1946 Nevada Wolf Pack football
Shrine Benefit Aloha Bowl, W 26–7 vs. Hawaii
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–2
Head coach
Home stadiumMackay Stadium
1946 Western major college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Nevada   –  7 –2 –0
Saint Mary's   –  6 –3 –0
San Francisco   –  3 –6 –0
Santa Clara   –  2 –5 –1
Portland   –  1 –4 –1

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.[4]

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.[5] They also ranked third nationally in total offense with an average of 389.3 yards per game.[6]

Nevada was ranked at No. 59 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[7]

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.[8][9] 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.[10][11]

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.[12]

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.[12] In eight years under Aiken, the Wolf Pack compiled a 38–26–4 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 29at San Francisco
L 14–2630,000[13]
October 5Santa Clara
W 33–76,000[14]
October 12Arizona State
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
W 74–2[15]
October 19at San Diego State
W 26–020,000[16][17]
October 27at Saint Mary's
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco, CA
L 12–1350,000[18]
November 2Montana Statedagger
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
W 38–14[19]
November 9Santa Barbara
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
W 48–13[20]
November 22vs. Loyola (CA)
W 53–04,000[21]
December 7at Hawaii
W 26–725,000[4][22]
  • daggerHomecoming

Players

The following individuals played for the 1946 Nevada team:[23]

  • James Aiken Jr.
  • Bill Bass - halfback
  • Tom Batey
  • Scott Beasley - end
  • Morley Bockman
  • Max Dodge
  • Jordan Eliades - quarterback
  • Darwin Farnsworth
  • Pat Francellini
  • Horace Gillom - end
  • Harold Hayes - end
  • Pat Heher - guard
  • Tommy Kalmanir - halfback
  • Ted Kondel
  • Bill Mackrides - guard
  • Bob McClure - tackle and captain
  • Mike Mirabelli
  • Bill Morris - end
  • Carl Robinson - guard
  • Lloyd Rude - fullback
  • Ed Sharkey - tackle
  • Chuck Siferd
  • John Simons - end
  • Ken Sinofsky - guard
  • Neil Sprague
  • Jess Standish - fullback
  • Gene Straka - fullback
  • John Subda - guard
  • Bob Sullivan - center
  • Don Talcott - guard
  • Dick Tilton - guard
  • Dick Trachok
  • Jim Welin - fullback

After the season

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Wolf Pack players were selected.[24]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
319Bill MackridesQuarterbackPhiladelphia Eagles
25229Tommy KalmanirHalfbackPittsburgh Steelers

References

  1. ↑ "Nevada Football 2018 Bowl Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada, Reno. 2018. p. 134. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Nevada Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ "1946 Nevada Wolf Pack Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Andrew Mitsukado (December 8, 1946). "Nevada Defeats Hawaii 26-7 in Shrine Game: Wolfpack Passes Way To Victory". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 75.
  6. ↑ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 73.
  7. ↑ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 15, 1946). "Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 82.
  9. ↑ A. Bealmear (December 11, 1946). "Football Statistics". Petaluma Argus-Courier. Associated Press. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Nevada Defeats Hawaii 26-7 in Shrine Game". The Honolulu Advertiser. December 8, 1946. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Statistics Tell Story Of Victory". The Honolulu Advertiser. December 8, 1946. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "Aiken Leaves to Coach Oregon; Nevada Coaching Position Open". January 15, 1947. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Hall Paces Dons' 26-14 Win: Nevada Beaten In U.S.F. Debut". Oakland Tribune. September 30, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Ty Cobb (October 6, 1946). "Nevada Overpowers Broncos 33 to 7". Nevada State Journal. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Nevada Crushes Arizona State 74-2: Wolf Pack Regulars Jolt Visitors, Then Subs Romp To Big Parade of Points". Nevada State Journal. October 13, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Christy Gregg (October 20, 1946). "Nevada Tops Aztecs, 20-0, At Halftime". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 3-B.
  17. ↑ Christy Gregg (October 21, 1946). "Aztecs Gain Stature Despite 26-0 Loss". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 3-B.
  18. ↑ Alan Ward (October 28, 1946). "Gaels Primed for Bruins: Phelan; Coach Confident After His Team Beats Nevada, 13-12". Oakland Tribune. pp. 10–11 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Kalmanir Runs 105 Yards as Nevada Tops Montana State 38-14 in Homecoming Game". Nevada State Journal. November 13, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Nevada Swamps Gauchos By 48 To 13: Beasley Dashes 88 Yards, Kalminar 65, Bass 47 in Game's Longest TD Plays". Nevada State Journal. November 10, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Nevada Pulverizes Loyola Lions By 53-0 Score Before 4,000 Fans". Reno Evening Gazette. November 23, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Pearl Harbor Remembers Dec. 7, 1941". Great Falls Tribune. December 8, 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Nevada Football 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada, Reno. 2016. pp. 116–121. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  24. ↑ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
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