St. Aloysius College opened the 1940-41 school year with a record enrollment of 1,876, 12 more than the previous year. It also boasted the largest senior class in school history.

The administration remained the same.

• Brother Lambert, S.C., served as president.
• Brother Martin, S.C., continued as the Vice-President (principal) and Athletic Director. He was also unanimously reelected vice-president of the New Orleans Prep League even though his school had been penalized by the LHSAA the year before for using an ineligible football player.

The head coach remained the same, but he had a new assistant.

• Harry "Wop" Glover began his second year at the helm of the football program after compiling a 4-4 record in his initial campaign.
• George "Mud" Clay, "star G on Tulane's powerhouse aggregation of the past year," served as assistant. The Meridian MS native "played a fine game in the Sugar Bowl, being the only one who seemed able to stop Kimbrough of Texas A&M." Clay turned down the job of Assistant Coach for the Tulane Freshman Team to work at 1137 Esplanade Avenue while taking classes at the uptown college.
• Brother Ralph, S.C., continued as coach of "the second team" (junior varsity in today's lingo).

Head coach Harry "Wop" Glover (L) and assistant George "Mud" Clay

Prep League news:

• The league welcomed a new member: Francis T. Nicholls, coeducational high school on St. Claude Avenue in the Ninth Ward. The Rebels' head coach "Buck" Seeber welcomed 23 players. One of his assistants was Ray Staub, a 1933 St. Aloysius grad. The school would not be allowed to participate in athletic events on Sundays, the same stance taken by Fortier.
• Holy Name of Mary High School opened in Algiers with 40 freshmen. The school was expected to draw some athletic talent away from Behrman High. However, it would be many years before the school would join the Catholic League and play a large role in Crusader football history in 1956.
• Schools would be charged $175 per season to play their games at City Park Stadium (sometimes referred to as "Municipal Stadium"). However, schools could make that fee back plus $25 by giving radio station WNOE permission to broadcast City Park games.
• Jesuit, with a starting eleven composed entirely of lettermen and averaging 178 pounds - Jesuit's heaviest in his eight years at head coach - was installed by the prognosticators as the favorite to win the prep crown. Gernon Brown was installing some single-wing plays to complement his double wing system.

Young Hap Glaudi reported in the Item that "all attendance records are expected to be shattered before Jesuit and Warren Easton close the annual show in their traditional scrap on December 8th." In addition to Loyola's ending its football program, Glaudi cited another impetus for heightened interest in prep football.

The second and more important reason is the condition of world affairs today. As the flame of hate envelops Europe and the slaughter of innocent peoples and the destruction of cities continues at a mad rate, ... an afternoon, or night, of football should be welcome by Orleanians. For there must be some distraction from the horror of the times and football played the American way presents just such an opportunity.

Glover began practice in late August even before school started. With only four returning lettermen, he needed the extra time.

• The Crusaders boasted two fine backs in elusive Johnny Campora and QB Jimmy Filkins.
• Anchoring the line were the other two lettermen, G Leon Chaplain, second team All-Prep in 1939, and E Sal "Nookie" Tasistro. Wop could also deploy a giant, 230 lb Richard Ghergich, eligible after transferring from St. Stanislaus.
• Glover: "We're too green and inexperienced to expect much this season. We have some big boys in several positions but they have so much to learn."
• The Saints ran the traditional single wing offense so prevalent at all levels of football in 1940. The Chicago Bears pioneered the T formation in the NFL, and former Tulane and Loyola coach Clark Shaughnessy introduced the T at Stanford that year to spark an undefeated season. A decade later, no pro teams and very few college or high school aggregations would still run the single wing.

Next on the card was the annual early season clash with Jesuit (still routinely referred to as "Jesuits" in print).

• The Blue Jays kept the Crusaders from scoring even a single point in the last four games, winning by a combined margin of 71-0.
• The 1940 Jays had slaughtered Behrman 74-0 and also shutout Baton Rouge High 20-0.
• Gernon Brown deployed not one but two of the best backs in the entire South in O. J. Key, who had been ineligible for the entire 1939 season, and Tony DiBartolo.
• Some proclaimed the Blue Jays to be five-TD favorites.
• Still, despite never having beaten or even tied Jesuit in 15 tries, Aloysius had a history of being fired up and playing hard against their Banks Street rivals. The Esplanade Avenue student body won the annual competition to see which side could sell more tickets by 500.
• Glover, who selected captains game-by-game, named Filkins and Campora as leaders for this contest.

Stanford Opotowsky's TP article previewing the Crusaders' next game began like this.

Coach Jack Pizzano of Fortier has been staying awake the past few nights, for every time he closes his eyes he visualizes the forms of John Campora and Ernest Pechon of St. Aloysius stepping through big gaps in the Jesuit line as they did so consistently last Sunday.

Aloysius had extra incentive as it prepared for the Tarpons.

• It was Fortier that protested its 1939 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Crusaders on the grounds that T Bill Briede was ineligible because he was in his eleventh semester of high school.
• The LHSAA agreed with Fortier and vacated SA's victory.

Pizzano's team sported a 1-1 record with a loss to Holy Cross 21-7 followed by a 13-7 victory over Peters.

We pay a tribute to Coach Harry "Wop" Glover and his little band of Crimson-clad Crusaders, the "spunkiest team in the land."

Last year we handed Glover our little wreath, "Prep coach of the year." And we are telling him today he still retains possession of that award, for in our belief his tutoring job with an undermanned and inexperienced squad even surpasses that of last season. We also believe that to be the opinion of all Prep grid fans with a smattering of football knowledge. It is well nigh unbelievable to realize that the Crusader eleven which played so well against Jesuit and came back to outplay a good Fortier team is composed of the same boys who reported to Glover in September and went through the motions against Moss Point four weeks ago.

To give you an idea the starting lineup against Fortier Friday night had, what is termed, raw recruits in eight of the eleven positions. Glover has only five experiended performers among his first thirteen players. He has taken slow, fat boys and in some manner or other, developed them into star linemen. A lanky youngster who might have remained out of football for basketball where he'll star, was the best tackle on the field Friday. [Glaudi was undoubtedly referring to Herb Jefferson.] The fastest back in the Prep league couldn't circle his 150-pound end [Fred Chaplain] playing his first year of football. And to cap it all a 140-pounder [Joe Cronin] is the snapper back and line backer for Glover's eleven.

But Glover is not without his stars for Johnny Campora is getting rave notices as one of the finest backs in the Preps, which he is. And Leon Chaplain is as good a guard as you'll find in the league.

And while you're speaking of Glover and his boys you couldn't pass up the students and the flaming spirit of St. Aloysius Friday night. You would have never believed that a few days before the Saints had dropped their "big" game to Jesuit. They were out there whooping it up from the first horn to the last. Maybe you can't bow before superior numbers on the gridiron when you boast such an overwhelming advantage in the stands. Maybe that is Glover's secret, who can tell?

• The Bees brought a 2-2 record into the contest. They scored victories over Terrebonne (13-12) and Nicholls (19-6) but lost to Jesuit (74-0) and Peters (35-6).
• Behrman had "resorted to passing" in their previous games, as had Aloysius.
• Based on the teams' scores against common opponents, Nicholls and Jesuit, the Saints should prevail, especially with Pechon back in the lineup. However, Filkins would miss his second game in a row.
• On the other side, Behrman would play without its triple-threat ace, Jay Quartano, who would not even dress out while he nursed a leg injury.

The next opponent was Warren Easton, a school that had inflicted almost as much pain on Aloysius as had Jesuit.

• The Crusaders were 1-12 against the Eagles, the only victory coming in 1932.
• Johnny Brechtel's charges had played only three games but won them all by shutout: Morgan City 26-0, Peters 13-0, and Lafayette 38-0. They hadn't played in three weeks. Would they be ready or rusty?
• Easton would unveil their new Purple and Gold uniforms for the clash.
• All-Prep C Joe Salsicchia would be playing his last game for the Eagles. As an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, he was scheduled to report to San Diego November 7 for active duty. Military service would cost Joe a football scholarship to a major university.

• Q1: Easton received the opening kickoff but nothing eventful happened until, after two punt exchanges, Pechon fumbled on first down, and the Eagles recovered on the SA 35. T. J. Whittington and Gerald Comeaux carried the pigskin to the 20 on three line plays. After a loss of 2, the Easton C made a bad hike that Leon Chaplain recovered on the SA 44. The Crimson and White drove to the Easton 39 before turning over the ball on downs.
• Q2: The Crusaders got to the Eagle 30 on one occasion early in the period, but Whittington stopped the march cold by intercepting Campora's pass. After 24 minutes of play, the Eagles had 3 first downs and the Crusaders 1.
• Q3: The Saints dominated the second half but couldn't push the ball across the goal line despite several excellent opportunities. They started a march from their own 47. Campora passed to Filkins for 17y. Two line plays by Campora and one by D'Antoni brought a first down at the 11. However, Charlie fumbled and Mike Scanlan recovered for Easton. Whittington then punted out of danger.
• Q4: Early in the period, Campora ripped off 26y through tackle to the WE 45. After several runs moved the ball to the 38, Johnny took to the air to complete a 32-yarder to D'Antoni. Five more plays set up a first-and-goal on the 2. But Campora could not put the pigskin across in four tries. Knowing they trailed in first downs, the Eagles unleashed a desperate aerial attack. But Campora intercepted on the enemy 38 as the game ended.

The next opponent, Peters, had compiled a 1-3 record.

• The victory was at the expense of Behrman, 35-6.
• The losses came to Easton (13-0), Fortier (13-7), and Holy Cross (20-13).

Comparative scores seemed to give an edge to the Crusaders.

• However, the Wildcats would be celebrating homecoming.
• Coach Johnny Beattie fielded a veteran forward wall with six lettermen averaging 160 lb.

Another newsman, Stanford Optowsky of the Picayune, praised the heart of the Crusaders following the tough loss to Peters.

It was a tough battle for a gallant Aloysius team to lose. The Crusaders' small squad battled doggedly for four periods against great odds; eventually it had to give way. But as the crimson-clad youngsters trod disappointedly off of the field after going down in defeat in the last four minutes of play, they knew that they had put up as tough a fight as any team could have under the circumstances. Their star triple-threat, Johnny Campora, had to leave the game in the third period with a bad ankle, and just about every lad who played any length of time was banged up to some extent. Their championship hopes had dashed to almost naught - but they had put on for the small crowd of 3000 one of the best displays of football that has ever been seen in the three-year history of the stadium.

Aloysius closed its Prep season with Holy Cross.

• The question on the minds of the fans at both schools was, "Will Campora play?"
• The Crusaders would have a hard time beating the Tigers even with Johnny since Ray Scheuring's Crossmen sported a 6-0-1 record, the only blemish being a scoreless tie with Istrouma in the opener.
• HC had disposed of every other opponent: Fortier 21-7, Nicholls 56-0, Gulf Coast Military Academy (MS) 26-13, Peters 20-13, Behrman 31-0, and Easton 14-0.
• A victory over Aloysius would set up the final game with Jesuit for the Prep crown.

Doc Blanchard would win the Heisman Trophy in 1945 while playing at West Point.

On the same day that Aloysius met Stanislaus, City Park Stadium hosted the largest crowd in its history. 34,345 overflowed the horseshoe to watch Jesuit thump Holy Cross 25-6. (Advance sale tickets cost 27 cents while the gate price was 53 cents.)

The Jays then routed Easton 60-6 to rocket into the state playoffs where they ousted Istrouma 13-6 for the South Louisiana Championship and upended Lake Charles 26-6 in the finals.

The Crusaders placed two on the various All-Prep squads.

• G Leon Chaplain made the team for the second straight year. He was a unanimous choice by both the Picayune and the Item. He was also chosen for the All-State team. Here was one of the write-ups about him.

One of greatest players in St. Aloysius history is the first Crusader to receive this honor [All-State] since Al Liska lugged the leather for the 1934 aggregation. He packs 190 pounds around in a five foot seven frame, and has a fighting heart which would make a true son of Erin blush in shame. On the field he is literally a demon. His bone crushing tackles are never forgotten by opposing backs. His fire in breaking through enemy lines is something to watch, as he smashes hostile defenses to ribbons.

• To no one's surprise, Johnny Campora occupied one of the backfield spots. Johnny led the Prep league with 984y on 148 carries despite missing half the Peters game and the entire Holy Cross contest. Johnny also made 2nd Team All-State. TP writers Opotowsky and Burke praised Johnny "for his ability to call signals, run, pass, kick, and back up the line."
• Sal Tassistro earned an E spot on the third team while Jimmy Filkins and Ernest Pechon gained Honorable Mention. Somehow, Richard Ghergich made Honorable Mention All-State even though he didn't make any of the All-Prep squads.

  Sal Tassistro

The Mothers' Club put on the annual football banquet in the school gymnasium in mid-December.

• 20 players and three managers were awarded letter jackets.
• Brother Martin and the two coaches, Glover and Clay, made the only speeches.

Captains honored at  football banquet
L-R: George Clay, Jimmy Filkins, Brother Martin, Johnny Campora, Wop Glover

The 1940 Crusaders finished with the odd record of 3-3-3. For the league standings, they were 5-3-1 since they won the two Prep tie games by virtue of racking up more first downs. Wop did a fine job considering the lack of experience and size of his squad.

Art Burke wrote "A 1941 Tip":

Beware of the Crusaders in the next football campaign. Coach Glover loses only Charles D'Antoni and Jim Filkins from this year's eleven and two more valuable additions may be added to aid Campora, Chaplain and company. Look for the surname of Morgan and one of Indiana ancestry when the '41 roster is announced. Morgan formerly attended St. Aloysius but more recently has been schooled in California.

1941 Season

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