1946 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1946 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their 13th and final season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 5–5 record and were outscored by a total of 202 to 181.[1][2] The 1946 Spartans lost their annual rivalry game with Michigan by a 55 to 7 score.[3] In intersectional play, the Spartans beat Penn State (19–16), Maryland (26-14), and Washington State (26-20), but lost to Boston College (34–20), Mississippi State (6–0), and Kentucky (39–14).[2]

1946 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–3–1
Head coach
MVPGeorge Guerre
CaptainKenneth E. Balge, Robert B. McCurry
Home stadiumMacklin Field
1946 Midwestern major college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –  8 –0 –1
Detroit   –  6 –4 –0
Michigan State   –  5 –5 –0
Marquette   –  4 –5 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

George Guerre led Michigan State, ranked 13th nationally with 633 rushing yards, and averaged 7.03 rushing yards per carry.[4]

Michigan State was ranked at No. 51 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[5]

In mid-December 1946, Michigan State hired Clarence Munn to replace Bachman as head coach.[6]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28Wayne
W 42–019,106[7]
October 5Boston College
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
L 20–3421,015[8]
October 12Mississippi State
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
L 0–622,000[9]
October 19at Penn State
W 19–1620,000[10]
October 26Cincinnati
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
L 7–1822,524[11]
November 2at Kentucky
L 14–3919,700[12]
November 9at No. 11 Michigan
L 7–5576,373[3]
November 16Marquettedagger
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
W 20–021,441[13]
November 23Maryland
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
W 26–1416,239[14]
November 30Washington State
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
W 26–2019,691[15]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Michigan
Week 7: Michigan State at Michigan
1 234Total
Michigan State 0 070 7
• Michigan 14 141314 55

On November 9, 1946, Michigan State lost to Michigan by a score of 55 to 7. With attendance at 77,134, the game drew the largest crowd to that date in the history of the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.[3] Michigan scored twice in each quarter. Michigan State's touchdown came on a pass from Horace Smith to Frank Waters covering 77 yards in the third quarter. Michigan gained 500 yards in the game, 293 on the ground and 207 in the air. Michigan was held to 212 yards of which only 47 yards were gained by rushing.[3]

After the season
Main article: 1947 NFL Draft

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

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
13106Walt VezmarGuardDetroit Lions
21195Russ ReaderDefensive backChicago Bears

References
  1. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 154. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  2. "1946 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  3. Charles Bartlett (November 10, 1946). "State Loses To Wolverine Eleven, 55 to 7". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1.
  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. 80.
  5. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 15, 1946). "Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Munn Accepts Post as Football Coach at Michigan State". The Escanaba (Mich.) Daily Press. December 15, 1946. p. 11.
  7. George S. Alderton (September 29, 1946). "Michigan State Romps Over Wayne in Grid Opener, 42 to 0". Lansing State Journal. pp. 22, 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. George S. Alderton (October 6, 1946). "Boston Passes Defeat State: MSC Bows In Scoring Bee, 34-20 Eagles Wreck Spartan Defense with Nearly Perfect Passing Attack". Lansing State Journal. pp. IV-1, IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Lad Slingerlend (October 13, 1946). "Mississippi State Edges Spartans, 6-0: Quick Score Nicks M.S.C. In Drizzle; State Threatens Twice but Ground Attack Fails; 22,000 Sit in Rain". Lansing State Journal. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Spartans Nip Lions, 19-16: Michigan State Springs Surprise". The Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. October 20, 1946. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. George S. Alderton (October 27, 1946). "Cincinnati Rally Defeats State, 18 to 7: 22,524 See State Fall To Bearcats; Cincinnati Scores 2 Touchdowns in Last 10 Minutes to Win". Lansing State Journal. pp. 25–25 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Babe Kimbrough (November 3, 1946). "Phelps Scores Four Touchdowns As Wildcats Rout Michigan State, 39 To 14: Last-Half Attack Erases Lead By Visiting Eleven". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. George S. Alderton (November 17, 1946). "Michigan State Marquette Master, 20-0: Guerre Goes 59 Yards in Scoring Run; Old Grads Treated to Victory; Spartans Dominate Game All the Way". Lansing State Journal. pp. 25–26 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. George S. Alderton (November 24, 1946). "State Measures Maryland, 26 to 14: Guerre and Pals Romp Past Terps; Regulars Lead 20-7 at Halftime; Reserves Have Their Inning". Lansing State Journal. pp. 25–26 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Lad Slingerland (December 1, 1946). "Spartans Edge Washington State, 26-20: Scoring Bee Finds M.S.C. On Long End; Thrilling Victory in Final Period Gives State .500 Grid Season". Lansing State Journal. pp. 33–34 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.


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