The 1946 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

in the

1946 Big Nine Conference football season The 1946 Big Nine Conference football season was the 51st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference (also known as the Big Ten Conference and the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1946 college foo ...

. In their ninth year under head coach was

Fritz Crisler Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler (; January 12, 1899 – August 19, 1982) was an American college football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and ...

, the Wolverines compiled a 6–2–1 record (5–1–1 Big Nine), outscored opponents 233 to 73, and finished the season in second place in the

Big Nine Conference The Big Nine Conference, formerly the Big Eight Conference, was a high school sports conference in Genesee County, Michigan, that ended with four high schools in 2012. History Formed in 1960 as the Big Eight Conference, the conference became th ...

and ranked No. 6 in the final 1946 AP poll. The team's two losses came against an undefeated

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

team that was ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll and against an

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

team that won the Big Nine championship and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll. Michigan won its last four games by a combined score of 162 to 19, starting a 25-game winning streak that continued for nearly three years until October 8, 1949. In the final game of the 1946 season, Michigan defeated

Ohio State The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...

, 58–6, the Buckeyes' worst defeat since joining the conference in 1913. Halfback

Bob Chappuis Robert Richard Chappuis ( ; February 24, 1923 – June 14, 2012) was an American football player who played halfback and quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1942, 1946, and 1947. His college years were interrupted by servic ...

passed for 735 yards, the most since Benny Friedman set the school record with 760 passing yards in 1925. Chappuis also rushed for 548 yards, received second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Nine honors, and was selected as Michigan's Most Valuable Player for the 1946 season. Chappuis also ranked fifth nationally with 1,265 yards of total offense (531 rushing, 734 passing). The only Michigan player to receive first-team All-American honors in 1946 was

end End, END, Ending, or variation, may refer to: End *In mathematics: ** End (category theory) ** End (topology) **End (graph theory) ** End (group theory) (a subcase of the previous) **End (endomorphism) *In sports and games **End (gridiron footbal ...

Elmer Madar.

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

Jim Brieske was the team's leading scorer with 32 points having kicked 29 points after touchdown and one field goal. Bob Mann led the team in touchdowns with five. End Art Renner was the team captain.

Schedule

Season summary

Pre-season

In early January 1946,

Biggie Munn Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn (September 11, 1908 – March 18, 1975) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He was the head football coach at Albright College (1935–1936), Syracuse University (1946), and mo ...

, who had been Michigan's line coach since 1938, was hired as the head football coach at Syracuse. Jack Blott took over Munn's role as line coach.

Earl Martineau Earl Thomas Martineau (August 30, 1896 – January 20, 1966) was an American college football player and coach. He played halfback at the University of Minnesota and was selected as an All-American in 1922 and 1923 and served as the captain of th ...

, who had been Michigan's backfield coach since 1938, also left the program in early 1946 with

Bennie Oosterbaan Benjamin Oosterbaan ( ; February 24, 1906 – October 25, 1990) was a three-time first team College Football All-America Team, All-American American football, football End (gridiron football), end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-tim ...

taking over responsibility for coaching the backfield. In April and May 1946, Michigan conducted a six-week spring football practice. It was Michigan's "first peacetime practice session since 1941." More than 140 players, the largest group ever to report for a Michigan football practice to that time, showed up for spring practice. Although

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

ended in August 1945, three of the starters from the 1945 squad were inducted into the military in early 1946. They were: Wally Teninga, who started seven games at left halfback and was the team's leading scorer in 1945; Donovan Hershberger, who started eight games at end in 1945; and Gene Hinton, who started all 10 games at right tackle in 1945. Bob Ballau, a tackle from New York, was awarded the Chicago Alumni Club trophy as the team'smost improved player during spring practice. However, as some left for military service, others returned to Michigan after completing their military service. The returnees included: *

, who had played for Michigan in 1942, returned to the team in 1946 after three years of military service and being shot down in Italy in 1945. * Gene Derricotte, who had started nine games at halfback in 1944, returned as a starting halfback. * Bruce Hilkene, who had started nine games at end in 1944 and been elected captain of the 1945 team before being inducted into the military, returned for the 1946 season, though he was switched to the tackle position. * Quentin Sickels, who had started 10 games at guard in 1944, returned from military service. * Paul White, who had been captain of the 1943 Michigan team before joining the Marine Corps, notified coach Crisler in April 1946 that he would be returning in time for the 1946 season. *

Bob Wiese Robert Lee Wiese (January 25, 1923 – November 19, 1971) was an American football player. He played college football for Fritz Crisler's University of Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1946—missing the 1945 season du ...

, who had played at fullback and led Michigan in scoring in 1944, returned to the fullback position in 1946 after being inducted into the military in November 1945. The 1946 pre-season was also marked by the loss of

Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...

, head football coach at Michigan from 1901 to 1926 and athletic director from 1921 to 1940. Yost sustained a stroke on May 14, 1946, and died at his home in Ann Arbor on August 20, 1946. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery near the campus, with pallbearers including

, Robert J. Brown, and Paul G. Goebel. After one week of fall practice in late August 1946, coach Crisler opined "we're not quite as good as we're cracked up to be." A week later, Crisler hedged on his team's prospects, stating that the 1946 squad might be he greatest, but then adding that, on the other hand, "we may lose all of our games." On September 6, 1946,

Joe Ponsetto Joseph Ponsetto (March 29, 1926 – November 24, 2004) was an American football player who was the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams of 1944 and 1945. Playing under head coach Fritz Crisler, Ponset ...

, who had been Michigan's starting quarterback in 1944 and 1945, voted by his teammates as captain of the 1946 team, and undergone knee surgery in the off-season, announced that he would not play in 1946 due to a recurrence of the injury to his knee. The 1946 team featured three sets of brothers:

Pete Pete or Petes or ''variation'', may refer to: People * Pete (given name) * Pete (nickname) * Pete (surname) Fictional characters * Pete (Disney), a cartoon character in the ''Mickey Mouse'' universe * Pete the Pup (a.k.a. 'Petey'), a character ...

and Elliott from Bloomington, Illinois; guards Charles and Walter Freihofer from Indianapolis; and center J. T. White and halfback Paul White from

River Rouge, Michigan River Rouge (, french: link=no, Rivière Rouge, translation=red river) is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,224 at the 2020 census. The city is named after the River Rouge, which flows along the city's ...

Week 1: Indiana

After losing to the

Indiana Hoosiers The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Ath ...

in both 1944 and 1945, Michigan opened its 1946 season on September 28, 1946, with a 21 to 0 victory over the Hoosiers. The game was played at

Michigan Stadium Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...

on a warm, sunshiny day and attracted 74,600 spectators, the largest crowd to that time for a Michigan season opener and the largest crowd ever to watch an Indiana football game. Michigan opened the scoring with a 54-yard drive in the first quarter, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gene Derricotte to Paul White. In the fourth quarter, the Wolverines scored twice, on an 18-yard touchdown pass from

Pete Elliott Peter R. Elliott (September 29, 1926 – January 4, 2013) was an American football player and coach. Elliott served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (1956), the University of California, Berkeley (1957–1959), ...

Len Ford Leonard Guy Ford Jr. (February 18, 1926 – March 14, 1972) was an American football player who played at the offensive and defensive end positions from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional f ...

, and later on Derricotte's 51-yard sprint down the sideline. Jim Brieske kicked all three points after touchdown for Michigan. Displaying tremendous depth, 45 Michigan players saw action in the Indiana game. The Wolverines gained 190 rushing yards and 52 passing yards on four complete passes. Defensively, Michigan held Indiana to only 51 rushing yards. However, the Wolverines also gave up six interceptions on ten forward passes attempted and allowed Indiana to rack up 172 passing yards, leading head coach

to describe his team's play as "ragged and sloppy." Michigan's starting lineup against Indiana was

(left end), Bruce Hilkene (left tackle),

Dominic Tomasi Dominic Tomasi (February 11, 1928 - December 1, 1986) was an American football player who played guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He was a four-year starter and was selected as both the captain and Most Valuable Player of the Nati ...

(left guard), Harold Watts (center), George Kraeger (right guard),

Bill Pritula William Pritula (March 10, 1922 – January 24, 2006) was an American football player. He played college football as the starting right tackle for Fritz Crisler's Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1942, 1946, and 1947. He was one of Mi ...

(right tackle), Art Renner (right end),

Howard Yerges Howard Frederick Yerges Jr. (April 5, 1925 – December 24, 2000) was an American college football player who played quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in 1943 and the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1944 ...

(quarterback), Henry Fonde (left halfback), Ralph Chubb (right halfback), and

Jack Weisenburger John Edward Weisenburger (August 2, 1926 – March 25, 2019) was an American football and baseball player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1944 to 1947 and was the starting fullback for the undefeated 1947 Michiga ...

(fullback).

Week 2: Iowa

On October 5, 1946, Michigan defeated

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

by a 14 to 7 score at

. The Wolverines scored both of their touchdowns in the first half to take a 14 to 0 lead.

scored both Michigan touchdowns on runs of eight and 12 yards, while rushing for 123 yards on 20 carries in the game. Jim Brieske kicking both points after touchdown. The first half lead could have been significantly greater, but one drive was stopped by a fumble at Iowa's four-yard line, and another ended with an intercepted pass at the Iowa four-yard line. In the second half, Michigan was held scoreless and managed only two first downs. Iowa mounted a 65-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter, and another drive in the fourth quarter was stopped at Michigan's 14-yard line when the Wolverines' defense regained the ball on downs. In all, Michigan gained 224 rushing yards and 43 passing yards. Iowa gained 148 rushing yards and 12 passing yards. Michigan's starting lineup against Iowa was

(left end), Robert Derleth (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), Quentin Sickels (right guard), Jack Carpenter (right tackle), Art Renner (right end),

(quarterback),

Dan Dworsky Daniel Leonard Dworsky (October 4, 1927 – January 19, 2022) was an American architect who was a longstanding member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Among other works, Dworsky designed Crisler Arena, the basketbal ...

(left halfback), Paul White (right halfback), and

(fullback).

Week 3: Army

On October 12, 1946, Michigan, ranked #4 in the

AP Poll The Associated Press poll (AP poll) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broad ...

, played an

team that was ranked #2 at

. Army, favored to win the game by 12 points after winning 21 straight games dating back to the 1943 season, won by seven points with a score of 20 to 13. Michigan took a 7 to 0 lead in the first quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass from

with the point after touchdown being converted by Jim Brieske. Glenn Davis, the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner, played all 60 minutes for Army and was so dominant that the ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote that he may have earned All-American honors in one game. Davis tied the game on a 58-yard run in the first quarter. He then passed 31 yards to Bob Folson for Army's second touchdown in the second quarter. On the opening kickoff in the third quarter, Michigan drove 83 yards, and Paul White scored on a reverse from

. Michigan had a chance to take the lead, but Brieske's kick for the extra point was partially blocked and fell short. At the end of the third quarter, the game was tied 13 to 13. With a short touchdown run by

Doc Blanchard Felix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard (December 11, 1924 – April 19, 2009) was an American football player and serviceman who became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award, and was the first football player to win the James E. S ...

in the fourth quarter, Army regained the lead. With less than a minute remaining, Michigan drove to Army's 10-yard line, but the game ended as Army intercepted a Michigan pass. The ground game was relatively even (152 rushing yards for Army to 141 for Michigan), but Army dominated in the air (211 passing yards to 95 for Michigan). Michigan's starting lineup against Army was

(left end), Robert Derleth (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), George Kraeger (right guard),

(right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end), Yerges (quarterback), Chappuis (left halfback), Paul White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).

Week 4: Northwestern

On October 19, 1946, Michigan, ranked #5 in the

, played a Northwestern team that was ranked #10. The two teams played to a 14-14 tie at

Bump Elliott Chalmers William "Bump" Elliott (January 30, 1925 – December 7, 2019) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University (1943–1944) and the University of Michigan (1946–19 ...

scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, and Jim Brieske kicked both of the points after touchdown. Late in the game, Michigan blocked a Northwestern attempt at field goal and then drove to the Northwestern three-yard line, but the ball was then intercepted in the end zone drive. Northwestern out-gained Michigan on the ground (202 rushing yards for Northwestern and 80 for Michigan) with Michigan out-gaining the Wildcats in the air (149 passing yards to 110). Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was Ed McNeill (left end), Bruce Hilkene (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), George Kraeger (right guard),

(right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end),

(quarterback), Gene Derricotte (left halfback), Paul White (right halfback), and

(fullback).

Week 5: Illinois

On October 26, 1946, at Michigan's first homecoming game since 1942, Michigan lost to

by a score of 13 to 9. In the second quarter,

ran for the game's first touchdown, and Jim Brieske kicked the point after touchdown. On the kickoff following Michigan's touchdown, Illinois drove 95 yards and scored on a 16-yard run by Paul Patterson. In the third quarter, Illinois end Sam Zatkoff intercepted a pass thrown by

and ran 53 yards for a touchdown. Illinois' attempt at extra point was blocked by Quentin Sickels. In the fourth quarter, Michigan twice drove deep into Illinois territory (once to the 17-yard line and then to the eight-yard line), but Michigan's only points in the quarter were scored a safety as Bruce Hilkene blocked a punt into the end zone. Michigan out-gained Illinois in rushing yardage, 190 yards to 112, and in passing yardage, 142 yards to 39. However, Michigan fumbled the ball 12 times in the game. The game was Michigan's last defeat until October 8, 1949, a span of nearly three years during which the Wolverines won 25 consecutive games. Michigan's starting lineup against Illinois was

(left end), Robert Derleth (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), Sickels (right guard), Jack Carpenter (right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end),

(quarterback), Chappuis (left halfback),

(right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).

Week 6: at Minnesota

On November 2, 1946, Michigan defeated

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

by a score of 21 to 0. In the second quarter, Michigan relied on the passing game in its first touchdown drive, as

completed a pass for 43 yards to Elmer Madar and

then ran two yards for the touchdown on a fourth-down play. Elliott scored again in the third quarter on a 10-yard run. In the fourth quarter, Gene Derricotte threw a pass to Bob Mann that was good for 42 yards and a touchdown. Jim Brieske kicked all three points after touchdown. Michigan gained 183 rushing yards and 174 passing yards, while holding Minnesota to 130 rushing yards and 40 passing yards. The game marked the beginning of a 25-game winning streak for the Wolverines lasting until October 1949. Michigan's starting lineup against Minnesota was

(left end), Robert Derleth (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), Quentin Sickels (right guard), Jack Carpenter (right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end),

(quarterback), Gene Derricotte (left halfback), Ralph Chubb (right halfback), and

(fullback).

Week 7: Michigan State

On November 9, 1946, Michigan defeated

Michigan State Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...

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 The Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State University Spartans. The teams first played in 1898 and have met 114 times. The game has ...

. Michigan scored twice in each quarter with touchdowns by eight players:

(run in first quarter),

(pass from Chappuis in first quarter), Gene Derricotte (three-yard run in second quarter), Elmer Madar (four-yard interception return), Paul White (pass from Derricotte in third quarter), Don Robinson (run in third quarter),

(three-yard run in fourth quarter), and

Tony Momsen Anton Henry "Tony" Momsen, Jr. (January 29, 1928 – March 6, 1994) was an American football center in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Mic ...

(24-yard interception return in fourth quarter). Jim Brieske kicked six points after touchdown.

scored another after Brieske's kick was blocked in the first quarter; Don Robinson recovered the loose ball and tossed to Ford who fell across the goal line. Another extra point attempt was blocked, this one by

Lynn Chandnois Lynn Chandnois (February 24, 1925 – April 19, 2011) was an American football player who earned All-American honors for the Michigan State Spartans in 1949, won the NFL Player of the Year award for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1952, and played twic ...

, in the third 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. Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan State was Bob Mann (left end), Bruce Hilkene (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), Quentin Sickels (right guard),

(right tackle), Madar (right end), Pete Elliott (quarterback), Chappuis (left halfback),

(right halfback), and Weisenburger (fullback).

Week 8: Wisconsin

On November 16, 1946, Michigan defeated

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

by a score of 28 to 6. Michigan scored four touchdowns: 13-yard pass from

to Bob Mann in the first quarter; 27-yard pass from

to Mann in the first quarter; three-yard run by

in fourth quarter; and one-yard "end-around maneuver" by

in the fourth quarter. Center Jim Brieske kicked all four points after touchdown. Michigan gained 305 rushing yards and 146 passing yards. The Badgers were held to 99 rushing yards and 47 passing yards. Michigan's starting lineup against Wisconsin was Ed McNeill (left end), Robert Derleth (left tackle),

(left guard), Brieske (center), F. Stuart Wilkins (right guard), Jack Carpenter (right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end),

(quarterback), Chappuis (left halfback),

(right halfback), and

(fullback).

Week 9: at Ohio State

On November 23, 1946, Michigan defeated

by a score of 58 to 6. The 52-point spread was Ohio State's worst margin of defeat since joining the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...

in 1913. The game was viewed by 78,634 spectators, the fourth largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history to that point. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by Henry Fonde (2), Bob Mann (2),

, Paul White, Dick Rifenburg, and Bill Culligan. Jim Brieske kicked seven points after touchdown and a field goal.

passed for gains totaling 244 yards. In all, the Wolverines gained 509 yards, 300 passing and 209 rushing. A writer covering the game for the ''Chicago Tribune'' opined "few teams ever have been so impotent as Ohio State was this afternoon." In the last minute of the game, with Michigan's fourth-string backs in the game, Ohio State avoided the shutout with a touchdown pass from Bill Doolittle to Rodney Swinehart covering 77 yards. Michigan's starting lineup against Ohio State was Ed McNeill (left end), Bruce Hilkene (left tackle),

(left guard), J. T. White (center), George Kraeger (right guard),

(right tackle), Elmer Madar (right end),

(quarterback), Gene Derricotte (left halfback),

(right halfback), and

(fullback).

Scoring summary

Post-season

The

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...

released its final poll in early December 1946. The two teams that defeated the Michigan Wolverines finished among the top five. Undefeated

was ranked #2 with 48 voters picking them as the #1 team, narrowly missing its third consecutive national championship with 1,659-1/2 points.

champion

was ranked #5. The Wolverines were ranked #6. The Wolverines finished the season ranked fifth in total offense with 3,122 yards gained in nine games, an average of 366.9 yards per game. They also ranked fifth in passing offense with 1,322 passing yards, an average of 146.9 yards per game. In the selection of All-America teams at the end of the 1946 season, three Michigan players received recognition: * End Elmer Madar was selected by the

(AP) as a first-team All-American, by the

International News Service The International News Service (INS) was a U.S.-based news agency (newswire) founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.

(INS) as a second-team All-American, and by the Central Press Association (CP) as a third-team All-American. * Halfback

was selected by the INS as a second-team All-American and by the CP as a third-team All-American. * End

was selected by the

Newspaper Enterprise Association The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) is an editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1902. The oldest syndicate still in operation, the NEA was originally a secondary news ...

(NEA) as a third-team All-American. Both the AP and

United Press United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20t ...

(UP) selected

1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team The 1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Big Ten Conference teams selected by the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) for the 1946 Big Nine Conference football season. The top ...

s. Elmer Madar and Bob Chappuis were consensus first-team picks by both the AP and UP Tackle Jack Carpenter received first-team honors from the UP, and guard

received second-team honors from the UP. Bob Chappuis was also selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1946 Michigan team, and finished second behind Illinois guard

Alex Agase Alexander Arrasi Agase (March 27, 1922 – May 3, 2007) was an American football guard and linebacker who was named an All-American three times in college and played on three Cleveland Browns championship teams before becoming head football coac ...

in voting for the

Chicago Tribune Silver Football The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the ''Chicago Tribune'' to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois w ...

as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Nine Conference.

Players

Varsity letter winners

The following players received

varsity letter A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its recipient was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met. Description ...

s for their participation on the 1946 Michigan football team. Players who started at least half of the games are shown in bold. * Edward H. Bahlow, Springfield, Illinois - end * Robert M. Ballou,

Chester, Vermont Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,005 at the 2020 census. History The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were n ...

- tackle * Jim Brieske,

Harbor Beach, Michigan Harbor Beach is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,703 at the 2010 census. History The earliest settlers to this area arrived in 1837 and established a sawmill for processing lumber. The settlement event ...

- placekicker, and 1 game as starter at center * George Burg,

Winnetka, Illinois Winnetka () is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located north of downtown Chicago. The population was 12,316 as of 2019. The village is one of the wealthiest places in the nation in terms of household income. It was the second- ...

- guard * Bob Callahan,

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

- center * Jack Carpenter, Kansas City, Missouri - started 4 games at right tackle *

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

- started 4 games at left halfback * Ralph L. Chubb, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 2 games at right halfback * Fenwick J. Crane,

Pleasant Ridge, Michigan Pleasant Ridge is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,526 at the 2010 census. Located along the Woodward Corridor and Interstate 696, Pleasant Ridge is a northern suburb of Metro Detroit and is about ...

- tackle * William L. Culligan,

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

- halfback * Robert Derleth,

Marquette, Michigan Marquette ( ) is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,629 at the 2020 United States Census, which makes it the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette serves as the seat of government of Marquett ...

- started 3 games at left tackle * Gene Derricotte,

Defiance, Ohio Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about southwest of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo and northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 16,494 at the 2010 United State ...

- started 5 games at left halfback *

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls () is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the 130th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, which continues up ...

- started 1 game at fullback *

, Bloomington, Illinois - started 3 games at right halfback *

, Bloomington, Illinois - started 1 game at quarterback * Henry Fonde,

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...

- halfback *

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

- started 4 games at left end * Donovan P. Hershberger,

Freeport, Illinois Freeport is the county seat and largest city of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,973 at the 2020 census, and the mayor of Freeport is Jodi Miller, elected in 2017. Freeport is known for hosting the second Linc ...

- end * Bruce Hilkene,

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...

- started 6 games at left tackle * George Kraeger, Indianapolis, Indiana - started 5 games at right guard * John F. Lintol, Detroit - guard * Elmer Madar, Detroit - started 7 games at right end * Bob Mann, New Bern, North Carolina - started 2 games at left end * Edward D. McNeill,

- started 3 games at left end *

, Toledo, Ohio - *

, Detroit - started 5 games at right tackle * Art Renner, Sturgis, Michigan - started 2 games at right end * Dick Rifenburg,

Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...

- end * Don Robinson, Detroit - quarterback * Quentin Sickels,

Benton Harbor, Michigan Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is 46 miles southwest of Kalamazoo and 71 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. According to the 2020 census, its population was 9,103. It is the smaller, by population, o ...

- started 3 games at right guard *

Joe Soboleski Joseph Robert Soboleski, Jr. (August 22, 1926 – November 12, 2015) was an American football guard. Soboleski began his football career playing for Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from high school, ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...

- guard *

, Flint, Michigan - started 9 games at left guard * Robert W. Vernier, Toledo, Ohio - quarterback * Harold Watts,

Birmingham, Michigan Birmingham is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit located along the Woodward Corridor ( M-1). As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103. History The area comprising what is now the ...

- started 2 games at center *

Muskegon Heights, Michigan Muskegon Heights is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,856 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The city is surrounded o ...

- started 3 games at quarterback, 2 games at fullback, 1 game at right halfback * J. T. White,

- started 6 games at center * Paul White, River Rouge, Michigan - started 3 games at right halfback *

Jamestown, North Dakota Jamestown is a city in Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Stutsman County. The population was 15,849 at the 2020 census, making it the ninth largest city in North Dakota. Jamestown was founded in 1883 and is ...

- started 6 games at fullback * F. Stuart Wilkins, Canton, Ohio - started 1 game at right guard *

Point Pleasant, West Virginia Point Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. The population was 4,101 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Point Pleasant, ...

- started 5 games at quarterback

Reserves

The following players had "reserve" status on the 1946 Michigan football team. * Bruce Beatty, Canton, Ohio - halfback * Richard Brown, Detroit - tackle * Louis Brunsting, Jr., Rochester, Minnesota - quarterback * John Eizonas, Detroit - tackle * Robert Erben,

Akron, Ohio Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...

- center * Alan Fitch,

Kensington, Michigan Kensington is an unincorporated community and former village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United S ...

- guard * Walter Freihofer, Indianapolis, Indiana - guard * John Ghindia,

Ecorse, Michigan Ecorse ( ') is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,512 at the 2010 census. Ecorse is part of the Downriver community within Metro Detroit. The city shares a northwestern border with the city of Detroit ...

- quarterback * Lloyd Heneveld,

Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (formerly known locally as the Black Ri ...

- guard * James Holgate,

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

- halfback * Charles Huebler,

Plymouth, Michigan Plymouth is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States. The population was 9,370 at the 2020 census. The city of Plymouth is surrounded by Plymouth Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Plymouth is a western suburb of Metro ...

- tackle * Norman Jackson, Canton, Ohio - fullback * Kurt Kampe, Jr., Detroit - guard * Walter Keeler,

Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city and county seat of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and it is the principal city of the Bay City Metrop ...

- center * Frank Kiser, Lakewood, Ohio - guard * Donald Kuick,

Midland, Michigan Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Michigan. The city's population was 42,547 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area, part of the larger Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Com ...

- halfback * Donald Labenda, Detroit - tackle * Charles Lentz, Toledo, Ohio - halfback * John Maturo,

Hamden, Connecticut Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". The population was 61,169 at the 2020 census. History The peaceful tribe of Quinnipiacs were the first residents of the ...

- guard * James Morrish,

- halfback * Alton Noble, Detroit - halfback * Elmer Phillips, Big Bend, West Virginia - guard * Harold Raymond, Flint, Michigan - end * Richard Strauss, Lansing, Michigan - tackle * Alan Traugott, Indianapolis - halfback * Irv Wisniewski,

Lambertville, Michigan Lambertville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,433 at the 2020 census. The CDP is located within Bedford Township. The Lambertville 48144 ZIP ...

- center * John Witherspoon, Detroit - guard * Michael Yedniak, Flint, Michigan - fullback

Awards and honors

* 1946 All-Americans: Elmer Madar (AP-1, INS-2),

(INS-2) * All-Conference: Elmer Madar (AP-1, UP-1),

(AP-1, UP-1), Jack Carpenter (UP-1),

(UP-2) * Most Valuable Player: Bob Chappuis * Meyer Morton Award: Bob Ballou

NFL and AAFC drafts

The following 23 players from the 1946 Michigan football team were drafted to play and/or actually played in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

(NFL) and/or the All-America Football Conference (AAFC): * Jim Brieske: Brieske was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the 81st pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the New York Giants with the 97th pick in the

1948 NFL Draft The 1948 National Football League Draft was held on December 19, 1947, at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh. This was the second year that the first overall pick was a bonus pick determined by lottery, with the previous year's winner Chicago Be ...

. * Bob Callahan: Callahan was selected by the

Chicago Cardinals The professional American football team now known as the Arizona Cardinals previously played in Chicago, Illinois, as the Chicago Cardinals from 1898 to 1959 before relocating to St. Louis, Missouri, for the 1960 through 1987 seasons. Roots ...

with the 289th pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. He played for the Buffalo Bills in 1948. * Jack Carpenter: Carpenter was selected by the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...

with the 24th pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the Chicago Cardinals with the 143rd pick in the

1944 NFL Draft The 1944 National Football League Draft was held on April 19, 1944, at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Boston Yanks selected quarterback Angelo Bertelli. Player selections Round ...

. He played for the Buffalo Bills and

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

from 1947 to 1949. *

: Chappuis was selected by the

with the eight pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by Detroit Lions with the 26th pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Hornets in 1948 and 1949. * Ralph Chubb: Chubb was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 143rd pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. * Robert Derleth: Derleth was selected by the

Chicago Rockets The Chicago Rockets were an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1949. During the 1949 season, the team was known as the Chicago Hornets. Unlike the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, a ...

with the 20th pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the Detroit Lions with the 29th pick in the

. He played for the Lions in 1947. * Gene Derricotte: Derricotte was selected by the

with the eight pick of the AAFC's secret draft held in July 1948, but he was injured during training camp with the Browns at the end of July 1949 while standing along the sidelines playing catch with a teammate. *

: Dworsky was drafted by the

Los Angeles Dons The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the newly formed football league the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1949, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dons were the first pr ...

with the fifth pick in the AAFC's secret draft held in July 1948, and by the Green Bay Packers with the 15th pick in the

1949 NFL Draft The 1949 National Football League Draft was held on December 21, 1948, at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The draft was preceded by a secret draft meeting held November 15, 1948, at the Hotel Schenley in Pittsburgh. This was the ...

. He played for the Dons in 1949. *

: Elliott was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 76th pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. He opted instead to pursue a career in coaching. In 1949, brothers Bump and Pete Elliott worked together as assistant coaches at Oregon State. Bump was the head coach at Michigan from 1959 to 1968. *

: Elliott was drafted by the Chicago Hornets with the third pick in the AAFC's secret draft held in July 1948, and by the Detroit Lions with the 127th pick in the

. He opted instead to pursue a career in coaching starting in 1949 as an assistant coach at Oregon State and later serving as a head coach at Nebraska, California, Illinois, and Miami. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. *

: Ford was drafted by the

with the 14th pick in the 1948 AAFC Draft. He played 11 years in the NFL from 1948 to 1958 and was inducted into the

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coa ...

in 1976. * Elmer Madar: Madar was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the first pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the Detroit Lions with the 176th pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. He played for the Colts in 1947. * Bob Mann: Mann played for the Detroit Lions (1948–1949) and Green Bay Packers (1950–1954). He was the first African-American player for both teams. * Ed McNeill: McNeill was drafted by the

with the 37th pick in the

1949 AAFC Draft The 1949 AAFC Draft was the third and last collegiate draft of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The teams traded draft choices for the first time in league history. New York sent their first round pick to Chicago, which selected Pete E ...

, and by the Washington Redskins with the 88th pick in the

. *

: Momsen was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 59th pick in the

1951 NFL Draft The 1951 National Football League Draft was held January 18–19, 1951, at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season, and the NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft. This was the fifth year that th ...

, and played in the NFL during the 1951 and 1952 seasons. *

: Pritula was selected by the

with the 118th pick in the 1948 AAFC Draft. * Art Renner: Renner was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the 56th pick in the

1946 NFL Draft The 1946 National Football League Draft was held on January 14, 1946, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, New York. The selections were initially withheld from the public out of fear that the newly formed All-America Football Conference wou ...

. * Dick Rifenburg: Rifenburg was selected by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

with the 24th pick in the

, and by

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...

with the 132nd pick in the

. He played for the Detroit Lions in 1950. * Quentin Sickels: Sickels was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 147th pick in the

. *

: Soboleski was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 192nd pick in the

, and by the New York Giants with the 86th pick in the

. He played professional football in the AAFC and NFL for four years from 1949 to 1952. *

: Weisenburger was selected by the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...

with the 38th pick in the

. He was also selected by the New York Yankees with the 64th pick in the 1948 AAFC Draft. * J. T. White: White was selected by the Brooklyn Dodgers with the 84th pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the Detroit Lions with the 186th pick in the 1947 NFL Draft. *

: Wiese was selected by the

with the 14th pick in the 1947 AAFC Draft, and by the Detroit Lions with the 39th pick in the

1945 NFL Draft The 1945 National Football League Draft was held on April 8, 1945, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, New York. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Chicago Cardinals selected halfback Charley Trippi. Player selections Round o ...

. He played for the Lions in 1947 and 1948.

Coaching staff

*Head coach:

*Assistant coaches :* ''Backfield coach'':

:* ''Line coach'': Jack Blott assisted by Forrest "Butch" Jordan :* ''End coach'':

Arthur Valpey Arthur Ludgate Valpey Jr. (August 5, 1915 – March 12, 2007) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Harvard University from 1948 to 1949 and at the University of Connecticut from 1950 to 1951, compilin ...

:* ''"B" squad coach'':

Wally Weber Walter J. Weber (February 27, 1903 – April 14, 1984) was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played Halfback (American football), halfback and Fullback (American football), fullback for the Michigan Wolverines ...

, assisted by head wrestling coach

Cliff Keen Clifford Patrick Keen (June 13, 1901 – November 4, 1991) was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference cha ...

and Jack Petoskey :* ''Chief scout, assistant coach and assistant athletic director'': Ernest McCoy, appointed to the new post in January 1946 *Trainer: Ray Roberts *Manager: Max Kogen

References

External links

1946 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
{{Michigan Wolverines football navbox

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

Michigan Wolverines football seasons Michigan Wolverines football