Pineapple Bowl

1939

UCLA 32

Hawaii 7

UCLA Fight Song

On the morning of January 1, 1939, the Cotton and Sun Bowl staffs received a wireless message from the newest member of the bowl fraternity, the Pineapple Bowl. The message was a greeting from Hawaii Governor, Joseph Poindexter to Texas Governor, James Allred. UCLA and Hawaii were readying to square off in the Pineapple Bowl. The four year old game had been known as the Poi Classic in the first three years. UCLA had already posted a win Christmas week in Hawaii, defeating the Honolulu Town Team, 46-0 earlier that week.

On the year, UCLA had finished in fourth place in the Pacific Coast Conference with a record of 5-4-1. They lost to powerful, Rose Bowl bound USC on Thanksgiving Day and accepted the Pineapple bid. The Bruins were led by back, Kenny Washington. UCLA Coach Bill Spaulding announced he would resign to become athletic director following the 1938 season and the Bruins were determined to give him an appropriate sendoff in the Pineapple Bowl.

Hawaii finished 3-6 in 1939 under legendary Coach Otto “Proc” Klum, who led the program from 1921 through 1939. Hawaii finished 4-4 in 1938, with three early wins against Island All-Star, town and military teams. The heart of the schedule was against Mainland colleges, which Hawaii lost with the exception of an early December home win against San Jose State.

The weather was warm and 18,000 shirt-sleeved fans turned out on New Year’s Day. The Bruins scored once each in the first second and third periods and once in the fourth to claim a 32-7 victory. UCLA fullback, John Baida scored on a run from one yard out in the first period following a long drive. With two minutes to go in the second period, UCLA drove the length of the field and Charles Fenenbock ran it in from 19 yards. On the day, Baida scored twice, Fennenbock twice and Lester Sutherland once. John Frawley had two PAT’s. Hawaii’s only score came in the fourth quarter.

Attendance: 18,000

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