1946 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1946 Oklahoma Sooners football
Big 6 co-champion
Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 34–13 vs. NC State
ConferenceBig Six Conference
Ranking
APNo. 14
Record8–3 (4–1 Big 6)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSplit-T
CaptainJim Tyree
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1945
1947 →
1946 Big Six Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Kansas + 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 1
No. 14 Oklahoma + 4 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Missouri 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 1
Nebraska 3 – 2 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Iowa State 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 1
Kansas State 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1946 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma as a member of the Big Six Conference during the 1946 college football season. Led by Jim Tatum in his first and only season as head coach, the Sooners compiled an overall record of 8–3 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, sharing the Big 6 title with Kansas. Oklahoma was invited to the Gator Bowl, where they defeated NC State. With the aid of first-year backfield coach Bud Wilkinson, who became the team's head coach the following year, Tatum installed the new split-T offense.

The team ranked second nationally in total defense, giving up an average of only 141.7 yards per game.[1] They also led the country in rushing defense, giving up an average of only 58.0 rushing yards per game.[2] On offense, the Sooners ranked sixth nationally in rushing with an average of 235.4 yards per game and registered the highest single-game offensive total in games involving major teams with 664 yards against Oklahoma A&M.[2]

Oklahoma back Joe Golding ranked fourth nationally with 902 rushing yards on 126 carries, an average of 7.16 yards per carry.[3] Golding had played for Oklahoma in 1941 but missed four years while serving as an infantryman in the European theatre of World War II, receiving the Combat Infantry badge, the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. In an October 19, 1946 game against Kansas State, Golding broke or tied modern Oklahoma records with an 81-yard touchdown run, an average of 23.4 yards per carry, 164 net rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns.[4][5]

Nine Oklahoma players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Six Conference football team: Golding at back (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Wade Walker (AP-1, UP-1); guard Plato Andros (AP-1, UP-1); center John Rapacz (AP-1, UP-1); back Jack Mitchell (AP-2, UP-2); tackle Homer Paine (AP-2, UP-2); guard Buddy Burris (AP-2, UP-2); end Jim Tyree (AP-2, UP-3); and back Eddy Davis (UP-3).[6][7]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 74.
  3. ^ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 80.
  4. ^ "Golding Sounds a Warning: He's Out to Set New Marks". The Norman (Okla.) Transcript. October 21, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Golding Sparks Mighty Sooner Football Team: Eufala Grid Star Shines Brightly In O. U. Backfield". The Indian Journal. October 31, 1946. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Four Sooners, Three Tigers, Three Jayhawks on All-Big 6". Moberly Monitor-Index. November 29, 1946. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma Lands Four on All-Big Six First Team; Kansas Places Three Men". Seminole Producer. December 2, 1946. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.