# 1941 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

The 1941 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the season of college football played by the six member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 1941 college football season.
The Alma Scots, led by head coach Gordon MacDonald, won the MIAC championship with a 6–0–1 record (4–0–1 against conference opponents) and outscored opponents by a total 131 to 19.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Alma | Gordon MacDonald | 6–0–1 | 4–0–1 | 131 | 19 |
| 2 | Albion | Del Anderson | 3–4–1 | 3–0–1 | 52 | 118 |
| 3 | Hope | Bud Hinga | 3–2–3 | 2–1–2 | 35 | 36 |
| 4 | Kalamazoo | Chester S. Barnard | 5–2–1 | 2–2–1 | 68 | 38 |
| 5 | Hillsdale | Dwight Harwood | 3–4–1 | 1–3–1 | 61 | 89 |
| 6 | Adrian | Harve A. Oliphant | 2–6 | 0–5 | 19 | 141 |

## Teams
### Alma

The 1941 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College of Alma, Michigan. In their sixth year under head coach Gordon MacDonald, the Scots compiled a 6–0–1 record (4–0–1 against MIAA opponents), won the MIAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 131 to 19.
Four Alma players were named to the All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football team; quarterback Robert Kirby; end Keith Carey; tackle Edward Baklarz; and guard James Hicks.
Alma was ranked at No. 258 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 27 | at Grand Rapids* | Grand Rapids, MI | W 12–0 |
| October 3 | Hope | Alma, MI | T 7–7 |
| October 10 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | W 6–0 |
| October 18 | Adrian | Alma, MI | W 46–6 |
| October 25 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | W 13–0 |
| October 31 | vs. Lawrence Tech* | Bay City, MI | W 26–6 |
| November 8 | Albion | Alma, MI | W 21–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Albion

The 1941 Albion Britons football team represented Albion College of Albion, Michigan. In their 19th year under head coach Dale R. Sprankle, the Britons compiled a 3–4–1 record (3–0–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in second place in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 118 to 52. The game between Albion and Hillsdale marked the 50th anniversary of the first football game between the schools, which was also the first football game in the MIAA.
Albion tackle Robert Fles was selected as a first-team player on the 1941 All-Star M.I.A.A. football team.
Albion was ranked at No. 457 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 27 | at Ohio Wesleyan* | Delaware, OH | L 0–33 |
| October 4 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 12–0 |
| October 10 | Ohio Northern* | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 6–25 |
| October 18 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | T 7–7 |
| October 25 | Lake Forest* | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 7–26 |
| November 1 | Hope | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 7–0 |
| November 8 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 0–21 |
| November 15 | Kalamazoo | Albion, MI | W 13–6 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming |||||

### Hope

The 1941 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College of Hope, Michigan. In their 11th year under head coach Bud Hinga, the Dutchmen compiled a 3–2–3 record (2–1–2 against MIAA opponents), finished in third place in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 36 to 35.
Three Hope players were selected as first-team players on the 1941 All-Star M.I.A.A. football team: halfback Don Defouw; center William Tappen; and tackle Martin Bekken.
Hope was ranked at No. 501 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 19 | Grand Rapids* | | W 10–0 |
| September 26 | Michigan State Normal* | Holland, MI | T 0–0 |
| October 3 | at Alma | Alma, MI | T 7–7 |
| October 17 | Grand Rapids* | Holland, MI | L 0–16 |
| October 24 | Hillsdale | Holland, MI | W 6–0 |
| November 1 | at Albion | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | L 0–7 |
| November 8 | Kalamazoo* | Holland, MI | T 6–6 |
| November 14 | Adrian | Holland, MI | W 6–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Kalamazoo

The 1941 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In their 17th and final year under head coach Chester S. Barnard, the Hornets compiled a 5–2–1 record (2–2–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in fourth place in the MIAA, and outscored opponents by a total of 68 to 38.
Kalamazoo was ranked at No. 467 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 26 | Grand Rapids* | | W 15–0 |
| October 4 | Hillsdale | Kalamazoo, MI | W 8–0 |
| October 11 | Michigan State Normal* | Kalamazoo, MI | W 7–0 |
| October 18 | at Western Ontario* | London, ON | W 7–6 |
| October 25 | Alma | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–13 |
| November 1 | Adrian | Kalamazoo, MI | W 19–0 |
| November 8 | at Hope | Holland, MI | T 6–6 |
| November 15 | at Albion | Albion, MI | L 6–13 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Hillsdale

The 1941 Hillsdale Dales football team was an American football team that represented Hillsdale College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1941 college football season. In their 15th year under head coach Dwight Harwood, the Dales compiled a 3–4–1 record (1–3–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in fifth place out of six teams in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 89 to 51.
Brothers Bob and Burr Manby starred at the guard and fullback positions. The brothers were both named to the 1941 all-conference football team.
Paul Wright was the team captain.
Hillsdale was ranked at No. 479 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 19 | Dayton* | Dayton StadiumDayton, OH | L 0–62 |
| October 4 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–8 |
| October 10 | Alma | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 18 | Albion | Hillsdale, MI | T 7–7 |
| October 24 | at Hope | Holland, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 31 | Grand Rapids* | Hillsdale, MI | W 20–0 |
| November 8 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 14–0 |
| November 15 | at Lawrence Tech* | Ives FieldDetroit, MI | W 20–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Adrian

The 1941 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College of Adrian, Michigan. In their fourth and final year under head coach Harve A. Oliphant, the Bulldogs compiled a 2–6 record (0–5 against MIAA opponents), finished in last place out of six teams in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 141 to 19.
Adrian was ranked at No. 620 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 4 | Albion | Adrian, MI | L 0–12 |
| October 11 | Ferris Institute* | Adrian, MI | W 7–6 |
| October 18 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 6–46 |
| October 24 | at Findlay* | Findlay, OH | L 6–38 |
| November 1 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–19 |
| November 8 | Hillsdale | Adrian, MI | L 0–14 |
| November 15 | at Hope | Holland, MI | L 0–6 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

## All-conference team

The following players were selected as first-team players on the All-MIAA football team:
* Quarterback - Bob Kirby, Alma
* Fullback - Burr Manby, Hillsdale
* Halfbacks - William Johnston, Hillsdale; Don Defouw, Hope; Jack Bockleman, Kalamazoo
* Ends - Keith Carey, Alma; Gerald Gillman, Kalamazoo
* Tackles - Edward Baklarz, Alma; Martin Bekken, Hope; J. Clay, Kalamazoo; Robert Fles, Albion
* Guards - James Hicks, Alma; Robert Manby, Hillsdale
* Center - William Tappen, Hope