1946 Indiana Hoosiers football team

The 1946 Indiana Hoosiers football team was an American football team that represented the Indiana Hoosiers in the 1946 Big Nine Conference football season. In their 13th year under head coach Bo McMillin, the Hoosiers compiled a 6–3 record (4–2 against Big Nine opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 129 to 95, finished in third place in the Big Nine, and were ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll (No. 19 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings).[1][2]

1946 Indiana Hoosiers football
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Ranking
APNo. 20
Record6–3 (4–2 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPPete Pihos
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
(capacity: 20,000)
1946 Big Nine Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Illinois $ 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
No. 6 Michigan 5 –1 –16 –2 –1
No. 20 Indiana 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Iowa 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
Minnesota 3 –4 –05 –4 –0
Ohio State 2 –3 –14 –3 –2
Northwestern 2 –3 –14 –4 –1
Wisconsin 2 –5 –04 –5 –0
Purdue 0 –5 –12 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

On defense, the Hoosiers led the Big Nine and ranked 14th nationally, allowing an average of only 179.9 yards per game.[3] In passing defense, they ranked fourth nationally, giving up only 59.8 yards per game.[4]

The Hoosiers also fielded the second best passing offense in the Big Nine, and ranked seventh nationally, with an average of 140.4 passing yards per game.[4] The team's pass offense was led by quarterback Ben Raimondi who ranked third nationally with 956 passing yards.[5] End Lou Mihajlovich was the team's leading receiver with 25 receptions for 300 yards.[6]

Fullback Pete Pihos was named the team's most valuable player.[7] Two Hoosiers received second-team honors on the 1946 All-America college football team: Raimondi (Associated Press) and center John Cannady (Central Press).[8][9][10] Four Hoosiers also received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team: Raimondi (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Russ Deal (AP-1, UP-1); Cannady (AP-1, UP-2); and Pihos (UP-2).[11][12]

The Hoosiers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21Cincinnati*
L 6–1515,000[13]
September 28at Michigan
L 0–2174,600[14][15]
October 5at Minnesota
W 21–053,648[16]
October 12Illinois
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Bloomington, IN
W 14–727,000[17]
October 19IowaNo. 18
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Bloomington, IN
L 0–1327,000[18]
October 26at Nebraska*
W 27–736,200[19]
November 2Pittsburgh*No. 20
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Bloomington, IN
W 20–617,000[20]
November 9at No. 17 Northwestern
W 7–6[21]
November 23at Purdue
W 34–2043,000[22]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[23]

After the season
Main article: 1947 NFL Draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Hoosiers were selected.[24]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
322John CannadyCenterNew York Giants
641Ben RaimondiBackChicago Cardinals
17150Bob RavensburgEndChicago Cardinals
18160Jim GoodmanTackleGreen Bay Packers
19173Jim DewarHalfbackLos Angeles Rams

[25]

References
  1. "1946 Indiana Hoosiers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  2. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 15, 1946). "Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  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. 73.
  4. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 75.
  5. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 82.
  6. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 83.
  7. "Pete Pihos Named I. U.'s Most Valuable". The Kokomo Tribune. United Press. November 29, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  8. "The 1946 AP All-America". Cumberland Evening Times. December 4, 1946.
  9. "Davis, Blanchard Earn All-America Positions". The Milwaukee Journal. December 4, 1946. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  10. "Army, Irish Place Two Each On Captains' All American". Wisconsin State Journal. December 3, 1946.
  11. "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.
  12. "Michigan Gets Three Places On UP Team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (UP story). November 30, 1946. p. 13.
  13. Harold Harrison (September 22, 1946). "Indiana Bows To Cincinnati: Bearcats Get 2 Touchdowns In First Half; Field Goal Gives Queen City Eleven Margin Of 15-6". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 40, 43 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Crisler Terms 'M' 11 'Sloppy' In Indiana Win". The News-Palladium. September 28, 1946. p. 6.
  15. James Segreti (September 29, 1946). "Wolverines Roll Over Indiana's Hope of Retaining Title, 21 to 0". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Jack K. Overmeyer (October 20, 1946). "Iowa Defeats Indiana: Hawkeyes Get 2 Touchdowns In 1st Period; Hastily-Plugged End Berth Proves Crimson Undoing". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41, 45 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Norris Anderson (October 27, 1946). "Hoosiers Overpower Huskers, 27 to 7: Big Ben Terrific In Rout". The Nebraska State Journal. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Harold Harrison (November 3, 1946). "Indiana Beats Pitt: Ben Raimondi's Passes Enable Hoosiers To Win From Pittsburgh, 20-6". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41, 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Wilfrid Smith (November 10, 1946). "Indiana Beats N. U., 7-6: Fourth Period Score Offsets Wildcat Lead; Penalty Nullifies Possible Tie". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. Harold Harrison, Jack K. Overmyer (November 24, 1946). "Indiana Eleven Punches Purdue, 34-20: Hoosiers Fight Back After Riveters Score Two Times In First Quarter". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41–43. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "1946 Football Schedule". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  24. "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  25. "1947 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2015.


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