1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team explained

Year:	1946
Team:	North Carolina Tar Heels
Sport:	football
Conference:	Southern Conference
Short Conf:	SoCon
Aprank:	9
Record:	8–2–1
Conf Record:	4–0–1
Head Coach:	Carl Snavely
Hc Year:	4th
Off Scheme:	Single-wing
Captain:	Chan Highsmith, Ralph Strayhorn
Stadium:	Kenan Memorial Stadium
Champion:	SoCon champion
Bowl:	Sugar Bowl
Bowl Result:	L 10–20 vs. Georgia

The 1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina in the Southern Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Carl Snavely, the Tar Heels compiled an 8–2–1 record (4–0–1 against Southern Conference opponents), won the conference title, and outscored opponents by a total of 271 to 129. They ranked ninth in the final AP Poll and were invited to the school's first bowl game, the 1947 Sugar Bowl, which they lost to Georgia.^[1]

The Tar Heels ranked seventh nationally in rushing with an average of 234.1 yards per game.^[2] The rushing attack was led by Charlie Justice who ranked third nationally with 943 rushing yards and averaged 7.20 yards per carry.^[3] Justice was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1961.^[4]

Five North Carolina players were honored by the Associated Press (AP) on the 1946 All-Southern Conference football team: Justice on the first team; tackle Ted Hazelwood and center Chan Highsmith on the second team; and guard Harry Varney and fullback Hosea Rodgers (third team).^[5]

The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Rankings

See also: 1946 NCAA football rankings.

After the season

See main article: 1947 NFL draft. The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Tar Heels were selected.^[6]

10	79			Washington Redskins
12	98	Jack Fitch		Pittsburgh Steelers
18	165	Walt Pupa	Back	Chicago Bears
28	262	Jerrell Baxter	Tackle	Green Bay Packers
32	300	Don Clayton	Back	New York Giants

^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1946 North Carolina Tar Heels Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. April 30, 2022.
2. Book: The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. W.J. Bingham. 1947. 74.
3. Book: The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. W.J. Bingham. 1947. 80.
4. Web site: Charlie Justice. National Football Foundation. April 30, 2022.
5. News: All-Southern Conference. Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. December 1, 1946. 13. Newspapers.com.
6. Web site: 1947 NFL Draft Listing. Pro-Football-Reference.com. November 29, 2020.
7. Web site: 1947 NFL Draft. Pro Football Reference. November 3, 2015. October 31, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101031111101/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1947.htm. dead.