1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina in the Southern Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Carl Snavely, the Tar Heels compiled an 8–2–1 record (4–0–1 against Southern Conference opponents), won the conference title, and outscored opponents by a total of 271 to 129. They ranked ninth in the final AP Poll and were invited to the school's first bowl game, the 1947 Sugar Bowl, which they lost to Georgia.[1]

1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football
SoCon champion
Sugar Bowl, L 10–20 vs. Georgia
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 9
1946 record8–2–1 (4–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainChan Highsmith, Ralph Strayhorn
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium
1946 Southern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 9 North Carolina $ 4 –0 –18 –2 –1
William & Mary 7 –1 –08 –2 –0
No. 18 NC State 6 –1 –08 –3 –0
South Carolina 4 –2 –05 –3 –0
Duke 3 –2 –04 –5 –0
Richmond 3 –2 –26 –2 –2
VPI 3 –3 –23 –4 –3
VMI 2 –3 –14 –5 –1
George Washington 1 –1 –04 –3 –0
Clemson 2 –3 –04 –5 –0
Wake Forest 2 –3 –06 –3 –0
Maryland 2 –5 –03 –6 –0
Furman 1 –4 –02 –8 –0
Washington and Lee 1 –4 –02 –6 –0
The Citadel 1 –5 –03 –5 –0
Davidson 1 –5 –04 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The Tar Heels ranked seventh nationally in rushing with an average of 234.1 yards per game.[2] The rushing attack was led by Charlie Justice who ranked third nationally with 943 rushing yards and averaged 7.20 yards per carry.[3] Justice was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1961.[4]

Five North Carolina players were honored by the Associated Press (AP) on the 1946 All-Southern Conference football team: Justice on the first team; tackle Ted Hazelwood and center Chan Highsmith on the second team; and guard Harry Varney and fullback Hosea Rodgers (third team).[5]

The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28VPI
T 14–1426,000[6][7]
October 4at Miami (FL)*
W 21–031,451[8]
October 12Maryland
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
W 33–015,000[9]
October 19at Navy*No. 15
W 21–1430,500[10]
October 26Florida*No. 10
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
W 40–1922,000[11]
November 2at No. 10 Tennessee*No. 9
L 14–2035,000[12]
November 9vs. William & MaryNo. 17
W 21–718,000[13]
November 16Wake ForestNo. 15
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)
W 26–1430,000[14]
November 23DukeNo. 14
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)
W 22–743,385[15]
November 30at Virginia*No. 11
W 49–1422,500[16]
January 1, 1947vs. No. 3 Georgia*No. 9
L 10–2073,300[17]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

After the season
Main article: 1947 NFL Draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Tar Heels were selected.[18]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
1079Ernie WilliamsonTackleWashington Redskins
1298Jack FitchBackPittsburgh Steelers
18165Walt PupaBackChicago Bears
28262Jerrell BaxterTackleGreen Bay Packers
32300Don ClaytonBackNew York Giants

[19]

References
  1. "1946 North Carolina Tar Heels 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. 74.
  3. 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.
  4. "Charlie Justice". National Football Foundation. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  5. "All-Southern Conference". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. December 1, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Bob Goldwater (September 29, 1946). "VPI Gains 14-14 Tie With Late Surge: Tar Heel Defense Stopped After 14-0 Halftime Lead; Techmen Turn Blocked Punts Into Points; Justice Gallops 68 Yards for Touchdown". The Daily Tar Heel. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Tar Heels Oppose VPI Eleven In 1946 Grid Opener Today". The Daily Tar Heel. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. September 28, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  8. Gary Butler (October 5, 1946). "It's Case of 'Too Much Justice' As Hurricanes Bow To NC: Tarheel Brilliant Leads Way To 21-0 Victory Before 31,451". The Miami News. p. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Irwin Smallwood (October 13, 1946). "Tar Heels Teach New Line to Old Liners: Downpour Marks 33-0 Victory As Myers, Camp, Grow, Score; Carolina Defense Holds Fast To Stop Visiting Maryland "T" Party Blank". The Daily Tar Heel. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Craig F. Taylor (October 20, 1946). "N.C. Stages Rally To Top Navy, 21-14: Tarheels Score Twice In Last Period To Win Before 30,500 Fans". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Fred Flagler (October 27, 1946). "Carolina Slaughters Florida 40 to 19: Gators Frighten Tar Heels With Deadly Passing Attack; Charlie Justice Leads Scoring Pace With Two Brilliant Touchdown Runs". The Daily Tar Heel. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Tennessee dumps Tar Heels from unbeaten ranks". The State. November 3, 1946. Retrieved March 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Chauncey Durden (November 10, 1946). "Tarheels Down W&M, 21-7: Carolina Conquers Indians Before 18,000 at Stadium". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. 6B, 11B – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Bob Goldwater (November 17, 1946). "Passes Bring Tar Heels Victory Over Deacons: Carolina Turns Back Tough Wake Forest Eleven 26-14; Justice's Running, Pupa's Passing Spark Attack As Snavelymen Gain Sixth Triumph". The Daily Tar Heel. pp. 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Irwin Smallwood (November 24, 1946). "Happy Day!!! Tar Heels Stage Comeback To Whip Duke, 22-7; Carolina Tallies Twice in Final Quarter Rally". The Daily Tar Heel. pp. 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Tarheels Down UVA 49 To 14". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. December 1, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Hugo Germino (January 2, 1947). "Georgia's Win Over UNC Called One Of History's Great Games: Brilliant Teams Asked No Quarter". The Durham Sun. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  19. "1947 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
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