1946 San Francisco Dons football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1946
| team = San Francisco Dons
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 3–6
| head_coach = Maurice J. "Clipper" Smith
| hc_year = 1st
| captain =
| stadium = Kezar Stadium
| prev_year = 1943
}}
{{1946 Western major college football independents records}}
The 1946 San Francisco Dons football team was an American football team that represented the University of San Francisco as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Maurice J. "Clipper" Smith, the Dons compiled a 3–6 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 172 to 162.{{cite web|title=1946 San Francisco Dons Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=July 23, 2018|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/san-francisco/1946-schedule.html}}
Forrest Hall led San Francisco's ground attack and ranked 19th nationally with 579 rushing yards and averaged 6.51 yards per carry.{{cite book|title=The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947|publisher=A.S. Barnes and Company|editor=W.J. Bingham|year=1947|page=80}}
San Francisco was ranked at No. 86 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}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
|attend=yes
|source=yes
|September 29||Nevada|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|W 26-14|30,000|{{cite news|title=Hall Paces Dons' 26-14 Win: Nevada Beaten In U.S.F. Debut|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=September 30, 1946|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22167751/hall_paces_dons_2614_win_nevada/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 5|at|Stanford|Stanford Stadium|Stanford, CA|L 7-33|40,000|{{cite news|title=Cards Dazzle Dons: Indians Breeze, 33-7; Hall in 99 Yard Run|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Prescott Sullivan|date=October 6, 1946|pages=21, 23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100024894/cards-dazzle-dons-indians-breeze/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 13||Detroit|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|L 6-18|20,000|{{cite news|title=Titans End Road Jinx with 18-6 Triumph over San Francisco|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=W. W. Edgar|date=October 14, 1946|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15932952/titans_end_road_jinx_with_186_triumph/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 19|vs|Mississippi State|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|L 20-48|15,000|{{cite news|title=U.S.F. Vanquished in Scoring Orgy, 48-20|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Bill Mulligan|date=October 20, 1946|pages=21, 22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100025271/usf-vanquished-in-scoring-orgy-48-20/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 3||Santa Clara|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|L 13-19|30,000|{{cite news|title=Broncos Win 19-13 on Don Fumbles: Hall Steals Spotlight in Grid Thriller|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=November 4, 1946|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22168016/broncos_win_1913_on_don_fumbles_hall/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 9||Kansas State|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|W 38-6|< 4,000|{{cite news|title=Hall Beats Kansans: 5 Tries, 4 TDs In Dons' 38-6 Win|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Bob Brachman|date=November 10, 1946|pages=21, 22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100025623/hall-beats-kansans-5-tries-4-tds-in/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 16||Utah|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|L 13-21|5,000|{{cite news|title=Utah Romps for 21-13 Victory Over USF Dons|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Bob Brachman|date=November 17, 1946|pages=25, 39|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100025961/utah-romps-for-21-13-victory-over-usf/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 24||Wyoming|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|W 39-7|10,000|{{cite news|title=Stampede! Dons Jar Wyoming, 39-7|newspaper=San Francisco Examiner|date=November 25, 1946|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27232250/stampede_dons_jar_wyoming_397/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|December 1||Saint Mary's|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco, CA|L 0-6|50,000|{{cite news|title=St. Mary's Accepts Oil Bowl Bid|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=December 2, 1946|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22168124/st_marys_accepts_oil_bowl_bid/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
After the season
{{main|1947 NFL draft}}
The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Don was 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=San Francisco Dons| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club}} | ||||
| 5 | 27 | Carroll Vogelaar | Tackle | Boston Yanks |