1938 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1938 Orange Bowl was a college football
bowl game
between the Auburn Tigers
and Michigan State Spartans
at the Miami Orange Bowl
in Miami, Florida
on January 1, 1938. It was the fourth Orange Bowl
, and the first held in the stadium. The Tigers won 6–0, scoring the game's only points in the second quarter on a short touchdown
run by Ralph O'Gwynne. The game holds the Orange Bowl record for the fewest points scored by both teams.
At a meeting of college football coaches, 10 were asked by the Associated Press
to pick winners of bowl games. Of the eight coaches who responded, all but one selected Auburn to win the Orange Bowl.
, began the 1937 college football season
with a 34–6 home victory over Wayne State
. The Spartans then traveled to Ann Arbor
and defeated Michigan
by a score of 19–14. One week later, the Spartans lost 3–0 to Manhattan
in a game played in New York City. Michigan State then went on a six-game winning streak to end the regular season, which included victories against Missouri
, Kansas
, and Temple
. Four of the Spartans' eight wins during the season were by a margin of at least 14 points. The Spartans were invited to the Orange Bowl, and agreed to participate on November 30.
, started the season by defeating Birmingham-Southern
45–0. That game was followed by consecutive scoreless ties against Tulane
and Villanova
. The Tigers then won in Birmingham against Mississippi State
, 33–7, and at Georgia Tech
, 21–0, to improve to 3–0–2 on the season. On October 30, the Tigers lost for the first time in 1937, falling 13–7 to Rice
. In their remaining four games, Auburn defeated Tennessee
20–7, lost at LSU
9–7, tied 0–0 with Georgia
, and won 14–0 over Florida
. Auburn accepted its invitation six days after Michigan State, having gained permission from the rest of its athletic conference, the Southeastern Conference
(SEC). The Tigers needed a change in SEC rules to participate in the Orange Bowl because the conference had instituted a ban on postseason participation in games other than the Rose Bowl
or Sugar Bowl
earlier in 1937. On December 10, the SEC dropped its ban, provided that a majority of the conference's membership voted in favor of a team's bowl appearance.
In the first quarter, Auburn threatened twice to score the game's first points, but could not convert on either occasion. First, the Tigers used running plays by halfbacks
Spec Kelly and Jimmy Fenton to go into Michigan State's half of the field, ultimately reaching the Spartans' 12-yard-line; the drive included a 25-yard rush by Fenton. Following three runs, the Tigers faced a fourth down play, and elected to go for a first down or touchdown. Fenton attempeted a pass, but it was incomplete, and Auburn lost possession to Michigan State. The Spartans punted
back to the Tigers, and John Pingel
's kick went out of bounds at Auburn's 37-yard-line. Kelly picked up one first down with a 17-yard rush, and a second on a pass to Dutch Heath. Auburn, however, turned the ball over
on a Tom McShannock interception
of a Kelly pass attempt. McShannock returned the interception 29 yards downfield, but the Spartans were unable to gain a first down during the subsequent drive. Late in the quarter, Kelly gained 26 yards on a running play, giving the Tigers a field position advantage.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Meagher pulled Auburn's starters from the game, and inserted the team's backups. The Spartans took out their defensive starters as well. After Michigan State regained possession of the ball, the Spartans were forced to punt again. George Kenmore, who had been put into the game at quarterback
, fielded the punt from Gene Ciolek and returned it to the Spartans' 36-yard-line. The Tigers ran a running play for Pelham Sitz; accounts of the game differ on how much yardage he gained, varying from five to nine yards. A penalty
was called on Auburn for offside, followed by a Kenmore pass attempt, which he completed to Ralph O'Gwynne. The wide receiver
caught the ball at the Spartans' 15, and was tackled inside the 10; the tackle location ranges in published reports from the two-to-five yard lines. Either two or three rushing attempts followed, which ended up short of the end zone. The following play was a run by O'Gwynne, who crossed the goal line for a touchdown while being tackled by Ed Pearce. The Tigers took a 6–0 lead on the play, and the score remained unchanged when placekicker
Garth Thorpe failed to convert an extra point attempt
. There was no further scoring in the second quarter, and Auburn held its lead entering halftime.
During the third quarter, Pearce gained 29 yards on a rush, giving the Spartans their first first down of the game. The drive stalled with Michigan State unable to reach Auburn's half of the field. The Spartans prevented the Tigers' offense from scoring, and writer H. J. Aronstam commented that "The Spartans played their best in the third period." Near the end of the quarter, Michigan State had possession and Pingel attempted a pass to Ernie Bremer. Heath, however, intercepted the pass off a deflection. The Tigers quickly advanced down the field, and a 17-yard pass completion from Kenmore to Heath placed the ball in the Spartans' red zone. No points were scored on the drive, as a fourth-down pass into the end zone was unsuccessful.
Auburn entered the fourth quarter still leading 6–0. The team attempted to increase its lead with a 50-yard drive, which advanced the ball to the Spartans' 26-yard-line. Again, Michigan State's defense held, and the Tigers were unable to pad the lead. Auburn again threatened to score later in the quarter, moving the ball inside the Spartans' 30-yard-line, but was turned away once more without scoring. Meanwhile, the Spartans gained their second first down of the contest in the middle of the quarter when Pingel completed a 23-yard pass. Michigan State was later forced to punt once more without crossing the 50-yard-line. Aronstam wrote that "The Spartans opened a shoot-the-works offensive in the final quarter, but could not penetrate Auburn's stout line with any degree of consistency." The game ended without further scoring, resulting in a 6–0 victory for the Tigers.
halfback for his performance during 1937
, carried the ball seven times for 12 yards. In the passing game, the Tigers had the advantage in yards gained, 81–27. Both teams were unsuccessful on more than half their pass attempts. however, and there were nearly as many interceptions (five) as passes completed (six). The game's total of six points remains the fewest scored by both teams in an Orange Bowl. Auburn holds the Orange Bowl record for the fewest points scored by a winning team, and the Spartans were one of seven teams to be shut out
in an Orange Bowl.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
between the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
and Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
at the Miami Orange Bowl
Miami Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
on January 1, 1938. It was the fourth Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, and the first held in the stadium. The Tigers won 6–0, scoring the game's only points in the second quarter on a short touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run by Ralph O'Gwynne. The game holds the Orange Bowl record for the fewest points scored by both teams.
Pre-game buildup
The 1937 Orange Bowl was the fourth game in the annual series. It was the first to be played in the Miami Orange Bowl stadium, which had been built at a cost of $360,000 after the first three games were held in Miami Stadium. A total of 18,972 people attended the contest, more than doubling the event's highest attendance to that point.At a meeting of college football coaches, 10 were asked by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
to pick winners of bowl games. Of the eight coaches who responded, all but one selected Auburn to win the Orange Bowl.
Michigan State
Michigan State, coached by Charlie BachmanCharlie Bachman
Charles William "Charlie" Bachman, Jr. was an American college football player and head coach. Bachman was an Illinois native and an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he played college football...
, began the 1937 college football season
1937 college football season
The 1937 college football season ended with the Panthers of the University of Pittsburgh being named the nation’s #1 team by 30 of the 33 electors in the Associated Press writers' poll...
with a 34–6 home victory over Wayne State
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
. The Spartans then traveled to Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
and defeated Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
by a score of 19–14. One week later, the Spartans lost 3–0 to Manhattan
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
in a game played in New York City. Michigan State then went on a six-game winning streak to end the regular season, which included victories against Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
, Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
, and Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
. Four of the Spartans' eight wins during the season were by a margin of at least 14 points. The Spartans were invited to the Orange Bowl, and agreed to participate on November 30.
Auburn
Auburn, coached by Jack MeagherJack Meagher
-External links:...
, started the season by defeating Birmingham-Southern
Birmingham-Southern Panthers football
The Birmingham–Southern Panthers football team represents Birmingham–Southern College in the NCAA Division III, competing as part of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. BSC plays its home games at the 1,600 seat Panther Stadium, which is located on-campus in Birmingham, Alabama and...
45–0. That game was followed by consecutive scoreless ties against Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
and Villanova
Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats is the name of the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East for every sport except football, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association .-Men's basketball:The Villanova Wildcats compete in the Big EAST and are currently coached by Jay...
. The Tigers then won in Birmingham against Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
, 33–7, and at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, 21–0, to improve to 3–0–2 on the season. On October 30, the Tigers lost for the first time in 1937, falling 13–7 to Rice
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
. In their remaining four games, Auburn defeated Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
20–7, lost at LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
9–7, tied 0–0 with Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
, and won 14–0 over Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
. Auburn accepted its invitation six days after Michigan State, having gained permission from the rest of its athletic conference, the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC). The Tigers needed a change in SEC rules to participate in the Orange Bowl because the conference had instituted a ban on postseason participation in games other than the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
or Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
earlier in 1937. On December 10, the SEC dropped its ban, provided that a majority of the conference's membership voted in favor of a team's bowl appearance.
Game summary
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Spec Kelly and Jimmy Fenton to go into Michigan State's half of the field, ultimately reaching the Spartans' 12-yard-line; the drive included a 25-yard rush by Fenton. Following three runs, the Tigers faced a fourth down play, and elected to go for a first down or touchdown. Fenton attempeted a pass, but it was incomplete, and Auburn lost possession to Michigan State. The Spartans punted
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
back to the Tigers, and John Pingel
John Pingel
John Spenser Pingel was an American football halfback. He played for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected as a first-team All-American in both 1937 and 1938. He holds the all-time NCAA record for most punting yards in a season with 4,138 yards in 1938...
's kick went out of bounds at Auburn's 37-yard-line. Kelly picked up one first down with a 17-yard rush, and a second on a pass to Dutch Heath. Auburn, however, turned the ball over
Turnover (football)
In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball loses possession of the ball, which is then gained by the other team. The two events that are officially classified as "turnovers" are fumbles or interceptions In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball...
on a Tom McShannock interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
of a Kelly pass attempt. McShannock returned the interception 29 yards downfield, but the Spartans were unable to gain a first down during the subsequent drive. Late in the quarter, Kelly gained 26 yards on a running play, giving the Tigers a field position advantage.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Meagher pulled Auburn's starters from the game, and inserted the team's backups. The Spartans took out their defensive starters as well. After Michigan State regained possession of the ball, the Spartans were forced to punt again. George Kenmore, who had been put into the game at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, fielded the punt from Gene Ciolek and returned it to the Spartans' 36-yard-line. The Tigers ran a running play for Pelham Sitz; accounts of the game differ on how much yardage he gained, varying from five to nine yards. A penalty
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
was called on Auburn for offside, followed by a Kenmore pass attempt, which he completed to Ralph O'Gwynne. The wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
caught the ball at the Spartans' 15, and was tackled inside the 10; the tackle location ranges in published reports from the two-to-five yard lines. Either two or three rushing attempts followed, which ended up short of the end zone. The following play was a run by O'Gwynne, who crossed the goal line for a touchdown while being tackled by Ed Pearce. The Tigers took a 6–0 lead on the play, and the score remained unchanged when placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Garth Thorpe failed to convert an extra point attempt
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
. There was no further scoring in the second quarter, and Auburn held its lead entering halftime.
During the third quarter, Pearce gained 29 yards on a rush, giving the Spartans their first first down of the game. The drive stalled with Michigan State unable to reach Auburn's half of the field. The Spartans prevented the Tigers' offense from scoring, and writer H. J. Aronstam commented that "The Spartans played their best in the third period." Near the end of the quarter, Michigan State had possession and Pingel attempted a pass to Ernie Bremer. Heath, however, intercepted the pass off a deflection. The Tigers quickly advanced down the field, and a 17-yard pass completion from Kenmore to Heath placed the ball in the Spartans' red zone. No points were scored on the drive, as a fourth-down pass into the end zone was unsuccessful.
Auburn entered the fourth quarter still leading 6–0. The team attempted to increase its lead with a 50-yard drive, which advanced the ball to the Spartans' 26-yard-line. Again, Michigan State's defense held, and the Tigers were unable to pad the lead. Auburn again threatened to score later in the quarter, moving the ball inside the Spartans' 30-yard-line, but was turned away once more without scoring. Meanwhile, the Spartans gained their second first down of the contest in the middle of the quarter when Pingel completed a 23-yard pass. Michigan State was later forced to punt once more without crossing the 50-yard-line. Aronstam wrote that "The Spartans opened a shoot-the-works offensive in the final quarter, but could not penetrate Auburn's stout line with any degree of consistency." The game ended without further scoring, resulting in a 6–0 victory for the Tigers.
Statistical summary
Auburn gained 13 first downs during the game, 11 more than Michigan State, and had a large advantage in total offense, 278 yards to 67. The Tigers ran for 197 yards on the day; Fenton led the team with 76 yards rushing, and Kelly, Heath, and Sitz added 61, 37, and 31 yards respectively. O'Gwynne, who scored the game's only points with his second-quarter touchdown, had 13 rushing yards. For the Spartans, Pearce gained 29 of the team's 40 rushing yards. Pingel, who was named an All-AmericaCollege Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
halfback for his performance during 1937
1937 College Football All-America Team
The 1937 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1937 college football season...
, carried the ball seven times for 12 yards. In the passing game, the Tigers had the advantage in yards gained, 81–27. Both teams were unsuccessful on more than half their pass attempts. however, and there were nearly as many interceptions (five) as passes completed (six). The game's total of six points remains the fewest scored by both teams in an Orange Bowl. Auburn holds the Orange Bowl record for the fewest points scored by a winning team, and the Spartans were one of seven teams to be shut out
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in an Orange Bowl.