[KayEyeDoubleDee]

How can you have a 60 minute football game with only 11 first downs [6 USC + 5 ND]?

Weird.

It was in the Memorial Coliseum, so you have to figure that rain, wind, sleet, snow, etc were not a factor.

Also, is this a misprint? "USC - Forwards intercepted by: 8"

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The first down total doesn’t seem unusual for a low-scoring game of that era. How about the penalty yards? 20 for USC, 10 for ND. That is about a quarter’s worth today. I think the interception total is 3. One by Day, one by Jones, and one to end the game.

[rochester_veteran]

How can you have a 60 minute football game with only 11 first downs [6 USC + 5 ND]?

Back in those days, football had strict substitution rules and players had to play on both sides of the ball. With players doing double-duty, the fatigue factor played a role as the game wore on. Also, the passing game was still in it's evolution. Look at the passing stats in the article and see for yourself.

[SoCal Pubbie]

If you examine the box score, it must mean that Notre Dame was intercepted eight times. Does seem like a lot.

BTW, I interviewed a former USC player a couple of years ago, who while he didn't play in 1938 due to injury but was on the team in ‘36,’37, and ‘39.

[CougarGA7]

That has to be a 3. Still 8 attempts for 3 completions and 3 interceptions are abysmal passing stats by todays standards. The passing game was definitely still in its infancy at this point.