# 1939 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

The 1939 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 1939 college football season.
The Albion Britons, led by head coach Dale R. Sprankle, won the MIAA championship with a 7–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents). The Hillsdale Dales, led by head coach Dwight Harwood, finished in second place with a 6–1 record. They dominated the 1939 All-MIAA football team, taking five of eleven first-team spots.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Albion | Dale R. Sprankle | 7–1 | 6–0 | 170 | 23 |
| 2 | Hillsdale | Dwight Harwood | 6–1 | 5–1 | 122 | 18 |
| 3 | Hope | Bud Hinga | 4–2–2 | 3–2–1 | 110 | 43 |
| 4 | Kalamazoo | Chester S. Barnard | 3–5 | 3–3 | | |
| 5 | Alma | Gordon MacDonald | 2–5–1 | 2–3–1 | | |
| 6 | Adrian | Harve A. Oliphant | 2–6 | 1–5 | | |
| 7 | Olivet | William Hemingway | 1–7 | 0–6 | | |

## Teams
### Albion

The 1939 Albion Britons football team represented Albion College of Albion, Michigan. In their 17th year under head coach Dale R. Sprankle, the Britons compiled a 7–1 record (6–0 against MIAA opponents), shut out five of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 170 to 23. They also won the MIAA championship, the school's first football championship since 1928. After losing the opening game of the 1939 season, the Britons won 14 consecutive games during the 1939 and 1940 seasons.
Guard Walter Ptak was the only Albion player to receive first-team honors on the 1939 All-MIAA football team. Back Elwood Linlow and center Fred Cook received second-team honors.
Albion was ranked at No. 363 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 22 | at Mount Union* | Alliance, OH | L 0–13 |
| September 29 | at Alma | Alma, MI | W 6–0 |
| October 6 | Kalamazoo | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 7–0 |
| October 14 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 51–0 |
| October 20 | Defiance* | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 48–0 |
| October 28 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | W 6–3 |
| November 4 | Olivet | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 39–0 |
| November 11 | Hope | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 13–7 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming |||||

### Hillsdale

The 1939 Hillsdale Dales football team was an American football team that represented Hillsdale College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1939 college football season. In their 13th year under head coach Dwight Harwood, the Dales compiled a 6–1 record (5–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in second place out of seven teams in the MIAA, shut out four of seven opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 122 to 18.
Hillsdale players won five of eleven first-team spots on the 1939 All-MIAA football team. The first-team honorees were: backs Bruce Colburn and Gordon Platt; ends Roland Larson and Jack Nordling; and tackle Max Schnitzler. A third Hillsdale back, Archie Karowski, was named to the second team.
Hillsdale was ranked at No. 359 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 30 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 39–0 |
| October 7 | Grand Rapids* | Hillsdale, MI | W 8–6 |
| October 14 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | W 6–0 |
| October 21 | Alma | Hillsdale, MI | W 6–0 |
| October 28 | Albion | Hillsdale, MI | L 3–6 |
| November 4 | at Hope | Holland, MI | W 10–6 |
| November 11 | Olivet | Hillsdale, MI | W 50–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Hope

The 1939 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College of Hope, Michigan. In their ninth year under head coach Bud Hinga, the Dutchmen compiled a 4–2–2 record (3–2–1 against MIAA opponents) and finished in third place in the MIAA.
Center Robert Powers was named as a first-team player on the 1939 All-MIAA football team. Three Hope players were named to the second team: back Lee Brannock; guard Robert Hudson; and end Kenneth Honholt.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 22 | Ferris Institute* | Holland, MI | W 18–6 |
| September 29 | Grand Rapids* | Holland, MI | T 0–0 |
| October 6 | Adrian | Holland, MI | W 31–0 |
| October 13 | at Alma | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | T 14–14 |
| October 20 | Kalamazoo | Holland, MI | W 7–0 |
| October 28 | at Olivet | Olivet, MI | W 27–0 |
| November 4 | Hillsdale | Holland, MI | L 6–10 |
| November 11 | at Albion | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 7–13 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Kalamazoo

The 1939 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In their 15th year under head coach Chester S. Barnard, the Hornets compiled a 3–5 record (3–3 against MIAA opponents) and finished in fourth place in the MIAA.
Two Kalamazoo players were selected as first-team players on the 1939 All-MIAA football team: back Dan Wood and tackle Paul Van Keuren. Two others were named to the second team: end Dick Lemer and tackle Ernest Wood.
Kalamazoo was ranked at No. 467 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 23 | at Lake Forest* | Farwell FieldLake Forest, IL | L 0–7 |
| September 30 | at Olivet | Olivet, MI | W 21–6 |
| October 6 | at Albion | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 0–7 |
| October 14 | Hillsdale | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 20 | at Hope | Holland, MI | L 0–7 |
| October 27 | at Michigan State Normal* | Briggs FieldYpsilanti, MI | L 6–19 |
| November 3 | Alma | Kalamazoo, MI | W 7–6 |
| November 10 | Adrian | Kalamazoo, MI | W 47–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Alma

The 1939 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College of Alma, Michigan. In their fourth year under head coach Gordon MacDonald, the Scots compiled a 2–5–1 record (2–3–1 against MIAA opponents) and finished in fifth place out of seven teams in the MIAA.
Back D. Smith and guard C. Barnett were selected as first-team players on the 1939 All-MIAA football team. Tackle E. Ziem and guard C. Hogerland were named to the second team.
Alma was ranked at No. 459 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 23 | at Ohio Wesleyan | Delaware, OH | L 0–27 |
| September 29 | Albion | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 7 | at Olivet | Olivet, MI | W 37–7 |
| October 13 | Hope | Bahlke FieldAlma, MI | T 14–14 |
| October 21 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 27 | Adrian | Alma, MI | W 31–0 |
| November 3 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 6–7 |
| November 10 | at Michigan State Normal | Briggs FieldYpsilanti, MI | L 6–16 |

### Adrian

The 1939 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College of Adrian, Michigan. In their second year under head coach Harve A. Oliphant, the Bulldogs compiled a 2–6 record (1–5 against MIAA opponents) and finished in sixth place out of seven teams in the MIAA.
Adrian was ranked at No. 609 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 22 | at Assumption (ON)* | Windsor, ON | L 0–18 |
| September 30 | Hillsdale | Adrian, MI | L 0–39 |
| October 6 | at Hope | Holland, MI | L 0–31 |
| October 14 | Albion | Adrian, MI | L 0–51 |
| October 21 | Olivet | Adrian, MI | W 21–0 |
| October 27 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 0–31 |
| November 4 | St. Mary's (MI)* | Adrian, MI | W 26–0 |
| November 10 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–47 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Olivet

The 1939 Olivet Comets football team represented Olivet College of Olivet, Michigan. In their fourth and final year under head coach William Hemingway, the Comets compiled a 1–7 record (0–6 against MIAA opponents) and finished in last place out of seven teams in the MIAA.
Olivet was ranked at No. 607 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 22 | at Grand Rapids* | Grand Rapids, MI | L 6–7 |
| September 30 | Kalamazoo | Olivet, MI | L 6–21 |
| October 7 | Alma | Olivet, MI | L 6–37 |
| October 14 | vs. St. Mary's (MI)* | Pontiac, MI | W 31–0 |
| October 21 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | L 0–21 |
| October 28 | Hope | Olivet, MI | L 0–27 |
| November 4 | at Albion | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 0–39 |
| November 11 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–50 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

## All-conference team

The following players were selected on the 1939 All-MIAA football team:
First team
* Backs - D. Smith, Alma; Bruce Coburn, Hillsdale; Dan Wood, Kalamazoo; Gordon Platt, Hillsdale
* Ends - Roland Larson, Hillsdale; Jack Nordling, Hillsdale
* Tackles - Max Schnitzler,Hillsdale; Paul Van Keuren, Kalamazoo
* Guards - Walter Ptak, Albion; C. Barnett, Alma
* Center - Robert Powers, Hope
Second team
* Backs - Lee Brannock, Hope; Elwood Linlow, Albion; Marion Diehl, Olivet; Archie Karowski, Hillsdale
* Ends - Dick Lemer, Kalamazoo; Kenneth Honholt, Hope
* Tackles - E. Ziem, Alma; Ernest Wood, Kalamazoo
* Guard - Robert Hudso, Hope; C. Hogerland, Alma
* Center - Fred Cook, Albion