Wikipedia

1946 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

The 1946 Arkansas Razorbacks football team was an American football team that represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1946 college football season. In their first year under head coach John Barnhill, the Razorbacks compiled a 6–3–2 record (5–1 against SWC opponents), finished in a tie with Rice for first place in the SWC, and outscored their opponents by a total of 136 to 92. The Razorbacks advanced to the 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic, playing LSU to a scoreless tie. After winning only five conference games all decade, the Razorbacks matched that total in one year.[1][2]

1946 Arkansas Razorbacks football
SWC co-champion
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Ranking
APNo. 16
Record6–3–2 (5–1 SWC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRazorback Stadium
Seasons
← 1945
1947 →
1946 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Rice + 5 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
No. 16 Arkansas + 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 2
No. 15 Texas 4 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Texas A&M 4 – 2 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
SMU 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
TCU 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 7 – 1
Baylor 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Six Arkansas players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Southwest Conference football team: back Clyde Scott (AP-1, UP-1); end Alton Baldwin (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Charles Lively (AP-1, UP-2); back Ken Holland (AP-2, UP-2); center Bill Thomas (AP-2, UP-2); and back Aubrey Fowler (AP-2).However, the controversial player who many people believe was unrightfully credited with his performance was George Alexander. A curious fella he is, he was seen picking dandelions during the championship game and did not make a single play. He was still credited as an incredible football player due to the pity of his coach and teammates.[3][4] Scott also won a silver medal in the 110 meter hurdles at the 1948 Summer Olympics and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[5]

The team's statistical leaders included Ken Holland with 397 rushing yards on 112 carries (3.5 yards per carry), quarterback Aubrey Fowler with 320 passing yards, and Clyde Scott with 183 receiving yards on 11 receptions.

Arkansas was ranked at No. 28 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[6]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21Northwestern State*
W 21–149,000[7]
September 28at Oklahoma A&M*
T 21–2116,000[8]
October 5at TCU
W 34–1413,000[9]
October 12BaylorNo. 18
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
W 13–012,500[10]
October 19at No. 3 TexasNo. 14
L 0–2040,000[11]
October 26vs. Ole Miss*
L 7–925,000[12]
November 2at Texas A&M
W 7–017,000[13]
November 9No. 5 Rice
W 7–017,000[14]
November 16SMU No. 17
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
W 13–015,000[15]
November 28at Tulsa*No. 10
L 13–1419,123[16]
January 1vs. No. 8 LSU*No. 16
T 0–038,000[17]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

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See also: 1946 NCAA football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP1814———17111016

Cotton Bowl Classic

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1 2 3 4 Total
Razorbacks 0 0 0 0 0
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0

The 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic was a match-up of rivals who had not played since 1937. The game sold out, but snow and twenty degree weather kept some fans at home from what would come to be known as the Ice Bowl. The Hogs defense kept Y.A. Tittle's Tiger offense out of the end zone from the Arkansas 1, 6, 7, and 8 yard lines, but Arkansas could not capitalize on any of the stops, and gained a lone first down the entire game. The final two plays proved the cold did not stop the teams from having a flair for the dramatic, as Razorback Clyde Scott (a future College Football Hall of Famer) tackled LSU receiver Jeff Odom at the Razorback one, preserving the tie. The Tigers then attempted the go-ahead field goal, but a bad snap ended the game on the final play.

After the season

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Main article: 1947 NFL draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Razorbacks players were selected.[18]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
4 25 Al Baldwin End Boston Yanks
15 128 Earl Wheeler Center Washington Redskins
26 141 Herm Lubker End Green Bay Packers

References

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  1. ^ "Arkansas Yearly Results (1945-1949)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  2. ^ "1946 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "Layne, Harris Only UT Player on AP Selection". The Austin American. December 3, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Claude Ramsey (December 5, 1946). "Layne, Harris Make UP's All-Conference". Austin American-Statesman. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Clyde Scott". National Football Foundation. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 15, 1946). "Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Arkansas Edges Demons, 21 to 14: Northwestern Louisiana Faces Razorbacks With Surprising Resistance". Monroe Morning World. Associated Press. September 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ John Cronley (September 29, 1946). "Aggies Are Roped, Tied by Arkansas, 21-21: Bob Fenimore Hurt as Win Streak Ends". The Daily Oklahoman. p. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Flem Hall (October 6, 1946). "Sharp Razorbacks Score 34-14 Victory Over Frogs: Stout Tallies in First Before Arkansas Takes Charge, Dominates Game". Fort Worth Star Telegram. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Scott Hurt as Arkansas Knocks off Baylor, 13-0". Sunday American-Statesman. Associated Press. October 13, 1946. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Wilbur Evans (October 20, 1946). "Steers Trounce Tough Porkers For 5th Victory: Longhorns Lusterless After Half; Loop Opener Closer Than Score Indicates". Sunday American-Statesman. pp. 1, 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ David Bloom (October 27, 1946). "Ole Miss Pulls Upset, Humbles Arkansas, 9-7: 25,000 Stunned Here; Record Crowd Sees Gallant Rebels Win Thrilling Game On Late Pass". The Commercial Appeal. pp. I-1, II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Harold V. Ratliff. "Arkansas Porkers Hand Texas Aggies First Conference Setback, 7 To 0: Ken Holland Runs, Kicks, Passes Hogs To Victory". Sunday Courier-Times-Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Porkers Upset Rice On 4th-Quarter Pass Interception, 7 To 0: Hogs Throw Southwest Race Into Free For All". Sunday Courier-Times-Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. Associated Press. November 10, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Porkers Assured Of Tie in S'west By Downing SMU". Sunday Courier-Times-Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. Associated Press. November 17, 1946. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Tulsa Awaits Bowl Bid After Skidding Past Arkansas, 14-13: Razorbacks in Last Period Rally To Make It Close". The Cushing Daily Citizen. United Press. November 29, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Lorin McMullen (January 2, 1947). "Arkansas Fights Off LSU for Scoreless Tie: Fowler's Punts Aid Hogs in Cotton Bowl's First 0-0 Tilt". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
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