1946 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
1946 Illinois Fighting Illini football | |
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Big Nine champion Rose Bowl champion | |
Conference | Big Nine Conference |
Ranking | |
AP | No. 5 |
Record | 8–2 (6–1 Big Nine) |
Head coach |
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MVP | Alex Agase |
Captain | Mac Wenskunas |
Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 5 Illinois $ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Michigan | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 Indiana | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1946 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois in the 1946 Big Nine Conference football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Ray Eliot, the Illini compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 against Big Nine opponents) and won the Big Nine championship. They finished the season ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll and were invited to play in the 1947 Rose Bowl where they defeated No. 4 UCLA, 45–14.[1][2] Center Mac Wenskunas was the team captain.[2]
Guard Alex Agase was a consensus first-team selection on the 1946 All-America college football team.[3] Agase also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Nine's most valuable player.[4] Four Illinois players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team: Agase (AP-1, UP-1); ends Ike Owens (UP-1) and Sam Zatkoff (UP-2); and halfback Jules Rykovich (UP-2).[5][6]
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | W 33–7 | 35,000 | [7] | ||
September 28 | Notre Dame* | L 6–26 | 75,119 | [8] | |||
October 5 | Purdue |
| W 43–7 | 38,519 | [9] | ||
October 12 | at Indiana | No. 12 | L 7–14 | 27,000 | [10] | ||
October 19 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 20 Wisconsin |
| W 27–21 | 62,597 | [11] | |
October 26 | at No. 8 Michigan | W 13–9 | 86,938 | [12][13] | |||
November 2 | at Iowa | No. 11 | W 7–0 | 52,000 | [14] | ||
November 16 | No. 13 Ohio State | No. 9 |
| W 16–7 | 61,519 | [15] | |
November 23 | at Northwestern | No. 5 | W 20–0 | 47,000 | [16] | ||
January 1 | vs. No. 4 UCLA* | No. 5 | W 45–14 | 93,083 | [17] | ||
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Game summaries
Pittsburgh
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Previous Scores
Year | Score |
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1943 | ILL 33-25 |
1944 | ILL 39-5 |
1945 | ILL 23-3 |
Stats
Illinois | Pittsburgh | |
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Total number of first downs | 10 | 9 |
First down rushing | 7 | 3 |
First down forward pass | 1 | 6 |
First down penalties | 2 | 0 |
Net yard rushing | 193 | 132 |
Net yard forward pass | 33 | 73 |
Net yard offensive plays | 226 | 205 |
Forward pass thrown | 9 | 19 |
Forward pass completed | 2 | 6 |
Forward pass Int'ecpted | 2 | 4 |
Number of penalties | 1 | 14 |
Yards of penalties | 5 | 76 |
Number of punts | 5 | 12 |
Number of fumble | 5 | 12 |
Number of fumble lost | 1 | 3 |
Rankings
Week | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
AP | 12 | — | — | 11 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Roster
Player | Position |
Alex Agase | Offensive guard |
Perry Moss | Quarterback |
Ruck Steger | |
Les Bingaman | Guard, Tackle |
Sam Zatkoff | End |
Joe Buscemi | |
Bob Cunz | Tackle |
Don Maechtle | Placekicker |
Don Pittman | |
Chuck Gottfried | |
Al Martignago | |
Lyle Button | Tackle |
Lou Levanti | Center |
Bob Prymuski | Guard |
Tom Gallagher | |
Al Mastrangeli | Center |
Merle Schlosser | End |
Bernie Krueger | Quarterback |
Dike Eddleman | Punter |
Bill Franks | Tackle |
Chick Maggioli | Defensive back, Halfback |
Paul Patterson | Quarterback |
Ike Owens | End, Defensive end |
Art Dufelmeier (Captain) | Halfback |
Tom Stewart | |
Bob Hinkle | |
Lou Agase | Tight end, Tackle |
Jim Valck | |
Jack Pierce | |
Burt Schmidt | |
Denny Bassett | |
Walt Kersulis | End |
John Wrenn | Guard |
Herb Siegert | Guard, Linebacker |
Bill Heiss | End |
- Head coach: Ray Eliot (5th year at Illinois)
- Line coach: Burt Ingwersen
Awards and honors
References
- ^ "1946 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ a b "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 8. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- ^ "Alex Agase Is Most Valuable". Journal and Courier. December 16, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Indiana Places Three on Big Ten All-Stars". The Milwaukee Journal (AP story). November 26, 1946. p. 6. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- ^ "Michigan Gets Three Places On UP Team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (UP story). November 30, 1946. p. 13.
- ^ Jack Henry (September 22, 1946). "Pitt Overpowered Illinois, 33-7: Victors Held To 7-7 Score In First Half; Gave 'Em a Scare!". Pittsburgh Sunday Sun-Telegraph. p. II-7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bert Bertine (September 29, 1946). "Notre Dame Halts Young, Overpowers Illinois, 26-6: Record 75,119 Watches Irish Dominate Battle". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. pp. 29, 30 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bert Bertine (October 6, 1946). "Illini Rout Purdue, 43-7: Illinois Backs Run Freely in Big Nine Debut". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. p. II-1. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jack K. Overmyer (October 13, 1946). "Indiana Triumphs: 4th-Quarter Tally By Pihos Decides Game; Capacity Throng Of 27,000 Sees Illini Bow, 14-7". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41, 43 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Irving Vaughan (October 20, 1946). "Illini Beat Wisconsin, 27-21: 2 Touchdowns in 4th Period Whip Badgers; Wham! 21 Points in First 4 Minutes". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Edward Burns (October 27, 1946). "Zatkoff Races 53 Yards As Illinois Beats Michigan, 13-9". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1.
- ^ Lyall Smith (October 27, 1946). "Illini Upset Wolverines on Zatkoff's Long Run, 13-9: Sam Travels 47 Yards on Interception; 12 Fumbles Costly to Michigan Drives". Detroit Free Press. pp. IV-2, IV-3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bert McGrane (November 3, 1946). "Illini Sink Iowa, 7-0, Lead Big 9: 5 Hawk Bids Fail; Steger's Stab on Illinois' Big Push Drops Iowans From Race". The Des Moines Sunday Register. pp. V-1, V-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Edward Burns (November 17, 1946). "Illinois Defeats Ohio, 16-7; Keeps Lead; Rykovich Goes 98 Yards Over Muddy Field; It's Fifth Victory in Big Nine". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Charles Bartlett (November 24, 1946). "Illinois Beats N.U., 20-0; Takes Big 9 Title; Sixth League Victory Opens Door To Bowl". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Paul Zimmerman (January 2, 1947). "Illinois Wallops Bruins by 45-14: Young, Rykovich Run Wild Behind Fast Illini Line as 93,083 Fans Gasp". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.