1946 Kentucky Wildcats football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1946
| team = Kentucky Wildcats
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| short_conf = SEC
| record = 7–3
| conf_record = 2–3
| head_coach = Bear Bryant
| hc_year = 1st
| captain = Phil Cutchin
| stadium = McLean Stadium
}}
{{1946 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The 1946 Kentucky Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1946 college football season. In their first season under head coach Bear Bryant, the Wildcats compiled a 7–3 record (2–3 against SEC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 233 to 90.{{cite web|title=1946 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=May 25, 2022|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/1946-schedule.html}}
Bryant was hired as Kentucky's head football coach in January 1946. He had been the head coach at Maryland in 1945. At age 32, he was one of the youngest head coaches at a major university.{{cite news|title=Bryan To Have Four Full-Time Assistants In Effort To Lift U. K. Football Fortunes|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|author=Laurence Shrophire|date=January 15, 1946|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93177439/bryant-and-four/|via=Newspapers.com}} Bryant took over a program that had compiled losing records of 2–8 in 1945, 3–6 in 1944, and 3–6–1 in 1942 – while winning only one game against an SEC opponent during the three years. Bryant promptly turned the program around, eventually leading the Wildcats to SEC and Sugar Bowl championships in 1950.
Two Kentucky players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-SEC football team: Wallace Jones at end (AP-1, UP-3); and Dan Phelps at halfback (UP-2).{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2562395/freeport_journalstandard/|work=Freeport Journal-Standard|title=Eight Teams Place Men On AP All-Southeastern Conference Eleven|date=November 30, 1946|page=8|accessdate=June 6, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|author=William Tucker|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6243016/the_anniston_star/|work=The Anniston Star|date=November 21, 1946|page=16|accessdate=May 30, 2015|title=Travis Tidwell, Auburn Back, On 2nd Team|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}
Kentucky was ranked at No. 14 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.{{cite news|title=Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit|author=Dr. E. E. Litkenhous|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|date=December 15, 1946|page=B4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123020754/rice-rated-fifth-best-tennessee-12th/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team played its home games at McLean Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1946
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 21
| w/l = w
| opponent = Ole Miss
| site_stadium = McLean Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 20–7
| attend = 19,600
| source = {{cite news|title=Wildcats Conquer Ole Miss In Opener, 20 To 6: Passing Attack Clicks For Bryant's Charges As 19,600 See Game|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|author=Babe Kimbrough|date=September 22, 1946|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102515316/wildcats-conquer-ole-miss-in-opener-20/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Cincinnati
| site_stadium = Nippert Stadium
| site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH
| score = 26–7
| attend = 27,000
| source = {{cite news|title=UC Bearcats Defeated By Kentucky, 26-7: Visitors Far Too Classy; Wildcats Break Ice In Second Quarter|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|author=Dick Forbes|date=September 29, 1946|pages=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102092138/uc-bearcats-defeated-by-kentucky-26-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 5
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Xavier
| site_stadium = McLean Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 70–0
| attend = 20,200
| source = {{cite news|title=Kentucky Wildcats Overpower Xavier Musketeers, 70-0, For Third Win In Row|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|author=October 9, 1946|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102519149/kentucky-wildcats-overpower-xavier/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = Georgia
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium
| site_cityst = Athens, GA
| score = 13–28
| attend = 25,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Georgia Topples Kentucky 28-13: Cats Score 1st But Bulldogs Tally 7 In Each Quarter|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Roy Steinfort|date=October 12, 1946|page=Sports 3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99016977/georgia-topples-kentucky-28-13-cats/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 19
| w/l = w
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| site_stadium = McLean Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 10–7
| attend = 21,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Wildcats Hand Vanderbilt First Setback, 10-7|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|author=Babe Kimbrough|date=October 20, 1946|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102520509/wildcats-hand-vanderbilt-first-setback/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 26
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Cramton Bowl
| site_cityst = Montgomery, AL
| score = 7–21
| attend = 22,500
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 2
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Michigan State
| site_stadium = McLean Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 39–14
| attend = 19,700
| source = {{cite news|title=Cincinnati Rally Defeats State, 18 to 7: 22,524 See State Fall To Bearcats; Cincinnati Scores 2 Touchdowns in Last 10 Minutes to Win|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=October 27, 1946|pages=25-25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101811537/cincinnati-rally-defeats-state-18-to/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Marquette
| site_stadium = Marquette Stadium
| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI
| score = 35–0
| attend = 12,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Kentucky Calls Foe's Hand, Then Whacks It 35-7: Marquette Starts 12 Men But Play of Cats Shows Maybe It Wasn't Error|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Earl Ruby|date=November 10, 1946|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102206014/kentucky-calls-foes-hand-then-whacks/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = West Virginia
| site_stadium = McLean Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 13–0
| attend = 20,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Kentucky Conquers West Virginia 13 To 0 Before 20,000: Phelps Chalks Up Both Touchdowns for Wildcats|newspaper=The Owensboro, Ky., Messenger|author=Kyle Vance|date=November 17, 1946|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102241897/kentucky-conquers-west-virginia-13-to-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Shields-Watkins Field
| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 0–7
| attend = 35,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98738955/grid-victory-to-tennessee/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Grid victory to Tennessee|date=November 24, 1946|accessdate=March 30, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1946 college football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 1
| poll1lastweek = 9
| poll1_1=19т
| poll1_2=NR
| poll1_3=NR
| poll1_4=NR
| poll1_5=NR
| poll1_6=NR
| poll1_7=NR
| poll1_8=NR
| poll1_9=NR
}}
1947 NFL draft
The 1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Wildcats were selected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1947/draft.htm|title=1947 NFL Draft Listing|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=November 29, 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Kentucky Wildcats| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club}} | ||||
| 3 | 18 | Ermal Allen | Quarterback | Chicago Cardinals |
| 27 | 151 | Phil Cutchin | Back | Philadelphia Eagles |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kentucky Wildcats football navbox}}
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons
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{{collegefootball-1946-season-stub}}