1946 Nevada Wolf Pack football team explained

Year:1946
Team:Nevada Wolf Pack
Sport:football
Conference:Independent
Record:7–2
Head Coach:Jim Aiken
Hc Year:8th
Stadium:Mackay Stadium
Bowl:Shrine Benefit Aloha Bowl
Bowl Result:W 26–7 vs. Hawaii

The 1946 Nevada Wolf Pack football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nevada as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Jim Aiken, the Wolf Pack compiled a 7–2 record,[1] [2] outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 82,[3] and defeated Hawaii, 26 to 7, in the 16th annual Shrine Benefit Aloha Bowl.

The team ranked first nationally in passing offense with an average of 198.1 passing yards per game, 25 yards more on average than the second-ranked team, Georgia.[4] They also ranked third nationally in total offense with an average of 389.3 yards per game.[5]

Nevada was ranked at No. 59 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[6]

In just eight games (not including Nevada's bowl game), quarterback Bill Mackrides also led the nation with 1,254 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes. His total of 1,254 passing yards on just 56 completions calculates to an average of 22.4 yards per completion.[7] [8] In the post-season Shrine Benefit at Aloha Bowl, Mackrides added another 189 passing yards and three touchdown passes, bringing his 1946 nine-game totals to 1,443 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes.[9] [10]

Mackrides, halfbacks Tommy Kalmanir and Bill Bass, end Horace Gillom, and tackle Ed Sharkey all went on to careers in professional football. Bob McClure was the team captain and also played two season in the National Football League (NFL). The team's assistant coaches were Jim Bailey, Jake Lawlor, and Dick Miller.[11]

On January 15, 1947, Aiken resigned as athletic director and head coach and left the school to become head football coach at the University of Oregon.[11] In eight years under Aiken, the Wolf Pack compiled a 38–26–4 record.

Players

The following individuals played for the 1946 Nevada team:[12]

After the season

See main article: 1947 NFL draft. The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Wolf Pack players were selected.[13]

3 19 Philadelphia Eagles
25 229 Pittsburgh Steelers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nevada Football 2018 Bowl Guide. University of Nevada, Reno. 2018. 134. February 11, 2020.
  2. Web site: Nevada Yearly Results. College Football Data Warehouse. May 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20150905184806/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/n/nevada/1945-1949_yearly_results.php. September 5, 2015. dead.
  3. News: 1946 Nevada Wolf Pack Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. September 26, 2018.
  4. Book: The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. W.J. Bingham. 1947. 75.
  5. Book: The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. W.J. Bingham. 1947. 73.
  6. News: Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous. The Knoxville News-Sentinel. December 15, 1946. B4. Newspapers.com.
  7. Book: The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. W.J. Bingham. 1947. 82.
  8. News: Football Statistics. Petaluma Argus-Courier. A. Bealmear. Associated Press. December 11, 1946. 4. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Nevada Defeats Hawaii 26-7 in Shrine Game. The Honolulu Advertiser. December 8, 1946. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Statistics Tell Story Of Victory. The Honolulu Advertiser. December 8, 1946. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Aiken Leaves to Coach Oregon; Nevada Coaching Position Open. January 15, 1947. 10. Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Nevada Football 2016 Media Guide. University of Nevada, Reno. 2016. 116–121. September 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170106103932/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/unv/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/prospectus/prospectus.pdf. January 6, 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: 1947 NFL Draft Listing. Pro-Football-Reference.com. November 29, 2020.

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