1946 LSU Tigers football team

The 1946 LSU Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana State University (LSU) in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1946 college football season. In their 12th year under head coach Bernie Moore, the Tigers compiled a 9–1–1 record (5–1 against SEC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 240 to 123. They were ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll and were invited to play in the 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic where they played a scoreless tie against Arkansas.[1]

1946 LSU Tigers football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 8
Record9–1–1 (5–1 SEC)
Head coach
Home stadiumTiger Stadium
Seasons
← 1945
1947 →
1946 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Georgia + 5 0 0 11 0 0
No. 7 Tennessee + 5 0 0 9 2 0
No. 8 LSU 5 1 0 9 1 1
No. 11 Georgia Tech 4 2 0 9 2 0
Mississippi State 3 2 0 8 2 0
Alabama 4 3 0 7 4 0
Vanderbilt 3 4 0 5 4 0
Kentucky 2 3 0 7 3 0
Tulane 2 4 0 3 7 0
Auburn 1 5 0 4 6 0
Ole Miss 1 6 0 2 7 0
Florida 0 5 0 0 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The Tigers ranked twelfth nationally in team defense, giving up an average of only 178.6 yards per game.[2]

Offensively, the team was led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle who completed 45 of 95 passes for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns.[3] Other key players included fullback Gene Knight with 473 rushing yards and ends Sam Lyle, Dan Sandifer, and Clyde Lindsey with 162, 159, and 157 receiving yards, respectively.[3]

Four LSU players were honored by the Associated Press (AP) and/or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-SEC football team: quarterback Y. A. Tittle (UP-1); guard Wren Worley (AP-1, UP-2); fullback Gene Knight (UP-2); and tackle Walter Barnes (UP-2).[4][5]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28at Rice*W 7–626,000[6]
October 5Mississippi StateW 13–644,000[7]
October 12Texas A&M*No. 13
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
W 33–930,000[8]
October 19Georgia Tech No. 12
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
L 7–2630,000[9]
October 26at VanderbiltW 14–021,500[10]
November 2Ole Miss
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
W 34–2125,000[11]
November 9AlabamaNo. 19
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
W 31–2146,000[12]
November 15at Miami (FL)No. 11W 20–733,504[13]
November 23Fordham*No. 9
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
W 40–015,000[14]
November 30TulaneNo. 9
W 41–2746,000[15]
January 1, 1947vs. No. 16 Arkansas*No. 8T 0–038,000[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP13121911998

After the season

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The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Tigers were selected.[17]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
3 17 Gene Knight Back Washington Redskins
17 152 Hubert Shurtz Tackle Philadelphia Eagles
18 163 Ed Champagne Tackle Los Angeles Rams
20 179 Charlie Webb End Washington Redskins
20 182 Fred Hall Guard Philadelphia Eagles
21 192 Shelton Ballard Center Chicago Cardinals
30 282 Clyde Lindsley End Chicago Cardinals

References

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  1. ^ "1946 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "1946 LSU Fighting Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "Eight Teams Place Men On AP All-Southeastern Conference Eleven". Freeport Journal-Standard. November 30, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved June 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ William Tucker (November 21, 1946). "Travis Tidwell, Auburn Back, On 2nd Team". The Anniston Star. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Wilbur Evans (September 29, 1946). "LSU Beats Rice, 7-6: Fireworks All Crowded Into Final Period; 26,000 Fans Brave Elements to See Muddy Encounter". Sunday American-Statesman. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Tigers Down Maroons 13-6 in SEC Battle: Shorty McWilliams Proves "Goat" As Louisiana State Triumphs". The Shreveport Times. October 6, 1946. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Louisiana State Tigers Bomb Texas Aggies Into Defeat Before 30,000 Fans: Four Touchdowns By Air After Knight Plunges For First Score". The Shreveport Times. October 13, 1946. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Eddie Pagnac (October 20, 1946). "Georgia Tech Defeats Louisiana State, 26 to 7: Heavy Running Attack Carries Tornado to Win". The Shreveport Times. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Raymond Johnson (October 27, 1946). "Bayou Gridders Show Power Early in Game: Vandy Offense Fails To Function Against Stout Louisiana Line". The Nashville Tennessean. pp. Sports 1, 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tigers Forced Hard To Turn Back Ole Miss Spirited Duel Climaxed By Fist Fight Between Foes At Close of Game". The Shreveport Times. November 3, 1946. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "L.S.U. outscores Tide in thrilling 31–21 win". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 10, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  13. ^ Guy Butler (November 16, 1946). "Inspired Hurricanes Clawed, 20-7, In Last Half By LSU: 33,504 Fans Thrilled As U. M. Touchdown Play Goes 76 Yards". The Miami News. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "LSU Routs Fordham Foe, 40-0". The Miami Herald. Miami, Fla. Associated Press. November 23, 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Scoring spree in second quarter carries Louisiana State to victory over Tulane before 45,000 fans". The Shreveport Times. December 1, 1946. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.