• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

University of Portland Museum

  • Home
  • About
  • This Day
    • The Bells Are Ringing
    • Library Dedication, 1958
    • Gute Reisen
    • Veteran’s Day
    • Fire on Campus
    • Engineering Building
    • Outbreak of World War I
  • Featured
    • Campus Archaeology: On the Shoulders of Giants
    • The Walls Came Tumbling Down
    • Broken Wall Memorial is Broken
    • 2nd Century: Second Wave
    • Retiring Faculty
      • 2019 Retiring Faculty
      • 2018 Retiring Faculty
      • 2017 Retiring Faculty
      • 2016 Retiring Faculty
      • 2015 Retiring Faculty
      • 2014 Retiring Faculty
    • TGIF all-class
    • No frogs were hurt in this demonstration
    • Orientation at the UP Campus
    • Upsilon Omega Pi Hearse
  • In the Beginning
    • Rev. John A. Zahm, CSC: Name-dropper, Promise Keeper
    • Cornerstone West Hall
    • Founder’s Day
    • Another Day
    • Day One
  • UP Trivia
    • NCAA or NAIA, First Nat’l Title Revisited
    • Medal of the Year
    • Hanging Up the Pads
    • Football
    • Cannons on the Bluff
    • Pilots on the Bluff
    • Columbia Prep, 1901-1955
    • Hours and Bases
    • domainname.com
    • Wally Pilot
    • 50 Years: A-Meh-zing Mehling
    • Broken Wall Memorial
  • Exhibits
    • Museum Photo Gallery
    • Football on the Bluff: 1902-1950
    • Mago Hunt Center 40th Anniversary
    • Salzburg Study Abroad
    • Museum Display in Buckley Center
  • People
    • Memorials
      • Rev. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C., 1938-2019
      • Dr. Arthur Schulte, Jr., 1928-2018
      • Dr. Art Schulte: A Life on the Bluff
      • Brian Doyle, 1956–2017
      • Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C.,1935–2017
      • Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., 1946–2016
      • Dr. James Covert, 1932-2016
      • Dr. Manuel Macias, 1929-2016
      • Dr. Kate Regan, 1959-2014
      • Martha Wachsmuth: 1921-2015
      • Rev. Tom Oddo, 1944-1989
      • Dr. David Alexander, 1957-2013
    • A Given Life
      • The Pioneer Four
      • Flowering in the Rose City
      • Rev. Richard Berg, C.S.C.
      • Rev. John Molter, C.S.C.
      • Sisters of Mary of the Presentation
      • Holy Cross Leadership
      • Rev. John Delaunay, C.S.C.
      • Holy Cross at UP
      • Sr. Angela Hoffman, O.S.B.
      • Rev. Art Schoenfeldt, C.S.C.
      • Rev. George Dum, C.S.C.
      • Rev. Maurice Rigley, C.S.C.
  • Recent Posts
    • National Scar-tissue, November 22, 1963
    • Nurses are Superheroes
    • Lamp of Learning
    • Sangfroid: Poised and Professional, after December 7, 1941
    • Five Months in 1945
    • Women’s First: Engineering
    • Taste of UP for Families
    • Prophecy and Visions
    • The Bells Are Ringing
  • Campaign Trail
    • President Ronald Reagan, 1984
    • Robert F. Kennedy, 1968
    • Nelson Rockefeller, 1964
    • John F. Kennedy, 1960
    • Harold Stassen, 1952

Football on the Bluff: 1902-1950

Although there were some games played in 1902, football on the Bluff really began in 1903 under Coach Albert Cronan.  With such coaches as Frank Lonergan, Gordon Moores, Dom Callicrate, Bill Schmitt, Leo “Tic” Malarkey, Hughie McKenna, Ad Dewey, Edward “Slip” Madigan, Maurice “Clipper” Smith, Vince Harrington, and Gene Murphy, the Purple and White was always in the battle.  There was a championship team, for instance, in 1913, an undefeated season in 1914, and a tie for the title in 1920.  Worthy opponents were picked – usually the heaviest.   There were years of transition, when teams were too light to play a regular college schedule but when high schools refused to play them.  Scores of trophies still testify to the success of these Columbia teams.

Genial “Gene” Murphy coached Columbia Teams from 1927 to 1934 (when they were known as “Cliffdwellers” or “The Irish”) and coached the University of Portland “Pilots” in the 1935 and 1936 seasons.   Robert “Matty” Matthews took over from 1937 to 1942 (and was heard over the air waves on Radio KGW and KEX in “Touchdown Parade” with Father George Dum, C.S.C. and the Gleemen).  Football on the Bluff was suspended during 1943, 1944, and 1945 because of World War II.   Hal Moe took over for the 1946, 1947, and 1948 seasons, and Harry Wright coached the last year for the “Pilots” in 1949.

The University Museum in Shipstad Hall brings these days to life through its historical athletic treasures: Karl McDade’s and Emmett Barrett’s football jerseys; Richard Deck’s football shoes from the 1930s; Ray Utz’s football playbook from the late 1940s; football helmets from the 1940s; game football from the Pilots greatest upset win over nationally ranked St. Mary’s Gaels in 1939; game football from one of the last football games in 1949, and more.

Click on image to enlarge
Football Team, 1937
Program for University of Portland vs University of Puget Sound game, 1938
Last football at University of Portland put to rest, May 1950
Mourning the End of Football at University of Portland, 1950
Columbia University Football Team in Front of Christie Hall, 1921
Football Team Visits 20th Century Fox Studios, 1949
John Freeman, 1948
William Kang, '52, 1948
Dan McCarthy, George Albin, Larry Manion, 1935
Program for University of Portland vs Nevada Football Game, September 25, 1949
Program for Oregon State vs Portland University Football Game, October 5, 1946
Emmett Barrett's Letterman Sweater, 1948
Game football from the Pilots Victory over Nationally Ranked St. Mary's Gaels, October 29, 1939

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to this site via email


Highlights from the Museum

Homecoming game button, 1961

Hours and Location

University of Portland Museum
014 Shipstad Hall

Available only by e-email at:  museum@up.edu

Recent Posts

  • Spirit of Portland U Pennant
  • From the University Bulletin, themes of mission and value
  • Battling Germs
  • On the Bluff: looking out, looking up
  • Tonsillectomy Bag
  • A Given Life: Entwined with Learning
  • TWIRP DANCE (=The Woman is Requested to Pay)
  • A Most Noble Order Indeed

Archives

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2021 · University of Portland