The 1939 Arizona State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State Teachers College (later renamed Arizona State University) in the Border Conference during the 1939 college football season. In their second season under head coach Dixie Howell, the Bulldogs compiled an 8âÂÂ2âÂÂ1 record (4âÂÂ0 against Border opponents), won the conference championship, played to a scoreless tie against Catholic University in the 1940 Sun Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 212 to 56. The team captains were Wiley Aker and Noble Riggs. The Bulldogs finished 6âÂÂ0 at home, 2âÂÂ2 on the road, and 0âÂÂ0âÂÂ1 on a neutral site. Hilman Walker was an assistant coach.
Arizona State was ranked at No. 65 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
All home games were played at Goodwin Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
In the season opener, Arizona State delivered a 20âÂÂ0 road shutout victory over San Diego State. The Bulldogs produced another shutout in their home opener, as they beat West Texas State 19âÂÂ0 in Tempe. Arizona State shut out Cal Poly 35âÂÂ0 at Goodwin Stadium, as halfback Hascall Henshaw scored a touchdown on a 91-yard kickoff return. The Bulldogs prevailed for a 28âÂÂ0 home win against Whittier. Arizona State earned a 7âÂÂ0 road win at New Mexico State, marking their fifth consecutive shutout victory to begin the season. The Bulldogs outlasted Texas-El Paso, 27âÂÂ7, in Tempe. Arizona State's six-game winning streak was snapped in a 19âÂÂ7 road loss at Hardin-Simmons. The Bulldogs responded with a convincing 41âÂÂ6 home victory over NAU. Arizona State delivered a 28âÂÂ6 win against New Mexico at Goodwin Stadium. In the regular season finale, the Bulldogs suffered an 18âÂÂ0 road loss to the San Diego Marines.
On January 1, 1940, Arizona State played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie against Catholic University in the 1940 Sun Bowl. The game was played at Kidd Field in El Paso, Texas with a crowd of 13,000 persons in attendance. It marked the only meeting between the teams in school history. The Bulldogs held Catholic University to only four first downs, but Arizona State lost four fumbles and threw several interceptions. Fullback Wayne Pitts had 15 carries for 89 rushing yards for Arizona State. It was the first bowl game in Arizona State school history.
The usual Arizona State lineup included left end Bob Lackey, left tackle Mark Kalastro, left guard Albert Sanserino, center Bob Walberg, right guard Louis Rappaport, right tackle Ted Anderson, right end Sam Andrews, quarterback Walt Ruth, halfbacks Wiley Aker and Hascall Henshaw, and fullback Bill Davis.
Ted Anderson, John Balshor, Leo Burns, Dominic Campolo, and Frank Consentino were also on roster.
Halfback Joe Hernandez, fullback Wayne Pitts, and guards Noble Riggs and Albert Sanserino each earned All-Border Conference honors for the 1939 football season.
Fullback Wayne Pitts earned Little All-America second-team honors.