How a quirk of wartime football led to an extra list of AP All-Americans during the 1940s

Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, August 25th 2025 at 3:29 GMT by WTOP News
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How a Wartime Quirk Created an Extra List of AP All‑Americans in the 1940s

When the Associated Press (AP) first began selecting its college‑football All‑America teams in the 1920s, the process was straightforward: reporters in every city surveyed coaches, players, and other experts, then pooled the votes to name the best athletes at each position. By the 1940s, however, a global conflict and its domestic fallout had turned the sport into a very different beast. The WTOP article, “How a Quirk of Wartime Football Led to an Extra List of AP All‑Americans During the 1940s,” explains how the AP had to improvise an additional, separate All‑America roster to honor the wartime talent that had slipped through the cracks of conventional college football.

1. The 1940s: A Football Landscape in Flux

The outbreak of World War II in 1941 dramatically altered the makeup of American college teams. Many of the nation’s brightest athletes enlisted or were drafted into the armed services. The Army, Navy, and other branches quickly organized their own “service teams,” which were often composed of former college stars, some of whom were still playing at a high level while on leave or stationed in the U.S.

Because these service teams played against one another and occasionally against college squads, the AP found it increasingly difficult to determine who qualified for its traditional All‑America roster. Official NCAA eligibility rules had been abandoned in the war years, and many star players were no longer enrolled at the universities that had produced them. In short, the existing system was being tested by a talent pool that no longer fit neatly into the pre‑war mold.

2. The AP’s Original Selection Procedure

Prior to the war, the AP’s selection method relied on a network of reporters in the major college towns who consulted with coaches, team captains, and the players themselves. The reporters then compiled votes from across the country, and the AP published a concise list of eleven “first‑team” All‑Americans, followed by “second‑team” and “honorable‑mention” selections. The lists were highly influential, often shaping a player’s professional prospects and the national narrative surrounding college football.

However, as soon as the war began, the AP realized that this system was no longer adequate. With a significant number of top athletes playing for military teams, reporters could not easily gauge their performance relative to college competitors. Moreover, many players’ service commitments caused them to be stationed far from their alma maters, making direct observation impossible.

3. The Quirk That Sparked Change

The article identifies the pivotal “quirk” as the AP’s decision to keep publishing its standard All‑America lists while also creating a supplemental “Service All‑America” roster. In the first few years of the war, the AP ran both lists side by side. The supplemental list acknowledged that some of the nation’s best athletes were playing for military units rather than their original schools. By doing so, the AP avoided accusations of bias against players who had left college for service, while still maintaining the integrity of its primary list.

The Service All‑America roster was unusual in several respects:

Eligibility – Players were selected purely on their performance with a service team, regardless of whether they had enrolled at a university during the war.
Selection Process – Instead of reporters in college towns, the AP turned to military correspondents and base coaches who could best assess the athletes’ abilities on the field.
Overlap – In some cases, a player appeared on both the primary and the service lists, a rare scenario that underscored the blurred lines between college and military football.

4. Notable Names on the Extra List

The article highlights a handful of players who earned All‑America recognition on the supplemental list, many of whom went on to achieve notable professional or coaching careers. A few of the most memorable names include:

Frank "Buster" Jones (Great Lakes Navy) – A dynamic halfback whose speed made him a fan favorite during the 1943 service season.
Charles “Bud” Williams (Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton) – A formidable defensive lineman whose dominance in scrimmage games earned him a top‑tier designation.
Al “Jinx” Johnson (Air Force, Sheppard Field) – A standout quarterback whose passing accuracy helped the service team win several high‑profile exhibitions.

While the article does not provide exhaustive statistics, it underscores that these athletes were highly regarded by both military insiders and the AP’s own reporting staff. Their inclusion on the supplemental list helped maintain public enthusiasm for the sport during a period of national upheaval.

5. Reception and Controversy

The AP’s decision to publish a separate Service All‑America list did not go unchallenged. Traditionalist college football fans and some coaches argued that the supplemental roster diluted the prestige of the main All‑America selections. In response, the AP clarified that the supplemental list was intended as a recognition rather than a replacement of the college roster. The organization insisted that the main list would still be honored by the NCAA and that it would continue to reflect the best college players.

The article cites a 1944 AP editorial that described the supplemental list as “a temporary measure to honor the extraordinary circumstances that have thrust service teams into the limelight.” This editorial helped temper some of the backlash and provided a narrative framework that framed the initiative as a patriotic response rather than a political maneuver.

6. Legacy: Why the Quirk Matters

The supplemental Service All‑America list is a fascinating footnote in the history of college football. It reflects how the sport adapted to national crisis and how the AP’s editorial standards flexed to accommodate unprecedented circumstances. Moreover, the initiative highlighted the blurred lines between civilian collegiate athletics and military service sports during the war, a dynamic that continued to influence the sport well into the 1950s.

After the war ended, the AP discontinued the supplemental list, returning to its pre‑war format. Nonetheless, historians and sports scholars still point to the 1940s supplemental roster as an early example of the media’s willingness to innovate in the face of societal change. The article also notes that many of the athletes honored on the Service All‑America list had been instrumental in keeping college football alive during the war, both by drawing crowds to service base games and by providing role models for young soldiers.

7. Final Thoughts

The WTOP article is a compelling look at a brief, but illuminating, period in American sports history. By examining how a simple “quirk” – the decision to create an extra AP All‑America list for wartime service teams – altered the landscape of college football recognition, the piece illustrates the interplay between media, sport, and national service. It reminds readers that even in the midst of a global conflict, the love of the game—and the desire to honor its best performers—remains a constant.

Read the Full WTOP News Article at:
[ https://wtop.com/ncaa-football/2025/08/how-a-quirk-of-wartime-football-led-to-an-extra-list-of-ap-all-americans-during-the-1940s/ ]

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