1946 LSU Tigers football team

The 1946 LSU Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana State University (LSU) in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1946 college football season. In their 12th year under head coach Bernie Moore, the Tigers compiled a 9–1–1 record (5–1 against SEC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 240 to 123. They were ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll and were invited to play in the 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic where they played a scoreless tie against Arkansas.^[1]

1946 LSU Tigers football
Cotton Bowl Classic, T 0–0 vs. Arkansas
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
AP	No. 8
Record	9–1–1 (5–1 SEC)
Head coach	Bernie Moore (12th season)
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

1946 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Georgia +	5	–	0	–	0			11	–	0	–	0
No. 7 Tennessee +	5	–	0	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
No. 8 LSU	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	1
No. 11 Georgia Tech	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Mississippi State	3	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Alabama	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Vanderbilt	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Tulane	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Auburn	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Florida	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The Tigers ranked twelfth nationally in team defense, giving up an average of only 178.6 yards per game.^[2]

Offensively, the team was led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle who completed 45 of 95 passes for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns.^[3] Other key players included fullback Gene Knight with 473 rushing yards and ends Sam Lyle, Dan Sandifer, and Clyde Lindsey with 162, 159, and 157 receiving yards, respectively.^[3]

Four LSU players were honored by the Associated Press (AP) and/or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-SEC football team: quarterback Y. A. Tittle (UP-1); guard Wren Worley (AP-1, UP-2); fullback Gene Knight (UP-2); and tackle Walter Barnes (UP-2).^[4][5]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 28	at Rice*		Rice Field Houston, TX	W 7–6	26,000	^[6]
October 5	Mississippi State		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	W 13–6	44,000	^[7]
October 12	Texas A&M*	No. 13	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	W 33–9	30,000	^[8]
October 19	Georgia Tech	No. 12	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	L 7–26	30,000	^[9]
October 26	at Vanderbilt		Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 14–0	21,500	^[10]
November 2	Ole Miss		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	W 34–21	25,000	^[11]
November 9	Alabama	No. 19	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	W 31–21	46,000	^[12]
November 15	at Miami (FL)	No. 11	Burdine Stadium Miami, FL	W 20–7	33,504	^[13]
November 23	Fordham*	No. 9	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	W 40–0	15,000	^[14]
November 30	Tulane	No. 9	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Rag)	W 41–27	46,000	^[15]
January 1, 1947	vs. No. 16 Arkansas*	No. 8	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl, rivalry)	T 0–0	38,000	^[16]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

See also: 1946 NCAA football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked

	Week
Poll	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Final
AP	13	12	—	—	19	11	9	9	8

After the season

Main article: 1947 NFL Draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Tigers were selected.^[17]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
3	17	Gene Knight	Back	Washington Redskins
17	152	Hubert Shurtz	Tackle	Philadelphia Eagles
18	163	Ed Champagne	Tackle	Los Angeles Rams
20	179	Charlie Webb	End	Washington Redskins
20	182	Fred Hall	Guard	Philadelphia Eagles
21	192	Shelton Ballard	Center	Chicago Cardinals
30	282	Clyde Lindsley	End	Chicago Cardinals

References

1. "1946 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
2. 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.
3. "1946 LSU Fighting Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
4. "Eight Teams Place Men On AP All-Southeastern Conference Eleven". Freeport Journal-Standard. November 30, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved June 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
5. William Tucker (November 21, 1946). "Travis Tidwell, Auburn Back, On 2nd Team". The Anniston Star. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
6. Wilbur Evans (September 29, 1946). "LSU Beats Rice, 7-6: Fireworks All Crowded Into Final Period; 26,000 Fans Brave Elements to See Muddy Encounter". Sunday American-Statesman. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Tigers Down Maroons 13-6 in SEC Battle: Shorty McWilliams Proves "Goat" As Louisiana State Triumphs". The Shreveport Times. October 6, 1946. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Louisiana State Tigers Bomb Texas Aggies Into Defeat Before 30,000 Fans: Four Touchdowns By Air After Knight Plunges For First Score". The Shreveport Times. October 13, 1946. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Eddie Pagnac (October 20, 1946). "Georgia Tech Defeats Louisiana State, 26 to 7: Heavy Running Attack Carries Tornado to Win". The Shreveport Times. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Raymond Johnson (October 27, 1946). "Bayou Gridders Show Power Early in Game: Vandy Offense Fails To Function Against Stout Louisiana Line". The Nashville Tennessean. pp. Sports 1, 4 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Tigers Forced Hard To Turn Back Ole Miss Spirited Duel Climaxed By Fist Fight Between Foes At Close of Game". The Shreveport Times. November 3, 1946. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "L.S.U. outscores Tide in thrilling 31–21 win". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 10, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
13. Guy Butler (November 16, 1946). "Inspired Hurricanes Clawed, 20-7, In Last Half By LSU: 33,504 Fans Thrilled As U. M. Touchdown Play Goes 76 Yards". The Miami News. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
14. "LSU Routs Fordham Foe, 40-0". The Miami Herald. Miami, Fla. Associated Press. November 23, 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Scoring spree in second quarter carries Louisiana State to victory over Tulane before 45,000 fans". The Shreveport Times. December 1, 1946. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Lorin McMullen (January 2, 1947). "Arkansas Fights Off LSU for Scoreless Tie: Fowler's Punts Aid Hogs in Cotton Bowl's First 0-0 Tilt". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.