1946 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
American college football season
The 1946 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1946 Big Nine Conference football season . In their 12th year under head coach Bernie Bierman , the Golden Gophers compiled a 5–4 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 130 to 114.[ 1]
Halfback Billy Bye was awarded the team MVP award.[ 2]
Minnesota was ranked at No. 27 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[ 3]
Total attendance for the season was 328,003, which averaged to 54,667. The season high for attendance was against Michigan .[ 4]
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 28 Nebraska * W 33–651,093 [ 5]
October 5 Indiana Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN L 0–2153,648 [ 6]
October 12 at No. 10 Northwestern L 7–1440,000 [ 7]
October 19 Wyoming * Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 46–046,087 [ 8]
October 26 at Ohio State L 9–3976,611 [ 9]
November 2 No. 13 Michigan L 0–2158,575 [ 10]
November 9 Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 13–758,341 [ 11]
November 16 No. 16 Iowa Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry ) W 16–659,180 [ 12]
November 23 at Wisconsin W 6–045,000 [ 13]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Game summaries
Michigan
Week 6: Michigan at Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
• Michigan
0
7 7 7
21
Minnesota
0
0 0 0
0
On November 2, 1946, Minnesota lost to by a score of 21 to 0. In the second quarter, Michigan relied on the passing game in its first touchdown drive, as Bob Chappuis completed a pass for 43 yards to Elmer Madar and Bump Elliott then ran two yards for the touchdown on a fourth-down play. Elliott scored again in the third quarter on a 10-yard run. In the fourth quarter, Gene Derricotte threw a pass to Bob Mann that was good for 42 yards and a touchdown. Jim Brieske kicked all three points after touchdown. Michigan gained 183 rushing yards and 174 passing yards, while holding Minnesota to 130 rushing yards and 40 passing yards.[ 14]
After the season
The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Golden Gophers were selected.[ 15]
References
^ "1946 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017 .
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , p. 181 [permanent dead link ]
^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 15, 1946). "Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit" . The Knoxville News-Sentinel . p. B4 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , p. 160 [permanent dead link ]
^ Charles Johnson (September 29, 1946). "Faunce Leads Gophers in 33 to 6 Victory: Minnesota Air Attack Clicks" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. Sports 1, 2. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (October 6, 1946). "Indiana Fumbles 12 Times But Routs Minnesota 21 To 0" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Arch Ward (October 13, 1946). "N.U. Wins, 14 to 7: 67 Yard Run on First Play Jolts Gophers; 2 Touchdowns by Aschenbrenner" . Chicago Tribune . pp. II-1, II-2. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (October 20, 1946). "Minnesota Reserves Rout Wyoming 46-0: Harry Elliott and Bye Shine; Each Scores Twice in One-Sided Game" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. 1S, 2S. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (October 27, 1946). "Ohio State Wallops Gophers 39-9" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. 1S, 2S. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (November 3, 1946). "Gophers Bow To Michigan Speed 21-0" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. 1S, 2S. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (November 10, 1946). "Gophers Win 13-7, End Victory Famine: Gophers Cop 13-7 Victory" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . p. Sports 1, 2. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Charles Johnson (November 17, 1946). "Minnesota Upsets Iowa 16 to 6: Brilliant Bye Blasts Hawks" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune . pp. Sports 1, 2. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Henry J. McCormick (November 24, 1946). "Badgers Lose Bitterly Fought Battle, 6-0: Gophers Win One Wisconsin Could Easily Have Taken" . Wisconsin State Journal . pp. 29, 30. Retrieved May 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Wilfrid Smith (November 3, 1946). "Wolverines Top Gophers, 21-0; Take 2d" . Chicago Tribune . p. 2-1.
^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved November 29, 2020 .
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