1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
AP Poll national champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 1
Record8–0–1
Head coach
Offensive schemeT formation
CaptainGame captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1945
1947 →
1946 Midwestern major college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –   8 – 0 – 1
Detroit   –   6 – 4 – 0
Michigan State   –   5 – 5 – 0
Marquette   –   4 – 5 – 0
Rankings from
AP Poll

The 1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an

AP Poll.[1] The season also produced the 1946 Army vs. Notre Dame football game
, a scoreless tie between undefeated teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

The 1946 Notre Dame team dominated both on defense and offense, ranking first nationally in total offense (441.3 yards per game), rushing offense (340.1 yards per game), and total defense (allowing 141.7 yards per game).[2] Despite ranking as the nation's top rushing offense, no Notre Dame player ranked among the national rushing leaders, as multiple backs shared the rushing load, including Emil Sitko (54 carries, 346 yards), Terry Brennan (74 carries, 329 yards), Jim Mello (61 carries, 307 yards), Bill Gompers (51 carries, 279 yards), and John Panelli (58 carries, 265 yards).[3]

Two Notre Dame players, quarterback Johnny Lujack and tackle George Connor, were consensus first-team picks for the 1946 All-America college football team.[4] Center George Strohmeyer and guard John Mastrangelo also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors.[5]

From 1946 to 1949, Notre Dame compiled a 36-0-2 record and claims three

national championships.[1] Sports Illustrated rated these Notre Dame teams as the second best sports dynasty (professional or collegiate) of the 20th century[6] and second greatest college football dynasty.[7]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28at Illinois
W 26–675,119[8]
October 5Pittsburgh
W 33–050,368[9]
October 12PurdueNo. 3
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 49–655,452[10]
October 26at No. 17 IowaNo. 2
W 41–652,311[11]
November 2vs.
Municipal Stadium
  • Baltimore, MD (rivalry)
    		• W 28–065,000[12]
    November 9vs. No. 1 ArmyNo. 2
    		T 0–074,121[13]
    November 16NorthwesternNo. 2
    • Notre Dame Stadium
    • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
    		W 27–058,000[14]
    November 23at TulaneNo. 2
    		W 41–065,841[15]
    November 30No. 16 USCNo. 2
    • Notre Dame Stadium
    • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
    		W 26–656,000[16]
    • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

    Rankings

    See also: 1946 NCAA football rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
    ( ) = First-place votes
    Week
    Poll12345678Final
    AP
    		3 (15⅓)2 (31)2 (21¼)2 (61)2 (51)2 (49)2 (16)2 (38)1 (104½)

    Post-season

    Award winners

    All-Americans:

    Name AP UP NEA INS
    COL
         		AA SN L FC
    † John Lujack, QB 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
    ‡ George Connor, T 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1
    John Monstrangelo, G 2 2 1 1 1
    George Strohmeyer, C 2 1 1 1 3
    †denotes unanimous selection
    ‡denotes consensus selection       Source:[1]

    College Football Hall of Fame Inductees:

    Name Position Year Inducted
    George Connor Tackle 1963
    Zygmont "Ziggy" Czarobski Tackle 1977
    Bill Fischer Tackle/Guard 1983
    Leon Hart End 1973
    Frank Leahy Coach 1970
    Johnny Lujack Quarterback 1960
    Jim Martin End/Tackle 1995
    Emil "Red" Sitko Halfback/Fullback 1984

    Notre Dame leads all universities in players inducted.[18]

    1947 NFL draft

    Main article:
    1947 NFL Draft

    The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Fighting Irish were selected.[19]

    Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
    3 16 John Mastrangelo Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers
    6 37 George Sullivan End Boston Yanks
    13 111 Bob Skoglund Defensive end Green Bay Packers
    15 134 John Fallon Tackle New York Giants
    27 250 Bob Palladino Back Green Bay Packers

    References

    1. ^ a b c "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131-175)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
    2. ^ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. pp. 73–74.
    3. ^ "1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
    4. ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 8. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
    5. ISBN 1401337031
      .
    6. ^ "SI's Top 20 Dynasties of the 20th Century". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
    7. ^ "College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
    8. Newspapers.com
      .
    9. Newspapers.com
      .
    10. Newspapers.com
      .
    11. Newspapers.com
      .
    12. Newspapers.com
      .
    13. Newspapers.com
      .
    14. Newspapers.com
      .
    15. Newspapers.com
      .
    16. Newspapers.com
      .
    17. ^ "ALL-TIME OUTLAND TROPHY WINNERS". Football Writers Association of America. Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
    18. ^ "Hall of Fame: Select group by school". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
    19. ^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.


    Stub icon

    This college football 1940s season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1946_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish_football_team&oldid=1189660131"