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1942 Buffalo Bulls Football

by Scott Hollander
University at Buffalo Libraries

Team photo

Although the country was at war, spirits were high coming into the 1942 Buffalo Bulls football season.  Returning standouts were Dom Grossi, an end, and Sid Snyder, a rock-ribbed guard. Regular backs returning were Leeland Jones, Art Woelfle and Tommy Bowers. Harold “Bud” Houser, a 210-pounder from Seneca Vocational, took over the center position as a sophomore.

The principal reason for optimism is the presence of Lou Corriere, a sophomore from Lockport, NY.  Corriere was called by the coach Jim Peelle as, “the best player he has ever seen at UB.”  Corriere was a triple threat; a wraith in the open field and he could pass and kick.

The season was a success as the team finished with six wins against two loses. When the 1942 season was over, several Buffalo players won places on the 1942 United Press “All-Upstate New York” football team including guard Sid Snyder (2nd team), half-back Lou Corriere (2nd team) and end Dom Grossi (honorable mention).

In 1965, Lou Corriere was honored as one of the inaugural members inducted into the UB Athletics Hall of Fame.

Dom Grossi participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and was killed in action on March 8, 1945.  For his heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross in 1946.  In 1947, the University at Buffalo established the “Dominic J. Grossi Memorial Trophy” awarded yearly to the outstanding student athlete at U.B. in lasting memory of the fallen star.

When Leeland Jones took the field for the Johns Hopkins University game on October 31, 1942 in Baltimore, he became the first African American on an integrated UB football team to set foot on a field south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Leeland Jones was inducted in the UB Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.

Leeland Jones Leeland Jones in action

1942 Buffalo Bulls Football Season
Date Home Team Score Visiting Team W-L-T Location
9/26/19421 Susquehanna 0 – 19 Buffalo W Selinsgrove, PA
10/3/19422 Buffalo 20 – 0 St. Lawrence W Buffalo, NY
10/10/19423 Washington & Jefferson 13 – 7 Buffalo L Washington, PA
10/17/19424 Buffalo 50 – 6 Hartwick W Buffalo, NY
10/24/19425 Buffalo* 14 – 27 Carnegie Tech L Buffalo, NY*
10/31/19426 Johns Hopkins 6 – 26 Buffalo W Baltimore, MD
11/7/19427 Buffalo 66 – 0 Hobart W Buffalo, NY
11/14/19428 Rensselear Polytechnic 0 – 13 Buffalo W Troy, NY

FINAL RECORD: 6-2
Home: Rotary Field, Bailey and Winspear Avenues;
*Game played at Civic Stadium, Jefferson Avenue and Best Street.
Coach: James Peelle

  1. “Whieldon Dashes 70 Yards, Bulls Down Susquehanna” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 27 September 1942.
  2. “Lou Corriere Stars As Bulls Win Second Straight” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 4 October 1942.
  3. “Corriere Scores for UB After 64-Yard Advance” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 11 October 1942.
  4. “Corriere’s 4 Touchdowns Lead to Rousing Victory” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 18 October 1942.
  5. “Carnegie Tech Tramples U.B.” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 25 October 1942.
  6. “Corriere Proves Star As UB Whips Johns Hopkins” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 1 November 1942.
  7. “Corriere Gets 36 Points As Bulls Romp, 66 to 0” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 8 November 1942.
  8. “Corriere Sets Pace As Bulls Win Finale, 13-0” Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, NY, 15 November 1942.

 

Buffalo Back Plays Against Johns Hopkins