Dartmouth vs. Cornell, November 16, 1940
Every so often (in 2019, 1974, 1968, 1963, 1957, and 1946) the annual gridiron match-up between Dartmouth and Cornell lands on the 16th of November. When this serendipity comes to pass, as it will this coming Saturday, we are reminded of the infamous November 16, 1940 ‘Fifth Down’ game in which Dartmouth and Cornell landed themselves an oddball footnote in football history. As we wish the Dartmouth football team good luck this weekend in Ithaca, let’s reflect back on the memorable game, and its intersection of sportsmanship, technology, and triumph.
Here’s a recollection from the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine from 1965 on the occasion of the game’s 25th anniversary
“Coach Carl Snavely’s Cornell team which came to Hanover that November day 25 years ago were unbeaten and untied in 18 games, were ranked first nationally, and had not been scored upon by an Ivy team. Against this powerhouse Coach Blaik sent a team with a mediocre record of three wins and four defeats, yet it was a Dartmouth squad that found itself in this game."
Image Source: Rauner Library
Tensions were mounting in Hanover according to front-page headlines from The Dartmouth in the days leading up to the matchup: “Practices this week are strictly closed” stated an article published on the 13th. On game day The Dartmouth reported Cornell coach Snavely’s prescient comment that “Rain would hamper Cornell more than Dartmouth”
Back to Dartmouth Alumni Magazine’s 1965 recollection:
"Dartmouth completely checked Cornell’s offense in the scoreless first half, the Big Green line playing with almost superhuman effort. In the second half Dartmouth’s offense started to roll and drove to the Cornell 17-yard line before the Big Red could rally their defenses. In a fourth-down situation Bob Frieger booted a 27-yard field goal to give [Dartmouth] a 3-0 lead. Finally, with minutes left in the contest and with Dartmouth fans screaming themselves hoarse, the Cornell team began to move. In six plays (including one penalty for pass interference) the Cornell team advanced to Dartmouth’s six-yard line. Three plays were run into Dartmouth’s line and with fourth down coming up the ball rested on [Dartmouth]’s one-foot line. Then Cornell’s Captain Matuszak called for a time out (to stop the clock at six seconds). But Cornell had used all its times out and were penalized five yards. When a fourth-down pass into the end zone was knocked aside, Dartmouth rooters set up a mighty cheer. Three seconds were still left and suddenly Referee “Red” Friesell was awarding Cornell the ball again (over the protestations of Captain Lou Young and the linesman Joe McKenney). Bedlam ensued on the field and in the stands but the Cornell team lined up quickly and this time an end-zone pass from Scholl to Bill Murphy was good.
After the game films had clearly showed the fifth down, Referee Friesell admitted his error and 48 hours later (4 P.M. Monday, November 18) after an exchange of telegrams between coaches, captains, and athletic directors, Cornell conceded the game to Dartmouth 3-0. This triggered one of the biggest celebrations recorded on campus.”
Image Source: Rauner Library
This fifth down rarity is not unique to Dartmouth v Cornell in 1940 (SEE: Missouri v. Colorado, 1990), but as the announcer notes in a vintage newsreel we found in the Dartmouth Film Archive, it is the first instance of a call being reversed after a video review by the referees, and possibly the only game where the result was changed in the days after the game was completed. It is remembered as an act of remarkable sportsmanship on Cornell’s part, for their offer to concede the game, breaking their undefeated streak (although legend infers they grumbled). It is also remembered as a moment of athletic triumph for Dartmouth: the team dug in that day, demonstrating heroic to effectively keep Cornell’s powerhouse offense at bay right up to the fifth down…
To the credit of the referee who made the mistake, William “Red” Frissell, he admitted his regret about the call almost immediately after the game. His review of the film, alongside other officials, confirmed the mistake and reversed the outcome of the game. Today, the Smithsonian has one of the whistles Frissell was using in the 1940s in its artifact collection.
