| Year: | 1938 |
| Team: | Saint Mary's Gaels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | Slip Madigan |
| Hc Year: | 18th |
| Stadium: | Kezar Stadium |
| Bowl: | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Bowl Result: | W 20–13 vs. Texas Tech |
The 1938 Saint Mary's Gaels football team was an American football team that represented Saint Mary's College of California during the 1938 college football season. In their 18th season under head coach Slip Madigan, the Gaels compiled a record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 106 to 41. The season ended in January with a victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl,[1] [2] led by sophomore back Mike Klotovich.[3]
The Gaels were unranked in the AP Poll for the entire season; the final poll was released in early December. They did not win a game on Saturday all season; all of the regular season wins were played on Sunday and the two losses were road games.
On September 24, the Gaels opened their 1938 season with a close 12–7 loss to California before a crowd of 50,000 in Berkeley. The preceding year's Cal team were undefeated and ended second-ranked in the final AP poll. The Gaels dominated the game for three quarters and led at the start of the fourth quarter.[4]
On Sunday, October 2, the Gaels defeated Gonzaga at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. St. Mary's touchdowns were scored by Mike Klotovich, Ed Heffernan, and Mike Pierrie.[5]
On Sunday, October 9, the Gaels defeated the Loyola Lions at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Fullback Herb Smith scored the only touchdown.[6]
On Sunday, October 16, the Gaels defeated Portland at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.[7]
On Sunday, October 23, the Gaels defeated the San Francisco Dons before 20,000 in the rain at Kezar. San Francisco took a lead into the fourth quarter, but the Gaels' scored two touchdowns, first on a pass from Klotovich to Aronson and later on a 53-yard run by Klotovich.[8]
The Gaels' November 5 game against tenth-ranked Fordham drew 44,274 to the Polo Grounds in New York City. A Fordham field goal in the second quarter counted for the game's only points, as Fordham defeated St. Mary's
Eight days after losing a close game to Fordham, the Gaels upset previously undefeated Santa Clara before 60,000 at Kezar in San Francisco. It ended Santa Clara's winning streak, dating back to the 1936 season. Fullback Herb Smith scored the Gaels' touchdown.[9]
See main article: 1939 Cotton Bowl Classic. After the regular season, the Gaels were invited to play unbeaten and #11-ranked Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on January 2, 1939. The Gaels took a lead into the fourth quarter and held on to defeat the Red Raiders before 40,000. St. Mary's touchdowns were scored by Ed Heffernan and Michael Klotovich and by Whitey Smith on an interception return for a touchdown.[10]