1942 Wayne Tartars football team

The 1942 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1942 college football season. The team compiled a 1–6–1 record and was outscored by opponents, 144 to 52. It played its home games at the University of Detroit Stadium.

Joe Gembis was in his 11th year as head coach. His assistant coaches, Joseph Truskowski and Ox Emerson, were lost to military service for the 1942 season. In the absence of Truskowski and Emerson, two Wayne alumni Laurence "Lefty" Russell and Ralph Betker served as assistant coaches.

Before the season began, the team held a 10-day training camp in Charlevoix, Michigan.

The team's statistical leaders included Doug Rutherford, a sophomore from Denby High School, with 58 pass completions. Frank Chorney and Donald Kennedy were the team captains.

Wayne was ranked at No. 306 (out of 590 college and military teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1942.

Roster

 * Asquini, Valentino
 * Beardsley, David
 * Carpenter, Samuel
 * Chorney, Frank
 * Cotton, John
 * Faughn, John
 * Graham, Jack
 * Hagen, Reed
 * Hannan, James
 * Kanfer, Morton
 * Kennedy, Donald
 * Magnatta, Joseph
 * Malinowski, Eugene
 * Meyers, Donald
 * Miller, Paul
 * Mullen, Donald
 * Olmstead, Richard
 * Perry, Raymond
 * Raskin, Lawrence
 * Rickert, Louis
 * Rutherford, Douglas
 * Sabo, Frank
 * Tottis, Mitchell
 * Young, George (Donald)