Utah Utes football under Ike Armstrong (in the MSC)
Ike Armstrong was the sixth professional head coach of the Utah Utes football team. The Utes represent the University of Utah for intercollegiate football games. Armstrong compiled a record of 141–55–15 (.704) during his twenty-five years coaching at Utah. In the Mountain States Conference (MSC), Armstrong had a record of 67–32–10 (43–14–5 MSC)[1] and won six conference championships.[2]
Utah was in the MSC for the last twelve years of Armstrong's career. Armstrong's first thirteen seasons at Utah (1925–1937), Utah played in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The MSC was popularly called the "Big Seven Conference", and then after Colorado left following the 1947 season, popularly called the "Skyline Conference" or "Skyline Six". Utah played in and won its first bowl game, the 1939 Sun Bowl, during Armstrong's tenure in the MSC.[3] Armstrong also helped keep the team in existence during World War II even though most of the other schools in the conference decided not to field teams from 1943 to 1945.[4]
Armstrong was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957.[5]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) (1925–1937) | |||||||||
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: | 74–23–5 | 65–10–3 | |||||||
| Utah Utes (Mountain States Conference) (1938–1949) | |||||||||
| 1938 | Utah | 7–1–2 | 4–0–1 | 1st | W Sun Bowl | ||||
| 1939 | Utah | 6–1–2 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1940 | Utah | 7–2 | 5–1 | 1st | |||||
| 1941 | Utah | 6–0–2 | 4–0–2 | 1st | |||||
| 1942 | Utah | 6–3 | 5–1 | 1st–T | |||||
| 1943 | Utah | 0–7 | 0–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 1944 | Utah | 5–2–1 | 1–2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1945 | Utah | 4–4 | 3–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1946 | Utah | 8–3 | 4–2 | 3rd | L Pineapple Bowl | ||||
| 1947 | Utah | 8–1–1 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1948 | Utah | 8–1–1 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1949 | Utah | 2–7–1 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| Mountain States Conference: | 67–32–10 | 43–14–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 141–55–15 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
1938
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
October 1Montana State*
W 34–0 October 15BYU
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (The Holy War)
T 7–7 October 22at Utah A.C.
W 33–0 October 29Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 21–0 November 5at Colorado
T 0–0
November 12Colorado A&M
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 13–0 November 19at Wyoming
W 39–0 November 24Idaho*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 0–16 December 17at Hawaii*
W 14–13 January 2vs. New Mexico*
W 26–0
Template:CFB Schedule End [6][7]
After the season
NFL draft
Utah had one player selected in the 1939 NFL Draft.[8]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Bernie McGarry | Guard | 6 | 43 | Cleveland Rams |
1939
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 30Santa Clara*
T 7–7 October 7Wyoming
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City
W 60–0 October 14at BYU
- BYU Stadium
- Provo, Utah (The Holy War)
W 35–13 October 21vs. Idaho*
- Unknown location
- Boise, Idaho
W 35–0 October 28at Denver
T 7–7
November 4Colorado
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
L 14–21 November 11Hawaii*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 34–19 November 18at Colorado A&M
W 42–7 November 23Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 27–0
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][9]
After the season
NFL draft
Utah had three players selected in the 1940 NFL Draft.[10]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Luke Pappas | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 9 | 71 | Chicago Cardinals |
| Tom Pace | Back | 10 | 87 | Chicago Bears |
| Pete Bogden | End | 14 | 125 | Cleveland Rams |
In addition, Halfback Fred Gehrke was not drafted but played eight seasons in the NFL.[11]
1940
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Utah's season opener against Santa Clara was part of the first-ever major college football doubleheader. The event at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco also featured the future Rose Bowl champions, the Stanford "Wow Boys", defeat San Francisco, 27–0.[12]
Schedule
September 28at Santa Clara*
L 13–34 October 5BYU
W 12–6 October 12Arizona*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 24–0 October 19at Utah A.C.
L 0–7
October 26Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 25–14 November 2at Colorado
W 21–13 November 9at Wyoming
W 34–7 November 16Colorado A&M
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 27–0 November 21Idaho*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 13–6
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][13]
After the season
NFL draft
Utah did not have any players selected in the 1941 NFL Draft.[14]
1941
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 27at Idaho*
W 26–7 October 11Wyoming
W 60–6 October 18BYU
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (The Holy War)
T 6–6 October 25at Denver
T 0–0
November 1Colorado
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
W 46–6 November 15at Colorado A&M
W 26–13 November 26Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 33–21 December 6at Arizona*
W 12–6
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][15]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had two players selected in the 1942 NFL Draft.[16]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Floyd Spendlove | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 8 | 61 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Mac Speedie | End | 15 | 135 | Detroit Lions |
1942
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 26Santa Clara*
L 0–12 October 3at Arizona*
L 0–14 October 10BYU
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (The Holy War)
L 7–12 October 17at Utah A.C.
W 34–6
October 24Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 21–12 October 31Colorado A&M
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 33–14 November 7at Colorado
W 13–0 November 14at Wyoming
W 34–7 November 26Idaho*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 13–7
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][17]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had two players selected in the 1943 NFL Draft.[18]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Bert Davis | Center | 18 | 165 | Cleveland Rams |
| Woody Peterson | Back | 32 | 299 | Chicago Bears |
1943
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Utah considered cancelling football in 1943 due to World War II. College enrollment dropped significantly as many college-aged men enlisted in the armed services. LeRoy E. Cowles, President of the University of Utah asked that the team continue to play. Armstrong supported Cowles despite having a severe shortage of players. Only Colorado and Utah in the Mountain States Conference maintained a football team in 1943. To play a semblance of a full schedule, Utah played Colorado twice and resorted to playing enlisted men from Fort Warren, Wyoming.[4] The result was Utah's only winless season since going 0–1 in 1895.[19]
Schedule
October 2Fort Warren, Wyoming*
L 0–60 October 9at Colorado
L 0–35 October 16Nevada*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 19–27 October 23at Tulsa*
L 0–55
November 6Colorado
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
L 19–22 November 13at Colorado College*
L 0–64 November 25Saint Mary's*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 0–34
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][20]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had two players selected in the 1944 NFL Draft.[21]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| George Betteridge | Back | 4 | 30 | Detroit Lions |
| Nick Pappas | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 27 | 281 | Washington Redskins |
1944
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 30Idaho Southern Branch*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 24–0 October 6at Denver
L 12–28 October 14Colorado
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
L 0–26 October 21at Idaho Southern Branch*
W 38–12 October 28at Nevada*
W 19–14
November 4Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
T 0–0 November 11at Colorado College*
W 21–6 November 23Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 47–0
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][22]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had one player selected in the 1945 NFL Draft.[23]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Bill Broderick | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 31 | 323 | New York Giants |
1945
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 29Nevada*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City
L 14–33 October 6at Colorado
L 13–18 October 12at Denver
L 7–21 October 20No. 15 Oklahoma A&M*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 6–46 October 27at Colorado A&M
W 28–0
November 3Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 33–21 November 10at New Mexico*
W 21–20 November 22Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 24–6
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][24]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had five players selected in the 1946 NFL Draft.[25]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Gay Adelt | Back | 5 | 39 | Washington Redskins |
| Reed Nostrum | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 13 | 114 | Chicago Bears |
| Stan Stapley | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 15 | 135 | New York Giants |
| Lawrence Mauss | Center | 19 | 177 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Tom Panos | Guard | 30 | 287 | Detroit Lions |
1946
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 28New Mexico*
W 56–14 October 5Arizona*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 14–7 October 12at BYU
W 35–6 October 19at Denver
L 14–20 October 26Wyoming
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 27–7
November 2Colorado
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
W 7–0 10,575[26] November 9at Colorado A&M
W 13–0 November 16at San Francisco*
W 21–13 November 28Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
L 14–22 December 25at Hawaii All-Stars*
W 40–6 January 1at Hawaii*
- Honolulu Stadium
- Honolulu, Hawaii (Pineapple Bowl)
L 16–19
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][27]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had one player selected in the 1947 NFL Draft.[28]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Ralph Olsen | Defensive End | 32 | 297 | Green Bay Packers |
1947
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 27Oregon State*
W 7–6 22,175[29] October 4Hawaii*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 35–0 October 11BYU
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (The Holy War)
W 28–6
October 18Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 13–7 October 25at Wyoming
W 26–7 November 1at Colorado
W 13–7 22,000[26] November 8Colorado A&M
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 19–0 11,181[30] November 15vs. IdahoNo. 18
- Unknown location
- Boise, Idaho
L 6–13 November 27Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 40–14 December 6at Arizona*
T 20–20
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][31]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had three players selected in the 1948 NFL Draft.[32]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Barney Hafen | Defensive End | 19 | 167 | Detroit Lions |
| Frank Nelson | Back | 20 | 179 | Boston Yanks |
| Tally Stevens | End | 22 | 202 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1948
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 17at Southern California*
L 0–27 55,211[33] September 25Idaho*
W 21–6 October 2Arizona*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 47–14 October 9at BYU
W 30–0 October 16at Denver
W 17–0 October 23Wyoming
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
W 19–7
October 30Colorado*
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah–Colorado football rivalry)
W 14–12 17,003[26] November 6at Colorado A&M
W 12–3 November 13at Oregon State*
T 20–20 8,000[29] November 25Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 41–7
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][34]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had two players selected in the 1949 NFL Draft.[35]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Bob Summerhays | Back | 4 | 34 | Green Bay Packers |
| Gil Tobler | Back | 22 | 212 | Detroit Lions |
1949
| {{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] |
|---|
Schedule
September 17at Washington*
L 7–14 26,553[36] September 24vs. Oregon State*
L 7–27 25,012[29] October 1at Arizona*
T 12–12 October 8BYU
W 38–0 October 15Denver
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 18–20 October 22at Wyoming
L 0–13 October 29at Colorado*
L 7–14 20,103[26]
November 5Colorado A&M
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah
L 12–21 November 12at No. 19 Pacific*
- Lodi Municipal Stadium {The Grape Bowl}
- Lodi, California
L 6–45 November 24Utah A.C.
- Ute Stadium
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Battle of the Brothers)
W 34–0
Template:CFB Schedule End [7][37]
After the season
NFL Draft
Utah had one player selected in the 1950 NFL Draft.[38]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Joe Tangaro | Offensive and Defensive Tackle | 20 | 254 | New York Giants |
See also
References
- ^ "Ike J. Armstrong Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Utah Conference Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Utah Bowl History". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ a b Hinckley, Shane (2010). University of Utah Football Vault : The History of the Utes. Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, LLC. p. 44. ISBN 0-7948-2797-7.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductee Search: Ike Armstrong". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1938". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ute Record Book" (PDF). University of Utah. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "1939 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1939". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "1940 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "Fred Gehrke Past Statistics". DatabaseFootball.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ Ron Fimrite, A Melding Of Men All Suited To A T; Clark Shaughnessy was a dour theoretician, Frankie Albert an unrestrained quarterback and Stanford a team of losers, but combined they forever changed the game of football, Sports Illustrated, September 5, 1977.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1940". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "1941 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1941". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "1942 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1942". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "1943 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "2010 Utah Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Utah Athletics. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1943". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "1944 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1944". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1945 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1945". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1946 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ a b c d "2009 Colorado Buffaloes Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Colorado Athletics. p. 12. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1946". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ a b c "2009 Oregon State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Oregon State University. p. 7. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ Les Goates. "Utes Fumble Way Through to Skyline Grid Championship". Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1947". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1948 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "USC Trojans Football History" (PDF). University of Southern California. p. 17. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1948". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1949 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "Washington Huskies Football History" (PDF). University of Washington Athletics. p. 28. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Coaching Records Game by Game Ike J. Armstrong 1949". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "1950 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.