. Associated Press. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "STC Places Bumpus, Kaminsky On All-Conference Grid Team". Springfield Leader and Press. December 1, 1941. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bears' Russ Kaminsky Awarded Wing Post On Second Little All-America Grid Team". Springfield Leader and Press. Associated Press. December 10, 1940 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bears Invade Kirksville Friday Night for MIAA Bow: Aerial Attack Smothers Pitt in 34-0 Contest". Springfield Leader and Press. October 4, 1940. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Bulldogs Lose To Springfield By 28-0 Score: Mighty Bears Display Razzle Dazzle Technique in Game Here". Kirksville Daily Express. October 13, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Springfield Dims Maryvilles Hopes". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 19, 1940. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Teachers Battle Southwestern Here Next Friday: Razzle Dazzle Nips Bearcats in 13-0 Battle". Springfield Leader and Press. October 19, 1940. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bears Maul Miners in 27-7 MIAA Thriller: Yield First Counter On Freak Rolla Play". Springfield Sunday News Leader. November 3, 1940. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "STC's Eleven Wins MIAA Championship: Defeat Mules, 13 To 0 To Break Two Year Deadlock; Warrensburg Is Stubborn Foe". Springfield Daily News. November 9, 1940. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "MIAA Champion Bears Play At Cape Next Friday! Brasher Leads Teachers To 13-0 Win Over Mules". Springfield Leader and Press. November 9, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Bears Complete Conference Schedule Undefeated: Scalp Girardeau Indians 21-7 In Hard Fought Tilt". Springfield Daily News. November 16, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Bears Wind Up Season With Hastings Nov.30: Teachers Trim Weevil Eleven For Win No. 13". Springfield Leader and Press. November 22, 1940. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Unbeaten Bears Crush Hastings in 51-6 Fracas! Teachers Record Win No. 14, Routing Vaunted NCAC Stars". Springfield Sunday News Leader. December 1, 1940. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Broncos Take Pasting: Unbeaten Missouri Team Too Powerful". Hastings Daily Tribune. December 2, 1940. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
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