| 1946Arkansas Razorbacks football | |
|---|---|
 | |
SWC co-champion | |
Cotton Bowl Classic, T 0–0 vs.LSU | |
| Conference | Southwest Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 16 |
| Record | 6–3–2 (5–1 SWC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Joyce Pipkin |
| Home stadium | Razorback Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10Rice + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16Arkansas + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15Texas | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1946 Arkansas Razorbacks football team was anAmerican football team that represented theUniversity of Arkansas in theSouthwest Conference (SWC) during the1946 college football season. In their first year under head coachJohn 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 the1947 Cotton Bowl Classic, playingLSU to a scoreless tie. After winning only five conference games all decade, the Razorbacks matched that total in one year.[1]
Six Arkansas players received honors from theAssociated Press (AP) orUnited Press (UP) on the1946 All-Southwest Conference football team: backClyde Scott (AP-1, UP-1); endAlton Baldwin (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Charles Lively (AP-1, UP-2); backKen Holland (AP-2, UP-2); center Bill Thomas (AP-2, UP-2); and backAubrey 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.[2][3] Scott also won a silver medal in the 110 meter hurdles at the1948 Summer Olympics and was later inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.[4]
The team's statistical leaders includedKen 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 finalLitkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[5]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Northwestern State* | W 21–14 | 9,000 | [6] | ||
| September 28 | atOklahoma A&M* | T 21–21 | 16,000 | [7] | ||
| October 5 | atTCU | W 34–14 | 13,000 | [8] | ||
| October 12 | Baylor | No. 18 |
| W 13–0 | 12,500 | [9] |
| October 19 | at No. 3Texas | No. 14 | L 0–20 | 40,000 | [10] | |
| October 26 | vs.Ole Miss* | L 7–9 | 25,000 | [11] | ||
| November 2 | atTexas A&M | W 7–0 | 17,000 | [12] | ||
| November 9 | No. 5Rice | W 7–0 | 17,000 | [13] | ||
| November 16 | SMU | No. 17 |
| W 13–0 | 15,000 | [14] |
| November 28 | atTulsa* | No. 10 | L 13–14 | 19,123 | [15] | |
| January 1 | vs. No. 8LSU* | No. 16 | T 0–0 | 38,000 | [16] | |
| ||||||
| Week | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | 18 | 14 | — | — | — | 17 | 11 | 10 | 16 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbacks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The1947 Cotton Bowl Classic was a match-up ofrivals who had not played since1937. 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 keptY.A. Tittle's Tiger offense out of theend zone from the Arkansas 1, 6, 7, and 8 yard lines, but Arkansas could not capitalize on any of the stops, and gained a lonefirst down the entire game. The final two plays proved the cold did not stop the teams from having a flair for the dramatic, as RazorbackClyde Scott (a futureCollege Football Hall of Famer) tackled LSU receiver Jeff Odom at the Razorback one, preserving the tie. The Tigers then attempted the go-aheadfield goal, but a bad snap ended the game on the final play.
The1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Razorbacks players were selected.[17]
| 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 |