1945 Wiley Wildcats football team

The 1945 Wiley Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Wiley College in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1945 college football season. In their 23rd season under head coach Fred T. Long, the Wildcats compiled a 10–0 record (6–0 against SWAC opponents), defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, won the SWAC championship, shut out seven of ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 356 to 19. The Wiley team was also recognized as the 1945 black college national champion.

1945 Wiley Wildcats football
ConferenceSouthwestern Athletic Conference
Record10–0 (6–0 SWAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1944
1946 →
1945 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Wiley $ 6 0 0 10 0 0
Southern 5 1 0 6 3 1
Texas College 3 2 1 7 3 1
Langston 3 3 0 5 3 0
Samuel Huston 1 3 2 ? ? ?
Prairie View 1 4 1 3 5 1
Arkansas AM&N 1 5 0 2 6 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Assistant coach Harry Long, the brother of head coach Fred T. Long, suffered a heart attack in the first quarter of the Orange Blossom Classic. He died in an ambulance en route to a hospital. The victory sealed the Wildcats' national championship, but, after the game, the team sprawled out on the bench and the ground and wept over the Long's death.[1]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 29Philander Smith*
W 53–0
October 6at Arkansas AM&NPine Bluff, ARW 31–0[2]
October 15Prairie ViewW 35–7
October 20Tillotson*
  • Wiley Field
  • Marshall, TX
W 62–0
October 29vs. Randolph Field*Shreveport, LAW 26–0
November 10Langston
  • Wiley Field
  • Marshall, TX
W 20–03,000
November 17SouthernW 33–06,000
November 24Samuel Huston
W 56–0
December 1Texas College
  • Wiley Field
  • Marshall, TX
W 8–6
December 8vs. Florida A&M*W 32–68,000[1]
  • *Non-conference game

References

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  1. ^ a b "Wiley Downs Aggies To Win Negro Crown". Tampa Sunday Tribune. December 9, 1945. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Wiley Wallops Arkanasas". The Pittsburgh Courier. October 13, 1945. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.