Wayne Tartars football, 1940–1949

The 1940 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1940 college football season. In their ninth year under head coach Joe Gembis, the Tartars compiled a 4–1–3 record and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 79 to 69. Wayne was ranked at No. 225 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. Schedule ==1941==

The 1941 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1941 college football season. The Tartars compiled a 2–6 record and were outscored by opponents, 204 to 24. The Tartars two victories were over Central Michigan (6–0) and Michigan State Normal (12–0). The team's head coach was Joe Gembis in his tenth season. His assistant coaches were Joseph Truskowski and Ox Emerson. After the team lost its first three games without scoring a point, Gembis came under fire for the team's poor performance, despite coaching at a school with approximately 10,000 students. Tom Kennedy played at the tackle position for the 1941 Wayne team. In 1944, he played two games for the Detroit Lions, the first Wayne alumnus to play in the National Football League. Schedule ==1942==

The 1942 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1942 college football season. The team compiled a 1–6–1 record and was outscored by opponents, 144 to 52. It played its home games at the University of Detroit Stadium. Joe Gembis was in his 11th year as head coach. His assistant coaches, Joseph Truskowski and Ox Emerson, were lost to military service for the 1942 season. In the absence of Truskowski and Emerson, two Wayne alumni Laurence "Lefty" Russell and Ralph Betker served as assistant coaches. Before the season began, the team held a 10-day training camp in Charlevoix, Michigan. Frank Chorney and Donald Kennedy were the team captains. Wayne was ranked at No. 306 (out of 590 college and military teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1942. Schedule Roster • Asquini, Valentino • Beardsley, David • Carpenter, Samuel • Chorney, Frank • Cotton, John • Faughn, John • Graham, Jack • Hagen, Reed • Hannan, James • Kanfer, Morton • Kennedy, Donald • Magnatta, Joseph • Malinowski, Eugene • Meyers, Donald • Miller, Paul • Mullen, Donald • Olmstead, Richard • Perry, Raymond • Raskin, Lawrence • Rickert, Louis • Rutherford, Douglas • Sabo, Frank • Tottis, Mitchell • Young, George (Donald) ==1943==

The 1943 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1943 college football season. The team compiled a 0–3 record and was outscored by opponents, 64 to 0. Joe Gembis was in his 12th year as head coach. Frank Bielman, Jr., was the team captain. In late September 1943, a team was formed with 35 players. Coach Gembis arranged for a home and home series with Michigan State Normal and wrote to the commissioner of the Ohio Athletic Conference in search of other opponents. A fourth game was arranged with Otterbein College, but it was cancelled when Otterbein was unable to field a team. At the end of the season, 16 players received varsity letters, and Marshall Chrisjohn was selected as the team's most valuable player. The players receiving varsity letters were: Wallace Bagozzi, Frank Bielman, Francis Blake, Marshall Chrisjohn, Thomas Connor, Fred Cuthrell, Allan Dow, Andrew Edgerton, James Fears, Masis Godoshian, James Hannan, Richard Hartley, Allen Henderson, John Hochstein, Don Olson, and Tony Yangovyian. Schedule ==1944==

The 1944 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1944 college football season. The team compiled a 1–1 record, defeating the team from Otterbein College and losing to Michigan State. Joe Gembis was in his 13th year as head coach. John Rice was the team captain. The team was originally scheduled to play five games, but three of the games were cancelled. Wayne had scheduled a home-and-away series with Michigan State Normal on October 21 and November 11, but Normal's coach cancelled, claiming not to have enough manpower. A third game against Muskingum was also cancelled. Schedule ==1945==

The 1945 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1945 college football season. The team compiled a 2–5–1 record. Joe Gembis was in his 14th and final year as head coach. Nicholas Cherup was the team captain. Cherup was also selected as the most valuable player. Schedule ==1946==

The 1946 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) in the Mid-America Conference (MAC) during the 1946 college football season. Under first-year head coach John P. Hackett, the team compiled a 4–5 record. Schedule ==1947==

The 1947 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1947 college football season. In its second season under head coach John P. Hackett, the team compiled a 5–2 record. The team divided its home games between the University of Detroit Stadium and Keyworth Stadium. John Hazeley led the team with 475 rushing yards and was selected as the team's most valuable player. Allen Griffiths and Stephen Zukowski were the team captains. In the final Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December, Wayne was ranked at No. 122 out of 500 college football teams. Schedule ==1948==

The 1948 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1948 college football season. Under first-year head coach Herbert L. Smith, the team compiled a 4–4 record. Wayne was ranked at No. 128 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948. Schedule ==1949==

The 1949 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1949 college football season. Under first-year head coach Louis F. Zarza, the team compiled a 3–5 record. Schedule ==References==